Abstract: Disclosed is a delivery management system and method using a smart communicator. The delivery management system includes a selling server for selling articles online; a delivery server for managing delivery of articles sold by the selling server; a mailbox which reads information from an information storage attached to an arrived article at a destination under the control of the delivery server; and a home network server which stores ordered article information, determines whether the arrived article is correctly delivered on the basis of a comparison between the ordered article information and the arrived article information read from the information storage, transmits the result of the comparison to a smart communicator, controls follow-up management of the delivery according to a remote control of the smart communicator. Accordingly, it is possible to check the arrival of an article and control follow-up management on the articles delivered correctly or incorrectly using the smart communicator.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating a transaction between a buyer and one of a number of sellers is provided. The transaction is related to a project specified by the buyer. A set of sellers is identified. A flow control process operates over a number of successive processing cycles. In each processing cycle, sellers are selected from the set for classification as sellers of a particular type (“Invited Sellers”). The Invited Sellers increase incrementally over the number of successive processing cycles. The system automatically enables at least one action carried out by the Invited Sellers in each processing cycle. The duration of the processing cycles can vary. The number of Invited Sellers selected in each processing cycle can vary. In one embodiment, the number of Invited Sellers selected in each processing cycle depends upon a number of offers that are submitted by Invited Sellers and received by the buyer.

Abstract: A method to facilitate network-based commerce includes determining a site that a user accesses, the site being one of multiple sites operated by a network-based commerce facility. A category list available for the site is retrieved, the category list identifying categories of offerings available via the site. The category list is communicated to the user. The site is a regional site, and the category list is a region-specific category list.

Abstract: In some example embodiments, a system and method are illustrated as including generating an item page that includes widget code and details related to an item for sale. Some example embodiments may include making the widget code available for retrieval from the item page.

Abstract: A method for processing an incoming order for equipment can be provided. A plurality of objects representing environmental factors is read, each object comprising at least one of a required parts list and an excluded parts list. Next, a customer places an order for computer equipment, wherein the order comprises a list of parts. A list of environmental factors is entered by the customer and the list of environmental factors is matched to at least one of the objects. The method can further include comparing the list of parts of the order to the required parts list and/or the excluded parts list of the at least one object. Finally, a record that the order is validated is stored if the list of parts of the order is consistent with the required parts list and/or the excluded parts list of the at least one object.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for social shopping on a network-based marketplace. Specifically, the method receives a request, over a network, from a user in a community of users. The request is for an activity associated with a listing for sale in a network-based marketplace. The network-based marketplace is used by the community of users to transact listings of a single domain that is of interest to the community of users. The method updates a listing reputation score for the listing based on a user reputation score for the user. Finally, the method updates the user reputation score based on the listing reputation score.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining a position of a vehicle with respect to a terrain. The method comprises accumulating data received from at least one sensor device regarding the occupancy of a spatial region between the vehicle and a first geographic region of the terrain, generating an evidence grid that describes the occupancy of the spatial region, identifying the position of the first geographic region of the terrain based on the evidence grid and previously compiled reference data, and determining the position of the vehicle based on the position of the first geographic region of the terrain with respect to the previously compiled reference data.

Abstract: The invention provides a service provider system that enables a subscriber to purchase services over a network from a service provider for the benefit of one or more third parties located in different locations. The service provider system can provide service flexibility by allowing parameters to be set, such as place and time of service delivery. Further, conditions allowing third-party recipients to change service parameters—delivery time and place, exchange of purchased service for another service, return of the purchased service, etc.—can be included. The service provider system additionally can provide reporting options to both the subscriber and the third party. Reporting messages or notifications may be sent to the purchasing subscriber to indicate which of the third parties had taken advantage of the purchased service, when and where the service was consumed, and/or what the actual cost of delivering the service was.

Abstract: A computer-implemented navigation method for implementation during a navigation routine for directing a user is provided. The navigation method comprises generating a navigation route. GPS signals are received and position fixes are derived from the GPS signals. The position fixes are stored and compared with the navigation route. A threshold value is determined based on the comparison of the position fixes with the navigation route. An updated navigation route is generated based on the plurality of position fixes distanced from the navigation route a distance greater than the threshold value and an updated navigation route is not generating based on the plurality of position fixes distanced from the navigation route a distance not greater than the threshold value. A mobile device for performing a navigation procedure is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for generating contextualized live auction feeds. The method of generating contextualized live auction feeds comprises receiving context data from a user. The method further comprises utilizing the context data received from the user to search auctions. The method, in one embodiment, includes generating contextualized live auction feeds for an auction based on the context data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for transmitting streams of data. The present invention also relates to generating packet watermarks and packet watermark keys. The present invention also relates to a computerized system for packaging data for transmission to a user. The system may utilize computer code to generate a bandwidth rights certificate that may include: at least one cryptographic credential; routing information for the transmission; and, optionally, a digital signature of a certificate owner; a unique identification code of a certificate owner; a certificate validity period; and pricing information for use of bandwidth. The present invention also relates to an electronic method and system for purchasing good and services by establishing an account whereby a customer is credited with a predetermined amount of bandwidth usage, and then charges are assessed against the account in an amount of bandwidth usage which corresponds to the agreed upon purchase value for the selected item.

Abstract: A system on a network provides estimated time of arrival information to a client located on the network. The system is adapted to present to the client pages for eliciting a product inquiry including a product number. The system receives the product inquiry, determines estimated time of arrivals for various destinations for at least one in-transit unit having the product number, and transmits to the client the estimated time of arrivals.

Abstract: A control unit sets a front-end collision risk of a subject vehicle against a front vehicle in accordance with a time headway of the subject vehicle and a margin time to front-end collision of the subject vehicle, and a rear-end collision risk of the subject vehicle by a rear vehicle in accordance with a time headway of the rear vehicle and a margin time to rear-end collision of the subject vehicle, the margin time to rear-end collision having a larger weight than that of the margin time to front-end collision in the front-end collision risk against the front vehicle. Brake control and alarm control are performed in accordance with the front-end collision risk against the front vehicle and the rear-end collision risk by the rear vehicle.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for file fragment pricing in a segmented file sharing system. The mechanism allows peers to set a price for distributing a file through the file sharing system. A peer then becomes a file distributor on behalf of an original file provider. The original file provider may compensate the file distributor based on a compensation agreement. The peer's client may be configured to download file fragments from file distributors, or the original file provider, based on preferences, such as price, peer rating, upload speed, or similarity. As a result, a peer may download a file for a price that is less than the original price from the original file provider. Thus, the mechanism provides an incentive for peers to participate in file sharing, which results in larger swarms.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a set of API's for integrated retailers to perform standard order fulfillment operations to fulfill and return products on behalf of their clients is described. A common catalog on a software platform is intended be a flexible common hub around which many different commerce models can be implemented. Integrated retailer is one such model on which e-commerce occurs. Integrated retailers are permitted to sell product from the common catalog with another company providing back-end fulfillment. The common catalog infrastructure's pre-existing XML catalog export facility provides product information to the retailer. The Retail Web Service (RWS) provides the fulfillment functions as a REST-style web service.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an integrated methodology that simplifies upgrade choices for complex computer products through the use of automation and integration of product monitoring and business applications with, for example, web based capabilities. Historical information for computer systems is collected and transmitted to a remote support system. Over time, sufficient historical data provides a historical view of the systems indicative of usage and facilitating the choice of product enhancements, upgrades and customization. Further, this historical view may be integrated with the advances in the product that are kept by the remote support system as well as with the performance requirements of third party application providers.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and program product for preparing customized educational materials. The invention may include, for example, receiving input from a user regarding the user's preferences for educational materials, retrieving core educational materials from a repository, accepting dynamic educational materials, and assembling the customized educational materials using the core educational materials, the dynamic educational materials, and the user's preferences. The invention may further include scheduling the delivery of the customized educational materials to a user.

Abstract: A system in accordance with the invention creates a predesigned software product generally for e-commerce applications that is modifiable by a company-user in terms of not only look and feel, but also functionality and flow. Such a system includes a set of predesigned business modules where each business module performs a unique function. Each business module is accompanied by a respective set of templates, each of which models a web page. Within each template is embedded one or more commands. To customize its system, the company-user (1) selects which business modules it desires, (2) selects which templates it desires to use with each business module, and (3) customizes each template in terms of look and feel. By selecting the modules, the company-user determines the system's overall functionality, and by selecting the templates, the company-user determines the look and feel and flow of the system. Once customized, the company-user populates a database for use of the system with company-specific data.

Abstract: In a method of affiliating content, a selection of at least one vendor and a unique affiliate tracking number associated with the at least one vendor are received, and a search routine associated with the at least one vendor is automatically selected. A network connection is established to a web site associated with the at least one vendor. Content from the web site of the at least one vendor is automatically retrieved using at least one keyword, the retrieved content including at least one product information that includes a unique product code associated with each product information. The unique affiliate tracking number is automatically inserted into the unique product code associated with each retrieved product information. A unique affiliated product code is generated for each retrieved product information.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and program product for order processing. In one embodiment, input is received from a user for an order. The input supplies information for configuring an order in an order processing software application, for producing a first configuration of the order. The input is analyzed to identify corrections for the first configuration to fit parameters of the order processing software application. The input is compared to a set of existing orders as part of an analysis of the input. A set of recommendations is generated concerning analysis of the input. In response to a selection by the user, the set of recommendations is executed in order to correct the first configuration of the order.