Abstract: A computer implemented method for providing optimized planning is provided. Collected data is analyzed. A plan for a first period of time is created based on the collected data. For a plurality of times during the first period, data collected during the first period is analyzed. At least one tuning indicator is generated based on analyzing the data collected during the first period that indicates whether a tuning should be performed. The plan is tuned a plurality of times during the first period, wherein the tuning uses the data collected during the first period.

Abstract: To assist in patent searching a description includes a consumer purchasing behavior profiling system having aspects including consumer profiles formed and updated based on a variety of data. Advertisers access to send targeted advertising messages to the consumers. Aspects include advertising information together with incentive level and mix being correlated with the consumer profile to produce a measure of the applicability of the ad to that consumer and the probability of converting that consumer. Other aspects include determining the mix of ad information, incentive level and type, and product offering that will be required to convert an ad viewer to a buyer. Aspects focus on using wireless devices with consumers. Other aspects reside in methods of using electronic coupons distribution and redemption to collect additional data points necessary to understand the consumer's purchasing decision process and factors that influence the purchasing decision.

Abstract: Users receive content recommendations from a personalized, generalized recommendation service that aggregates and selects content of high personal relevance to each individual user from a large pool of both personal and public content. The received content is filtered and the content determined to be relevant is cached. When a user request for content is received, the cached content is rescored and the content determined to be most relevant based on satisfaction of a relevance threshold is selected and forwarded to the user. Feedback methodologies are also implemented so that a user's actions are taken into consideration in real time and can affect subsequent recommendations to the user.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for including advertisements in outgoing electronic messages and rewarding the sender for every recipient who clicks on an included advertisement. The disclosure further describes various methods for selecting keywords used to generate the advertisement as well as a method for allowing the sender to directly select the advertisement from an advertisement listing. Furthermore, the disclosure discusses various forms of rewarding the sender including a revenue sharing method.

Abstract: A computer readable medium is disclosed containing a computer program useful for performing a method for sending advertising data, the computer program comprising instructions to send a video data stream comprising advertising data from an IPTV server to a first end user device, instructions to receive at the IPTV server selection data from the first end user device selecting the advertising data and a second end user device and instructions to send from the IPTV server a data associated with the advertising data to the second end user device. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for use by the system and method.

Abstract: A media targeting system may be configured to coordinate media and manage media conflicts in its delivery to consumers. The media targeting system may in near real-time arbitrate between all offers assigned to a particular consumer or available to the consumer via one or more channels to ensure that a consumer only receives non-conflicting offers during particular time periods. The media targeting system may translate offers into a real-time, in-store loyalty environment including consumer real-time behavior assignment into traits in order to make a real-time offer assignment based on the traits. An application on a mobile device of a consumer may allow the consumer to share offers with other consumers via a bump of the consumers' mobile devices.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for distributing and redeeming manufacturer coupons for a product purchase in a retail environment. The data processing system of a retailer (hereinafter the loyalty coupon system) receives an electronic coupon from a manufacturer. The loyalty coupon system links the product to the inventory control system of the retail environment. The loyalty coupon system then targets the electronic coupon to customers that have subscribed to the loyalty coupon system. The coupon system provides for the communication of the product coupon directly to each subscribed customer on the list. Upon a customer selecting the coupon, the loyalty coupon system configures a customer reward. Upon the customer purchasing the product using their loyalty card, the loyalty coupon system disburses the customer reward at the point of sale. The manufacturer is billed for the redeemed coupon.

Abstract: Customers in an electronic environment can be presented with the option to receive advertising, such as audio, video, or interactive content, in order to receive discounted pricing or similar benefits. In one embodiment, a customer can select to watch a video advertisement on a detail page for an item, and the displayed price for the item will be shown to decrease as the customer continues to watch the video. Such an approach enables the provider to obtain additional revenue from the advertisement, which can offset any loss or reduction in price of the item. Revenue can be generated in other ways using these ads, such as by displaying advertisements that will enable a customer to obtain lower prices on other items, such as accessories or services relating to an item that is determined to be of little or no profit for the provider.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, monitoring access by communication devices of second users to personal content associated with a first user, selecting advertisement content based on the monitoring of the access, and providing the advertisement content for presentation with the personal content when the personal content is accessed by a communication device of a third user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for processing data is provided. At least one dataflow comprising transformational and numerical steps is defined. The flow is decomposed into distinct executable segments along process domains. The flow is decomposed into distinct executable segments along data domains. Parallel execution paths are identified across the executable segments. The executable segments are executed across a plurality of execution units.

Abstract: Users receive content recommendations from a personalized, generalized recommendation service that aggregates and selects content of high personal relevance to each individual user from a large pool of both personal and public content. The received content is filtered and the content determined to be relevant is cached. When a user request for content is received, the cached content is rescored and the content determined to be most relevant based on satisfaction of a relevance threshold is selected and forwarded to the user. Feedback methodologies are also implemented so that a user's actions are taken into consideration in real time and can affect subsequent recommendations to the user.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for facilitating user joint purchasing and user-participated online advertisements, including: providing means for a user to request joint purchasing of products and services online; subtracting sponsoring amount provided by users' sponsors from the listed prices of products and services; dividing the cost of products and services among users participated in joint purchasing; receiving separate payments from such users; delivering products and services based on system configurations and user joint purchasing instructions; integrating existing third party online advertisements with user incentives; and enabling users to create and modify online advertisements for entities and individuals, wherein said advertisements can be customized or designed by said users.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for analyzing product roles. The system receives a listing of products for classification into roles. The system receives volume data for each item, as well as demand coefficient. Elasticity of the products may be determined from the demand coefficients. Product volumes and elasticities may then be compared against one another by graphing the product by its volume versus elasticity. From this comparison the products may be classified into one or more roles. These roles include image items, niche products, assortment completers, and profit drivers. The assortment completer role is populated with products which have high relative elasticity and low relative volume. Niche product role is populated with products which have low relative elasticity and low relative volume. The image item role is populated with products which have high relative elasticity and high relative volume.

Abstract: An online services system provides monitoring of user interaction with third-party content. The monitoring is performed by a script in a web page provided by the online services system, which script provides a timer invoked when the browser leaves the online services system's page for a page comprising third party content. When the online services system serves the page, the browser reads the HTML to render the page, including the script with the timer. When the user leaves the online services system page, the timer begins, and when the browser returns to a page provided by the online services system, the timer ends and duration information from the timer is provided to the online services system. Applications include measurement of the quality of interaction between users and a third party advertisers, in which time spent viewing third party content is a proxy for the quality of the interaction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward publication and/or removal of attributes in a multi-user computing environment. In some embodiments, a consumer information manager (CIM) associated with a user of a multi-user computing system may receive a notification, from a dimension authority (DA), of a decrease in a population count of users of the computing system who have published an attribute within the computing system, and may determine whether the user has published the attribute. In response to receiving the notification of the decrease and determining that the user has published the attribute, the CIM may determine a likelihood that continued publication of the attribute will enable identification of the user, compare the likelihood to a threshold, and, when the likelihood exceeds the threshold, remove the attribute from publication. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.

Abstract: An advertised incentive system receives advertised incentive configuration information provided by a merchant. The advertised incentive configuration information defines the content of advertised incentive banners. The advertised incentive banners are provided as needed to merchants to display on the merchant's website. Advertised incentive registration information is received from an account holder after the account holder interacts with the advertised incentive banner. Transaction information is received that contains a qualified purchase made by the account holder. The advertised incentive registration and the qualified purchase are matched. A statement credit is issued against the account holder's account and a debit is issued against the merchant's account in the amount of the statement credit.

Abstract: Techniques for presenting a content item with a media item are described. The techniques include receiving user input indicating a placement preference for a content item to be presented with a media item. The placement preference indicates a presentation preference of the content item relative to presentation of the media item. The placement preference is used to influence selection of a media item with which the content item is to be presented.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for synchronizing interactive advertisements with linear advertisements, including: a traffic module configured to generate advertisement schedule information about slots for linear advertisements on channels; an automation module configured to detect cue messages in real-time media, each cue message indicating a respective start time and a respective index of a respective slot for respective linear advertisements, and to forward information about the cue messages; and an interactivity production module configured to receive the advertisement schedule information, the information about the cue messages, and information about interactive sequences, each interactive sequence to be synchronized with a respective spot for an associated linear advertisement, to generate an interactivity event for each respective interactive sequence, to calculate a start time for each respective interactivity event using information about a respective associated cue message, and to forward an activa

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards selective disclosure of user or computing environment attributes to facilitate generation and/or provision of targeted content. In various embodiments, a likelihood that disclosure of an attribute of a user or of a computing environment associated with the user will enable identification of the user may be determined based on an associated population count of users or computing environments sharing the same attribute. In various embodiments, the attribute may be selectively disclosed to a content provider configured to provide targeted content, or a recommendation may be selectively provided to the user as to whether the user should disclose the attribute to the content provider, based on the determination and a risk tolerance associated with the user. In various embodiments, a dimension authority may track and make available population counts of users or computing environments having various attributes.

Abstract: Merchants create ecommerce-enabled ad units advertising items offered by the merchants. The ad units contain functionality enabling customers to purchase the items by interacting with the ad units. The ad units have associated bid prices that the merchants agree to pay for sales through the ad units. The merchants provide the ad units to a broker. The broker publishes the ad units on web pages provided by publishers as comparison shop ad units that contain multiple ad units and functionality for navigating among them. A customer receiving a web page interacts with an ad unit to purchase the item. During the interactions, the broker dynamically updates the ad unit to conduct the transaction.