Abstract: Systems and methods for custom-fitting a service solution to consumer requirements are provided. A method for custom-fitting a service solution to consumer requirements, comprises acquiring a request for the service solution from a consumer via a conversational interface, and issuing a query to a service knowledge base to obtain a set of service knowledge representation items from the service knowledge base and analyzing each service knowledge representation item to determine whether a custom-fit service solution can be developed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mediation of online trading services are provided. Supplemental content related to a content title may be listed in a market or store for content. A client device sends a mediated communication to a trading server; the mediated communication may include mediation data and a request concerning the transfer of supplemental content. A user account associated with the client device is identified and the supplemental content may then be assigned to the user account. A report regarding activity associated with the assignment of the supplemental content may be generated in accordance with mediation data.

Abstract: A method for making purchases with a mobile device at a physical location is described. A service provider receives information about an item available for purchase, and this information is projected on a surface. A user in the vicinity of the surface views the projected information and provides input through the user's mobile device. The projected information changes based on the input. The user selects an item for purchase and pays for the selected item through the mobile device.

Abstract: A method for customizing a device during order fulfillment is described. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag of an electronic device is wirelessly loaded with customization information at an order fulfillment center without disturbing packaging surrounding the electronic device or without powering up the electronic device.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems associated with providing request-time auctioning of web content and web services. The auction may be performed by a request-time web content auctioning service, which may accept bids of content and/or services from content and/or service providers, and may auction these bids against offers of space on webpages in websites. The auction may, in various embodiments, be performed in real time, such as, for example, during generation of a webpage in response to a request to view a webpage from a visitor to the webpage. The auction service may, in various embodiments, also provide for the auctioning of web services for webpages, such as, for example, content filtering. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A method of offering a user a plurality of scenarios under which to conduct at least one primary transaction involving at least one specific item, the specific item being one of goods and services, with each one of these scenarios entailing a corresponding cost to the user. The method can include at least the following. Communication is established via a communications device between the user and a system to facilitate the primary transaction. Primary transaction data is obtained relating to the primary transaction, with the primary transaction data including data representing an identity of the user and representing the at least one specific item. The user is offered a choice between at least two scenarios under which to conduct the primary transaction, determining costs of the transaction based on allowance of receiving offers of upsell transactions.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting electronic business between buyers and sellers is provided. The system and method disclose a means for at least one buyer to request and receive online bids from one or more sellers of a particular product according to a price curve or price schedule. A price schedule or curve for a product defining a product's unit price as a function of the volume of product ordered. Upon receipt of a plurality of bids from sellers, a buyer can then select a seller-supplier based at least in part on the price schedule.

Abstract: Quotes entered into an automated trading system may comprise a visible, or primary, amount, and a linked or hidden amount. The visible amount only is shown to other traders on the system but part or all of the linked amount may be dealt if the order with the quote is match is for an amount greater than the visible amount. If, after matching and deal confirmation, all the visible amount has been dealt, but some or all of the linked amount remains, a fresh order for the remaining linked amount is generated and submitted to the trading system for matching. The new quoted may be visible only or may have a visible component up to a limit specified by the maker on submission of the original quote, with the remainder being linked. Maker quotes converted to taker quotes by an auto-match routine may be resubmitted for undealt linked amounts in the same way. In one aspect of the invention, linked amounts are matched and dealt before visible amounts.

Abstract: Sharing media content between entities. A computing device detects and connects to another computing device within a predefined proximity. Media content items and associated metadata are selected and exchanged between the connected computing devices. A subsequent purchase opportunity is provided to the users to purchase the exchanged media content items.

Abstract: A representation system receives a subscription for a consumer to monitor online vendors. The representations system monitors a separate inventory of merchandise items of each online vendor. The representations system detects a new merchandise item added by at least one of the online vendors to a current inventory of merchandise items. The representation system accesses a representation of the consumer specified by a selection of sizing measurements stored by the selection service. The representation system selects at least one merchandise item from among the new separate merchandise items each with a set of merchandise characteristics of a size selected to fit the selection of sizing measurements. The representation system generates an email communication to deliver to the consumer from which a rendering of the selected merchandise item on the representation according to the set of merchandise characteristics as applied to the selection of sizing measurements is accessible to the consumer.

Abstract: A content server enables one user to purchase licensed content for another user and, in response to the purchase, automatically delivers the content to the other user's device. The content server further configures the other user's device to receive and utilize the licensed content, thus enabling the other user to consume the content.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for automatically implementing item substitutions for unavailable items in a customer order. According to one embodiment, line item orders from selected customer orders may be aggregated and processed for substitution analysis. Substitutions for unavailable items of selected customer orders may then be automatically implemented based upon substitution instructions, business rules, and/or other predefined criteria.

Abstract: A method and system for generating multiple buy/sell transactions during or prior to a completion of a buy/sell transaction of an item. The system comprises a server, a database and client devices. Each client device is associated with a unique user and connected to a communications network. The server connected to the communications network comprises a communications module and a transactions module. The communications module receives offers to buy the item from client devices associated with other purchasers before a first purchaser completes a buy/sell transaction of the item and receives an acceptance of one of the offers to buy from the first purchaser. The transaction module processes the offer accepted by the first purchaser during or prior to a completion of the buy/sell transaction of the item by the first purchaser, thereby facilitating multiple buy/sell transactions of the same item.

Abstract: A method of providing recommendations is disclosed and includes receiving a selection of an offering via an online site. The method also includes outputting a detail page related to the offering via the online site. The detail page includes a first selectable indicator corresponding to a social network of a visitor and a second selectable indicator corresponding to unfiltered content. The method also includes outputting at least one recommendation via the detail page. Each recommendation is associated with a member of the social network when input received via the online site indicates a selection of the first selectable indicator.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide methods, systems and devices for recommending one or more products for a selected individual. The products may be recommended to a user for gifting to the selected individual. Exemplary embodiments may automatically determine one or more topics of interest to the selected individual. In an exemplary embodiment, semantic analysis may be performed on textual content associated with the selected individual to automatically extract the topics of interest. Exemplary embodiments may use the topics of interest to automatically determine one or more products that are likely to be of interest to the selected individual.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a transaction card that may have multiple layers contained therein. The layers may include a metal sub-assembly core. The transaction card may be engraved, prior to providing to a cardholder, with a replica of the cardholder's actual signature. Additional items may be personalized upon the transaction card. The transaction card may also be incorporated into a system whereupon the transaction card may be triggered to perform an action such as emitting an audible tone or an electronic communication being sent to the cardholder.

Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, a system and method to provide customized combination packages is disclosed. The method includes receiving a selection of a plurality of items from a potential buyer, the selection of the plurality of items creating a customized combination package. Available transaction history for past transactions of similar items to the items of the customized combination package is provided to the potential buyer. An offer from the potential buyer is then received and provided to a seller selling the plurality of items for consideration.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing combined communications having a plurality of client communication sections is presented. Initial interest in a product or service offer is received from a client at a computer system. The computer system generates a communications that combine host information and one or more client communication sections, wherein the client communication sections contain a second offer for the product or service.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a method and system for conducting an online lowering reserve auction including creating an auction by specifying an item for auctioning, a retail price of the item, a total number of options offered for sale during the auction, a sale price of each option, and a time duration for the auction, while the auction is open, selling an option, while the auction is open, receiving a bid for the item, if the total number of options offered for sale are purchased, designating as the winning bid the highest bid amount received, if the auction time for the item has expired and if the combination of the amount of the highest bid received and of the proceeds from the sale of the options are greater than the retail price of the item, designating as the winning bid the highest bid amount received.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for optimizing a business transaction between a selling vendor and a shipping vendor. The method includes receiving a query from a selling vendor. The query includes customer order data. The method also includes identifying at least one possible shipping vendor based on the customer order data and determining shipping information for each of the at least one possible shipping vendors. The method further includes selecting a preferred shipping vendor from among the at least one possible shipping vendors and completing the transaction between the selling vendor and the shipping vendor.