Abstract: A method and system for managing trading in trading networks. At least one trading network package is offered. Each trading network package is based on negotiations occurring prior to receiving purchase requests from customer members of the trading network. Each trading network package is configured to include: (i) a value-add service offering offered by the trading network to the customer members for a fee, (ii) a managed package for which a customer member of the customer members provides a volume commitment and for which actual purchases are tracked; or (iii) both the value-add service offering and the managed package.

Abstract: A real time management system for marketing to customers and vendors with customer purchasing and preference data in specific consumer markets including restaurant, retail, travel, hospitality, entertainment, and combinations thereof. The management database allows the consumer to make Precision Purchasing™ transactions, reservation transactions, and Precision Gifting™ transactions via a web-based interface, POS based touch screen interface, and mobile device-based interface. The consumer profile database is comprised of mainly consumer inputted preference and consumer purchase data which is stored into each customer profile and can be accessed/verified with a GPS recognition of the customer's phone, biometric hand or finger scan, access card, retinal scan, password, key fob, or other terminal kiosk, touch screen, or mobile application of the like. Consumers may also gift dollars to each other's account using the customized, consumer authorized Precision Gifting™ system.

Abstract: The publishing system and method automates at least some portion of a publishing process. The system publishes content using metadata, rights templates and/or specifications, publishing profiles and business rules.

Abstract: Representing activity in an online store is disclosed. Information associated with the activities of a second visitor to the store is received. An indication of the presence of a first visitor at the store is also received. The activities of the second visitor are displayed to the first visitor.

Abstract: Program data and information associated with at least one consumer commodity that appears in a program of the program data are synchronously transmitted. The program data and the associated information are received, and the program is reproduced and displayed on a display. One of a plurality of displayed consumer commodities is selected, and at least part of information associated with the selected consumer commodity is extracted and displayed. The extracted information associated with the selected consumer commodity is stored and is accessible after the program is displayed.

Abstract: A method and system to the generation of a virtual gift on a network-based marketplace platform. The network-based marketplace platform receives a request from a second user. The request identifies an item that is published-on a user interface that is hosted by the network-based marketplace platform. The item is also offered for sale on the network-based marketplace platform. The network-based marketplace platform generates a virtual gift based on the item. The virtual gift includes an image of the item. Finally, the network-based marketplace platform communicates interface information that includes the virtual gift to a network-based social platform.

Abstract: Methods and system for displaying a click-to-buy overlay for an item on a video in a video hosting site. The item is matched to the video according to video metadata and/or rules selected by the video rights holder. If the uploader is not the video rights holder, the video rights holder can choose to monetize the video by selecting Click-to-Buy metadata and/or rules. A viewer of the video can choose between multiple retailers for an item offered in the overlay. The viewer can further navigate between multiple overlays associated with the video while the video is playing.

Abstract: User content access events pertaining to a content item, such as an eBook, audio, video file, and so on, are collected and analyzed to determine progress data, including completion information about when the content item, or a portion thereof, has been completed. Once determined, further information or recommendations that have some relation to the completed content item may be presented to the user.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for buyers to specify goods and services then aggregate demand to reduce price and minimize seller surplus. This enables consumers and small organizations to specify and obtain goods and services on terms usually available only to large organizations. An author can draft a RFQ or RFP then solicit comments and endorsements from opinion leaders who influence demand. The author will then publish the RFQ or RFP globally to prospective buyers to solicit binding commitments then offer the RFQ or RFP globally to prospective sellers to solicit binding bids. As the bid price declines the number of buyers will increase motivating a further reduction in bid price. The author can accept or reject each bid or make a counter-offer. If a bid is accepted, payment is exchanged for the specified goods and services.

Abstract: A bid processing system receives a project description and a baseline estimate for the project. The project is opened for bidding to multiple potential bidders. Each of the potential bidders have access to the project description and the baseline estimate for the project. The bid processing system receives multiple bids for the project and calculates a bid value associated with each of the multiple bids. The system then determines a best bid value from the plurality of received bids and awards the project to the bidder associated with the best bid value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recommending a media program of a set of media programs to a user of a set of users is disclosed. The method and apparatus computes a measure wij of the implied similarity of a first media program (i) and a second media program (j) that corrects for the popularity of the media programs, thus resulting in a more accurate indication of the relatedness of the media programs.

Abstract: Bidding on a plurality of items with contingencies. Input may be received from a buyer over a wide area network. The input may specify a plurality of offers for purchase of a respective plurality of items and the offers may be included in a collection of offers. One or more contingencies may be associated with the collection of offers, e.g., in response to user input. The one or more contingencies may specify cancellation of one or more of the plurality of offers within the collection of offers. Input may be received from a seller over the wide area network, specifying an acceptance of a first offer of the plurality of offers in the collection of offers. At least one of the plurality of offers within the collection of offers may be automatically canceled based on the one or more contingencies and possibly the acceptance of the first offer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a computer-implemented method, system and apparatus to enable data-driven, multi-channel communications to facilitate business processes. By providing more than one channel for communication between market participants, which includes suppliers and consumers, real-time requests for information, services, or the like can be solicited in a way that those selected to provide responses have certain attributes, and the supplier is selected for the solicitation automatically and instantaneously notified of the request based on automatic selection of those attributes. The notification is instantaneously communicated using more than one channel of communication, potentially in a mode that the potential supplier has indicated is a more likely way of actually and instantly receiving the request. The system further provides at least one mechanism by which all of the selected suppliers can instantly respond to the request, which is then communicated to the requestor.

Abstract: A dynamic, fully-integrated computer-server-based platform (platform) provides users with tools for making informed decisions about available energy upgrades and for implementing desired home energy upgrades. In various embodiments, the platform provides various combinations of: (i) a variety of educational and assessment tools, including a Virtual Home Energy Audit (VHEA), which provides users with a customized home energy-savings plan detailing the financial and/or environmental impact of each upgrade alternative on a relative and absolute basis, (ii) product selection and purchase, (iii) access to arrangement and scheduling of in-home services through a network of professionals, (iv) financing solutions, and (v) a data registry that verifies completed upgrades and associated savings. The platform takes a holistic view of energy solutions, and provides tools across a broad spectrum of energy-related products and/or services.

Abstract: A method for enabling a user to view information filtered to align with the user's life state includes enabling the user to register and become a member of an information delivery system. The user provides the information about the user's life state. This information may include at least demographic information, ethnic information, social information and psychological information. The user may grant partners permission to access the information about the user's life. The granting of the permissions is performed and controlled by the user and may be limited to some information about the user's life. The partners are also members of the information delivery system. The partners are evaluated using a set of criteria before they become members of the information delivery system. The partners may use the information about the user's life to filter its information according to the information about the user's life.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for selecting catalog items for display on a network page. The catalog items have corresponding catalog item identifiers and catalog item representations. In response to a network request, a response is received. The response includes catalog item object identifiers but excludes the corresponding catalog item object representations. At least one of the catalog item object representations is requested using the corresponding catalog object identifier. At least one of the catalog items is selected for inclusion on a network page. The selection is based on an attribute in the catalog item object representation. The network page is displayed to a user.

Abstract: A method and a system for improving the selection of a group of services, in an exchange services environment, by a user of a telecommunication network.

Abstract: A system for automatically preparing customized replies in response to communications from a plurality of clients. To facilitate automation and tracking, each original communication to the client (or each original response from the client) is tagged with a unique label, and replies to client responses are each correspondingly labeled. The system provides individualized replies to each of a variety of response options that a client might exercise in response to a received communication, whether an original communication or a reply to a previous response. The system is applicable to mass marketing communications, and is particularly well suited to the generation of personalized replies to each and every one of a multitude (tens of thousands and up to millions) of communications from clients. The system is also capable of continuing to generate replies to follow-up responses from clients and to thereby maintain an ongoing “conversation” until the client makes a purchase decision, or no longer responds.

Abstract: Methods and system for displaying a click-to-buy overlay for an item on a video in a video hosting site. The item is matched to the video according to video metadata and/or rules selected by the video rights holder. If the uploader is not the video rights holder, the video rights holder can choose to monetize the video by selecting Click-to-Buy metadata and/or rules. A viewer of the video can choose between multiple retailers for an item offered in the overlay. The viewer can further navigate between multiple overlays associated with the video while the video is playing.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a method to facilitate propagating a plurality of transaction listings to a network-based transaction facility. An input interface is presented at a seller application to receive from a user, a plurality of transaction listings, each transaction listing including an associated start time. Also, a data file is composed at the seller application to include the plurality of transaction listings. Moreover, the data file is propagated, using the seller application, from the client computer to the network-based transaction facility.