Abstract: The technology may receive a product identification from a merchant and evaluate the product identification against evaluation rules to determine a likelihood of whether the product identification is valid for a product associated with the product identification.

Abstract: Described are techniques and systems to process input data into normalized data using regular expression (“regex”) tokens to build rules. The regex tokens refer to a predefined regex phrase. A developer or an automated system may create the regex tokens. A user or automated system may combine and reuse the regex tokens in various ways to express different normalization rules. These rules may be automatically processed to generate regexs. The regexs are used in processing the input data to generate the normalized data.

Abstract: The technology may receive a product identification from a merchant and evaluate the product identification against evaluation rules to determine a likelihood of whether the product identification is valid for a product associated with the product identification.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically managing data-type associations and relationships includes providing a first global data-type association ruleset including one or more predefined operational relationships between two or more applications, determining whether an updated global data-type association ruleset is available, and dynamically obtaining the updated global data-type association ruleset to facilitate modification of one or more predefined operational relationships between two or more applications locally installed on the client device.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system and a method for updating components in a client computer. The invention includes a method for upgrading software for various users, each of the users having diverse hardware and software configurations. The invention includes a method for automatically determining the hardware and software configuration of the client computer without user intervention. To begin the upgrade, the client computer reads a configuration file that identifies the components for downloading. Upon receipt of the configuration file, the client computer determines the hardware and software configuration of the client computer. The client computer automatically communicates with a component server via a network and requests one or more components for downloading to the client computer based upon the configuration file and the hardware and software conditions of the client computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically managing data-type associations and relationships includes providing a first global data-type association ruleset including one or more predefined operational relationships between two or more applications, determining whether an updated global data-type association ruleset is available, and dynamically obtaining the updated global data-type association ruleset to facilitate modification of one or more predefined operational relationships between two or more applications locally installed on the client device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing targeted messages to users of media presentation systems. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a message server may communicate with a media presentation system, such as a media player for streaming video and audio, to present targeted messages to the user of the media presentation system. The targeted messages include messages to promote marketing campaigns, advertising, and the like. The targeted messages may be presented in various formats, including a graphical display, an audio presentation, a graphical and audio presentation, URL links, and/or interactive windows. Information about the media presentation systems and information about the marketing campaigns are maintained by the message server. The message server may update the foregoing information in accordance with the interaction between the message server and the media presentation system.