Abstract: A system and method to facilitate efficient gift giving is disclosed herein. Gift giver, gift recipient, advertisers/sponsors, and third party service providers participate in providing input at the gift evaluation, selection, purchase, delivery, and consumption stages to increase the likelihood of the gift recipient's satisfaction and consumption of the gift. The interactive environment facilitates opaque gathering of information from the relevant parties relative to each other.

Abstract: A system and method to facilitate exchange of unwanted gifts is disclosed herein. A user may submit an unwanted gift in exchange for another gift item or a gift credit. Potential exchange gifts from among other unwanted gifts matching certain criteria are identified and presented to the user for selection. If the user does not find the potential exchange gifts to his liking, a gift credit having a value comparable to his/her submitted unwanted gift is issued to his account. As other users submit their unwanted gifts and/or as the value of the user's gift credit changes over time, the user may receive notification of new potential exchange gifts to choose from.

Abstract: A computer based system and method for mobile and online Internet type advertising that includes advertisements in “tag maps”, which are interactive maps with associated text strings. The system allows advertisers to buy, lease or bid in real time for advertising opportunities associated with particular tags (text strings) within such tag maps. This is in the context of Internet web pages. This further allows advertisers to modify the display or content of the associated tag maps and/or advertising units.

Abstract: An interactive system and method based on the Internet and intended for advertising distribution uses collectively authored (user generated) content and maps that are interactive. The maps are personalized with the user generated content and with targeted advertising units and transmitted to a user. This provides an interactive user experience in terms of both the advertising and content generated by other users relating to an advertiser offer, but having the personalized aspect, making it more effective as advertising.

Abstract: A system and method for contextual advertising based on status messages. A plurality of status messages sent to a user via at least one socially aware messaging service are retrieved where the user is a member of the socially aware messaging service, has defined at least one social contact on the service, and where each of status messages was sent to the user by one of the user's social contacts. The status messages are analyzed to determine the user's status update context, where the user's status update context comprises a set of social, topical, spatial and temporal data present in the messages. The user's status update context is matched to targeted advertisements. The user's status update context is matched to the targeting criteria of targeted advertisements. Matched advertisements are transmitted to the user.

Abstract: A system and method is described herein for managing bandwidth and cost in connection with a plurality of sensors in an ad hoc network. The system and method receives sensor data that is provided from a plurality of sensors and constructs an ad hoc network among the plurality of sensors based on the sensor data. The system and method also receives and analyzes bandwidth information from each sensor in a group of sensors in the ad hoc network. Based on the analysis, the system and method then modifies a manner in which at least one sensor in the group exchanges data, including sensor data and multimedia content.

Abstract: A media object, such as an image file, a video file, or an audio file, is analyzed to determine relationships between persons associated with the media object, which may include persons captured in the media object and/or a person that captured the media object. A representation of a first person captured in a media object is detected. The media object is analyzed to determine at least one indicator of a relation between the first person and a second person associated with the media object. A relationship between the first person and the second person is predicted based at least on the determined at least one relation indicator. The media object may be monetized in various ways, such as by directing advertisements to persons associated with the media object, and/or to persons having social connections to the persons associated with the media object.

Abstract: A media object, such as an image file, a video file, or an audio file, is analyzed to determine relationships between brands having representations captured in the media object, and persons associated with the media object (e.g., persons captured in the media object and/or a person that captured the media object). A representation of a brand captured in a media object is detected. The media object is analyzed to determine at least one indicator of a relation between the brand and a person associated with the media object. A relationship between the brand and person is predicted based at least on the determined at least one relation indicator. The media object may be monetized in various ways, such as by directing advertisements (e.g., advertisements related to the detected brand) to persons associated with the media object, and/or to persons having social connections to the persons associated with the media object.

Abstract: Methods and system for managing demand for an object includes capturing information about the object through a mobile device associated with a user. The mobile device is configured to capture information about the object that include one or more of a spatial, temporal, topical and social attributes of the object. The identity of the object is verified and validated using this metadata captured by the user through the device from the real world object or its proxy. Upon successful verification and validation, the object and its metadata are automatically added to a wish list of the user. An aggregate list is generated using the attributes and metadata of the object from a plurality of users. The aggregate list defines a source of demand for the object. The object is tracked as it progresses through various phases of ownership cycle using dynamic demand calculations based on the information associated with the objects, the users and the aggregate lists.

Abstract: An offer is presented to a user via a user device, wherein the terms of the offer include at least one activity to be performed by the user or at least one behavior to be observed by the user and at least one incentive to be rewarded to the user responsive to the performance of the at least one activity or the observance of the at least one behavior. A determination is made as to whether the user has performed the at least one activity or observed the at least one behavior based on at least spatial, temporal, social and/or topical data obtained from a network-based tracking engine. Responsive to a determination that the user has performed the at least one activity or observed the at least one behavior, the user is provided with the at least one incentive.

Abstract: A system and method for context based query augmentation. A question is received over a network from a questioning user comprising an identification of a user and at least one question criteria. A first query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data so as to identify user context data relevant to question criteria. The question is modified using the user context data to create at least one modified question having at least one additional criteria based on the user context data. A second query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for knowledge data, user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data so as to identify knowledge data relevant to the identified user and the modified question criteria. The knowledge data is transmitted, over the network, to the questioning user.

Abstract: A content development engine which may collect, organize and distribute multimedia content and metadata associated with specific places, events and people. The CDE may be used with a game mechanic or a revenue-sharing network which may create incentives for users to contribute images, video clips, audio clips, tags, reviews or other multimedia content. When the CDE runs with a game mechanic, users may be rewarded with on-network credits, game points, “ownership” of territories on the map or reputation, and the network credits and game points may be redeemed for, e.g., cash, products, services or frequent flyer miles. When the CDE is coupled to a revenue-sharing network or an advertising engine, users may be compensated for satisfying user generated content (UGC) requests. The compensation may be monetary or non-monetary.

Abstract: A method and system for serving advertisement or sponsored content is provided. The method employed by the system may include receiving information that describes the capabilities of an ad serving device, matching advertisement and/or sponsored content to the ad serving device, and serving the advertisement and/or sponsored content. Instructions may be communicated to an individual in possession of the ad serving device, instructing the individual on a time and place for serving the advertisement or sponsored content. Confirmation that the instructions have been followed may be communicated to the system.

Abstract: A method and system for serving advertisement or sponsored content information is provided. The method employed by the system may include receiving information that describes the capabilities of an ad serving device, receiving information that enables sensing the presence of individuals in a vicinity of the ad serving device, matching advertisement and/or sponsored content information to the ad serving device, and serving the advertisement and/or sponsored content information. Receiving presence information, matching, and serving of the advertisement and/or sponsored content information may occur in real-time. The ad serving device may be located at a fixed location or be portable and carried by an individual. Behaviors of individuals with portable devices may be determined and the advertisement and/or sponsored content information served may be related to the determined behavior.

Abstract: A method and system for serving advertisement or sponsored content information is provided. The method employed by the system may include receiving a request to communicate advertisement or sponsored content information to ad serving devices that match a selection criteria, locating ad serving devices that match the received selection criteria, and serving advertisements or sponsored content information to located ad serving devices. Economic terms associated with the ad serving devices may also be received. Advertisers may be charged and the revenue generated distributed among a carrier network owner, ad serving device owners, and/or the owner of the ad serving system. A request to display the advertisement or sponsored content information and instructions for displaying the advertisement or sponsored content information may be communicated to individuals in control of the ad serving devices and an acceptance of the request to display the advertisement may be received.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for optimizing shopping. In one aspect, purchase items are recommended to a user based on the total purchasing costs of the recommended purchase items. In one embodiment, the total purchase cost includes not just the price of the purchase item but also includes weighted costs based on non-price purchasing cost factors. In another aspect, data is maintained that represents social relationships between members of a network of users and purchase recommendations are made to a user based on the relatedness between the user, the item and the other members of the network. In yet another aspect, purchase recommendations are made based on the best time to purchase a purchase item. In another aspect, item retailers can offer purchase item incentives to users based on the identity of and information about the shopper to whom the incentive is offered including bundling incentives in a unified redemption code.

Abstract: A system and method for reporting and analysis of media consumption data. A request is received over a network from a requesting user for consumption data relating to at least one media object, the request comprising an identification of the media objects. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to consumption of the media object are retrieved using a global index of data available to the network. The spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to consumption of the media objects are transmitted, over the network to the requesting user.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for providing real-time and customized advocacy to consumers over a network. Customizing advocacy is done by selecting one or more advocates most likely to induce a potential customer to engage in a transaction with a product, brand, or service. To select these one or more advocates, an advocate ranking is generated, wherein advocates are ranked by a total advocacy value (an estimation of the likelihood that an advocate will induce a potential customer to engage in a transaction with a product, brand, or service). The total advocacy value is determined by monitoring data regarding advocates, and applying that data to a model. The data can be derived from the interactions of real world entities (RWEs) with the network as well as from information objects (IOs) accessible by the network.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating a message in an electronic messaging environment is provided. A method employed by the system may include generating a personalized communication model related to a user, determining the validity of a token associated with an intended recipient of the message based on information in the personalized communication model, extracting entities from the message, determining whether the entities extracted match the intended recipient, and indicating to the user whether the token is valid and whether the entities match the intended recipient. The tokens correspond to email addresses, phone numbers, and addresses associated with intended recipients. The personalized communication model includes the names and tokens associated with those individuals with whom the user communicates. The personalized communication model is seeded with information including social, spatial, temporal and logical information related to the user.

Abstract: A system and method for Context Enhanced Mapping. A request is received from a user over a network for a map comprising an identification of a physical location, and at least one criteria. The physical location is mapped. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to the physical location and criteria is retrieved using a global index of data available to the network and prioritized for inclusion based upon the user and context of the request. The map of the physical location and at least some of the retrieved spatial, temporal, topical, and social data is displayed on a user interface.