Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for facilitating attention to a communication provided by one entity to another entity and for allowing an entity to prioritize communications sent or received by the entity. A method for facilitating attention to a communication includes associating a quantity of at least one attention unit to a first entity and allowing the first entity to provide a communication to a second entity. The said communication has one or more attention units and at least one associated criterion associated with it, either by the first entity or by default. When the criterion is satisfied, the number of attention units associated with either the first entity and/or the second entity may be changed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided wherein a mobile user device operates in accordance with a location policy and user device information. According to one embodiment, a location policy associated with a location is determined. For example, a school may establish a location policy that prevents students from wirelessly exchanging information during class. User device information associated with a mobile user device is also determined. For example, it may be determined if the mobile user device is being used by a student or a teacher. It is then arranged for the mobile user device to operate in accordance with the location policy and the user device information.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for providing and receiving information regarding a product. According to embodiments of the present invention, a location (e.g., a Web site, database) is established or determined wherein information regarding a product or a person can be found. Access to some or all of the information may be limited or provided only to specific people or devices. The information may be information regarding a product and an address associated with the location may be provided to a recipient of the product, a provider of the provider, etc. The receiver of the address can use the address to access the information or pass the address along to others. The information may be updated by or based on the recipient, the provider, or another party or device. In some embodiments, the address may be printed directly on packaging associated with a product.

Abstract: A system to transfer electronic information includes reception of a command to transmit a file of electronic information. In response to the received command, the file of electronic information is automatically copied to create a copied file of electronic information, the copied file is transmitted, and the file of electronic information is rendered unusable. By rendering the file of electronic information unusable after copying the file, no additional usable copies of the file will remain. As a result, a degree of protection is provided to any copyright interest in the electronic information embodied therein.

Abstract: A method, system, and product are described for locating items which satisfy a general requirement and then ranking those items according to the utility of each type of item. A general requirement is first received. A utility is specified for each of multiple types of items which would satisfy the general requirement. Available items are then located which match one of the specified types of items. The located available items are then ranked utilizing the utility specified for the types of items.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for facilitating the display of an advertisement with software. According to embodiments of the present invention, a method includes determining a portion of software; determining an advertisement; and establishing a relationship between said portion of software and said advertisement such that an interruption of use of said portion of software on a device can occur, said interruption of use associated with at least one display of said advertisement by said device. In some embodiments, a benefit may be associated with the advertisement that is based, at least in part, on display of the advertisement.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for providing content to a device, wherein operation of the device may be interrupted as a result of a display of content by the device. According to embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of content segments can be identified or selected. In addition, a device (e.g., computer, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant) associated with a recipient of the content segments can be identified or selected. The content segments can then be provided to the device in such a way that display of a content segment by the device may interrupt operation of the device, thereby providing focus on the content segment.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for providing content. One or more content segments can be identified or selected based on an attribute (e.g., age, location, occupation) of a person. In addition, one or more devices (e.g., computer, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant) associated with the person may be identified or selected. One or more of the content segments can be provided to one or more of the devices for further use or transmittal by the person. The person may transmit or otherwise send one or more of the content segments to people within a localized area or who ask or desire to receive the content segments. In some embodiments, a person may be compensated for receiving and/or broadcasting a content segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate access to an information address. According to one embodiment, it is determined that an information address is related to an electronic message. For example, a URL address may be received in an e-mail message. The information address is then associated with the electronic message and/or a message address. According to another embodiment, an information address is determined along with metadata associated with the information address (e.g., by accessing a Web site associated with a URL address). It is then determined at a user device whether or not the information address will be stored based on the metadata.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for placing an item for sale includes providing an identification of an item that can be placed for sale along with an indication of a single action that can be performed for placing the item for sale. Upon receiving an indication of a completion of the single action, the item can be placed for sale in one or more designated marketplaces.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for using physical characteristic information obtained from two or more subjects to help evaluate subjects or to determine a course of action to take with the subjects includes receiving data indicative of one or more physical characteristics from two or more subjects, determining an evaluation of the data, and providing a notification to a device of the evaluation. A physical characteristic of a subject might be or include the subject's heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar level, posture, temperature, respiration rate, facial response or position, weight, height, galvanic skin response, pheromone emission, brain wave pattern or rhythm, odor, motion, etc., or a change in any one or more of them.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided wherein a consuming device receives an executable consumption program. According to one embodiment, a consuming device transmits a request for the executable consumption program to a consumable item or to a device associated with a consumable item. The consumable item or the device associated with the consumable item then transmits the executable consumption program to the consuming item. For example, a fuel pump may transmit an updated fuel injection software program to an automobile. According to another embodiment, a consuming device receives a supplemental consumable item in response to execution of the executable consumption program.

Abstract: A system to obtain customer information includes detection of interactions of a customer within a retail store, and storage of customer interaction information representing the interactions in a portable customer device. In another aspect, a system to obtain customer information includes detection of customer interactions with an employee, and storage of customer interaction information representing the interactions in a portable customer device. The employee may be located within a retail store or elsewhere, such as a customer service telephone extension.

Abstract: A system to obtain item information includes capture of an image of an item identifier, transmission of the image, and, in response to the transmission, reception of item information associated with an item identified by the item identifier. Embodiments of this system allow usage of item identifiers and associated item information by any system in which an image can be transmitted and item information can be received.

Abstract: A system to acquire information associated with a location includes search of a network for sensor measurements associated with a location, and acquisition from the network of a plurality of sensor measurements associated with the location. According to the invention, the acquired plurality of sensor measurements includes measurements obtained by a plurality of entities. By virtue of this arrangement, a user is able to efficiently receive a representation of the location based on available sensor measurements.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate a transaction wherein a purchaser is associated with an approver. For example, a consumer purchaser may request an item from a merchant. The merchant may then transmit information to the associated approver, such as by sending an electronic mail message to child's parent. If the approver approves the transaction, the item is provided to the purchaser.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided wherein a base device facilitates a determination of a location associated with an occurrence of an event. A location of the base device is determined, and the base device receives information from an event device. For example, a device in a police automobile may receive information from a police handgun via a wireless communication. Information is then stored to enable a determination of a location associated with an occurrence of an event.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate an exchange of supplemental information in association with a dispensing of fuel. For example, a gasoline dispensing device may receive from a customer device a request for supplemental information, such as a request to receive an audio file or an updated emissions control software program. Supplemental information may then be transmitted to the customer device while gasoline is being dispensed to an automobile. According to one embodiment, the customer provides payment in exchange for the supplemental information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided wherein a consumable item parameter is exchanged between a consumable item and a consuming device. According to one embodiment, a consumable item parameter request is transmitted to a device associated with a consumable item, and the consumable item parameter is then received. The device may comprise, for example, the consumable item or a device associated with dispensing the consumable item. The device may also comprise, for example, a device associated with a consumption of the consumable item, a device adapted to control a consumption of the consumable item, or a device that consumes the consumable item.

Abstract: A method and system are described for decentralized order matching among multiple different, individual marketplaces. An order is first received within one of the individual marketplaces, an originating marketplace. Information about the order is then transmitted to other individual marketplaces. Each of the individual marketplaces which received the information about the order, the receiving marketplaces, then determines whether that individual marketplace can match the order with at least one matching order posted in the receiving marketplace's order book. In response to a determination that one of the receiving marketplaces can match the received order, the received order is cleared from the originating marketplace and the matching order is cleared from the receiving marketplace's order book.