Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining and playing video advertisements in conjunction with play of video content make use of partner advertising providers to reduce the time required to identify and obtain the video advertisements. An instantiation of a video player software application receives and analyzes bids from partner advertising providers and selects a winning bid before a user issues a play command. As a result, it is often possible to immediately begin playing a video advertisement the instant the user issues a play command.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining and playing video advertisements in conjunction with play of video content make use of partner advertising providers to reduce the time required to identify and obtain the video advertisements. An instantiation of a video player software application receives and analyzes bids from partner advertising providers and selects a winning bid before a user issues a play command. As a result, it is often possible to immediately begin playing a video advertisement the instant the user issues a play command.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining and playing video advertisements in conjunction with play of video content make use of partner advertising providers to reduce the time required to identify and obtain the video advertisements. An instantiation of a video player software application receives and analyzes bids from partner advertising providers and selects a winning bid before a user issues a play command. As a result, it is often possible to immediately begin playing a video advertisement the instant the user issues a play command.

Abstract: A method and system for single-action personalized recommendation and display of content via the Internet. The recommendation is given by a server system and received by a client system. The content itself has been previously recommended to the server system by the users of the client system. Client system recommendations to the server system are also invoked with a single-action. Recommended content is referred to by a URL. Users can rate content to the server system using a single-action. The server system performs recommendation calculations using user-specific information such as user preferences, demographic data, content rating history, and content-specific information. The content rating history of other users may also influence these calculations. Client systems display recommended content directly to the user in response to only a single-action.

Abstract: An electronic auction system known as the Yahoo! Auction System provides functionality that permits users to conduct auction transactions with various payment units, such as incentive points and credit points, as well as money. Points can be earned in a variety of ways and redeemed via online auctions. The Yahoo! Auction System includes a web server, a messaging server, a database server, and various databases including an account database for storing information about account balance, expiration date for each point or group of points, and redemption information. The Yahoo! Auction System provides different auction formats, such as Standard Auction, Dutch Auction, Progressive Auction, Buy-or-Bid Auction, and Declining Bid Auction. The Yahoo! Auction System reserves the bid amount associated any new valid bid in the bidder's account and unreserves those bid amounts that were previously reserved but are no longer the winning bid or otherwise displaced from the top bid positions.

Abstract: An electronic points system that allows consumers to redeem online those points that were earned offline is described. In one implementation, the offline-online points system is applied to a soft drink bottle caps program. A soft drink company is sponsoring a promotions program where certain bottle caps are worth so many points. A consumer buys a soft drink bottle at a local store. The lucky consumer discovers that he is the beneficiary of a winning bottle cap, and in particular, a bottle cap that is worth N points. Instead of redeeming this winning bottle cap in the traditional way, the consumer logs onto the soft drink company's website and registers his bottle cap code. Thereafter, after registration, the consumer can redeem these points for any merchandise that is available for purchase with these points at any participating company's online store.

Abstract: An apparatus utilizes miniaturized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and ion-selective self-assembled monolayer (SAM) and hydrogel chemistry to measure metal ion concentrations in liquids. The SPR optical system is packaged in a compact and cost-effective form factor. An electronic circuit drives the optical system. The SPR system utilizes an optical window that is coated with the SAM layer or hydrogel material. The SAM layer and hydrogel materials are highly selective to a specific metal ion of interest. The miniaturized SPR sensor is situated in an optical-fluidic cell or an optical-fluidic manifold with the SAM layer or hydrogel material in contact with the liquid. Metal ions selectively attach to the SAM layer or hydrogel material, thereby affecting the SPR signal. Changes in the SPR signal are used to accurately determine the metal ion concentration in the liquid. The liquids may be either static or dynamic.

Abstract: Shipping and storage containers, racks, and pallets including automatic interlocking mechanisms are provided. An embodiment of the automatically locking pallet includes a pallet frame including a forklift tine opening, a pallet platform, a locking component movable into and out of a locking arrangement with an interface fitting of a storage assembly when the automatically locking pallet and the storage assembly are stacked, and an actuator operatively connected to the locking component. The actuator may be activated by a forklift tine entering the forklift tine opening to move the locking component out of the locking arrangement.

Abstract: Shipping and storage systems convertible between containers and racks are provided. Collapsible shipping and storage systems are provided, which include pallets with novel locking mechanisms. An embodiment includes a first pallet having an interface fitting and a locking component, a second pallet having a second interface fitting and a second locking component, and structural support members positionable between the pallets for supporting one of the pallets in spaced relation over the other pallet. The structural support members may include frame members and walls interchangeable with one another. The frame members may be combined with the pallets to establish a rack system having an open storage area. The walls also may be combined with the pallets to establish a storage container having a compartment.

Abstract: Shipping and storage containers, racks, and pallets including interlocking mechanisms are provided. An embodiment of the pallet includes openings, interface fittings aligned with the openings, respectively, and sized to fit into openings of identical sizes and configurations as the first and second openings, respectively, locking components operatively connected to one another, and an actuator for moving concomitantly the locking components into and out of the openings, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus utilizes miniaturized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and ion-selective self-assembled monolayer (SAM) and hydrogel chemistry to measure metal ion concentrations in liquids. The SPR optical system is packaged in a compact and cost-effective form factor. An electronic circuit drives the optical system. The SPR system utilizes an optical window that is coated with the SAM layer or hydrogel material. The SAM layer and hydrogel materials are highly selective to a specific metal ion of interest. The miniaturized SPR sensor is situated in an optical-fluidic cell or an optical-fluidic manifold with the SAM layer or hydrogel material in contact with the liquid. Metal ions selectively attach to the SAM layer or hydrogel material, thereby affecting the SPR signal. Changes in the SPR signal are used to accurately determine the metal ion concentration in the liquid. The liquids may be either static or dynamic.

Abstract: An electronic points system that allows consumers to redeem online those points that were earned offline is described. In one implementation, the offline-online points system is applied to a soft drink bottle caps program. A soft drink company is sponsoring a promotions program where certain bottle caps are worth so many points. A consumer buys a soft drink bottle at a local store. The lucky consumer discovers that he is the beneficiary of a winning bottle cap, and in particular, a bottle cap that is worth N points. Instead of redeeming this winning bottle cap in the traditional way, the consumer logs onto the soft drink company's website and registers his bottle cap code. Thereafter, after registration, the consumer can redeem these points for any merchandise that is available for purchase with these points at any participating company's online store.

Abstract: A method and system for single-action personalized recommendation and display of content via the Internet. The recommendation is given by a server system and received by a client system. The content itself has been previously recommended to the server system by the users of the client system. Client system recommendations to the server system are also invoked with a single-action. Recommended content is referred to by a URL. Users can rate content to the server system using a single-action. The server system performs recommendation calculations using user-specific information such as user preferences, demographic data, content rating history, and content-specific information. The content rating history of other users may also influence these calculations. Client systems display recommended content directly to the user in response to only a single-action.