Abstract: Systems and methods to enable a co-located group to be used as an authorization mechanism are discussed. For example, a method to receive a group account configuration, define a group account according to the group account configuration, receive a transaction authorization request associated with the group account, and authorize payment from the group account. The account configuration including a membership list and a target location. The method further including determining whether the transaction authorization request includes data identifying an identified user on the membership list. The method also including determining whether the identified user on the membership list is physically proximate to the target location. The authorizing payment from the group account including verifying that the identified user is determined to be physically proximate to the target location.

Abstract: A method for providing a purchase history context search includes receiving at least one search term from a user through an input device. A purchase history for the user is then accessed from at least one purchase history database over a network. A web index that is located on at least one storage device is then accessed. A plurality of search results, each associated with a web page indexed by the web index, are then determined using the at least one search term and the purchase history, each search result including a link to an associated web page. The plurality of search results are then provided for display on a display device.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a method including: receiving a request to access an object from a user; prompting the user to go to a target location; receiving feedback from the user with respect to the user's location; determining, electronically by a processor, whether the user has reached the target location; granting access of the object to the user in response to the determining. The present disclosure involves a system including: a storage storing an electronic item; an electronic communications interface that: detects a request to access the item from an entity and prompts the entity to go to a target location in response to the request; a computer processor that: analyzes feedback from the entity with respect to the entity's location, determines whether the entity's location is sufficiently close to the target location, and grants or denies access of the item to the entity based on the determination.

Abstract: A location-based payer charging system includes a charging database including at least one transportation charge element associated with a transportation provider. A system provider device in the location-based payer charging system is coupled to a network and the charging database. The system provider device is operable to receive first location data from a payer device over the network in response to the payer device entering a first transportation area, and then receive second location data from the payer device over the network in response to the payer device exiting a second transportation area. The system provider device will then determine a payment amount using the first location data, the second location data, and a transportation charge element retrieved from the charging data, and send an instruction to charge the payment amount to a payer account that is associated with the payer device.

Abstract: A method for charging a payer includes detecting a payer device, which is associated with a payer account, entering an event area. The payer device is then associated with an event invoice in a database. When the payer device is determined to have been involved in at least one payer charging event while being located in the event area, a charge is associated with the event invoice in the database for each payer charging event the payer device has been involved in. When the payer device is detected leaving the event area, a payment is charged to the payer account for the event invoice.

Abstract: A host on the World Wide Web acquires a variety of facilities as subscribers and then proceeds to undertake control of the printing of images captured at the various subscribing facilities. A user is enabled to select the quality of image content captured by a digital camera. An implementation for capturing said image content at a facility controlled by a facility host includes a user computer station connected to said Web, apparatus for printing the captured image content associated with the user computer station, the user is enabled to select a level of image print quality for said captured image, the user computer station controlling the printing is connected to the remote facility host and a control implementation enables the facility host to permit said printing means to print the captured image at the user selected image print quality.

Abstract: A method for providing payer information on a payer device includes providing a payer device that includes at least one physical state change component moveably coupled to the payer device. Payer information is received over a network. The payer information is then determined to be associated with a physical state change instruction in a non-transitory, machine-readable medium of the payer device. The at least one physical state change component is then actuated according to the physical state change instruction to provide the payer information to a payer by changing the physical state of the payer device.

Abstract: A method for authenticating an access attempt includes detecting an access attempt by a user device over a network. A challenge-response authentication is provided over the network to the user device. The challenge-response authentication includes an image having a plurality of image objects. The challenge-response authentication is operable to display the image such that at least one of the plurality of image objects is in focus and at least one of the plurality of image objects is not in focus. In response to providing the challenge-response authentication, an authentication response is received from the user device over the network, and it is determined whether the authentication response includes an indication of the at least one of the plurality of image objects that is in focus to determine whether to authenticate or deny the access attempt.

Abstract: A method of authorizing the activation of a card holder's spending card is provided. The method includes receiving a request from the card holder to authorize the activation of the spending card and then requesting identity verification of the card holder. Following the identity verification request, the method includes obtaining a geographic location of the card holder. After determining the geographic location of the card holder, the method may include temporarily activating the deactivated spending card and instructing the card holder to conduct at least one transaction with the spending card at at least one selected location, wherein the selected location is selected based on the geographic location of the card holder. Spending card activity may be monitored to determine whether the at least one transaction was completed, and, based on whether the at least one transaction was completed, the activation of the spending card may be authorized.

Abstract: Controlling the audio-visual recording by audio-visual recording devices within a facility comprising the host or owner of the facility predetermining a plurality of value levels of at least one attribute of said audio-visual content and predetermining a plurality of limitations on the recording of audio-visual content, each corresponding to each of the value levels. There is sensing the value level of said at least one attribute and limiting the recording of said audio-visual content based upon the value level of the one attribute.

Abstract: A method and system to confirm ownership of digital goods is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving, from a client device via a data network interface, a request for a digital good, completing one or more micro transactions with respect to a financial account, generating a code utilizing information derived from the one or more micro transactions and embedding the code into a first copy of the digital good, the code to be used to confirm ownership of the digital good.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking web link usage is provided. An example system includes a request detector, a click history module, a link presentation generator, and a serving module. The request detector may be configured to receive a request for a web page comprising a web link. The click history module may be configured to access click history associated with the user account. The link presentation generator may be configured to modify the web page, utilizing the click history. The serving module may be configured to serve the modified web page in response to the request for the web page.

Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, a system, a method, and a related non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, of targeting advertisements based on a lifestyle change for an individual is disclosed. The method includes scanning a plurality of social sites to determine the lifestyle change and making a determination whether one or more keywords related to the lifestyle change are found in at least one of the plurality of social sites. Based on the determination that the one or more keywords are found in at least one of the plurality of social sites, the method continues with querying an end-user of the at least one of the plurality of social sites, determining an event related to the lifestyle change, matching an advertisement targeted to the event, and electronically sending the targeted advertisement to either the end-user or the individual.

Abstract: A method for making a location-based automatic payment includes receiving an automatic payment instruction that designates a payee account. The automatic payment instruction is associated with a payer account in a database. A payment location is received and associated with the automatic payment request in the database. A payer device that is associated with the payer account is determined to be in the payment location and, in response, a payment request is sent over a network to make a payment from the payer account to the payee account.

Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, a system and related method of determining group preferences from a group of end-users and targeting an advertisement to the end-users based on the group preferences is provided. The method includes electronically collecting information from electronic devices of the end-users; determining an overall preference of the plurality of end-users based on the collected information; and transmitting an advertisement to the electronic devices of the end-users based on the determination of the overall preference.

Abstract: A method for restricting a payment from an account based on a user location includes receiving at least one payment location restriction for an account from a user device over a network. The at least one payment location restriction includes at least one authorized user location or at least one unauthorized user location for making payments using the account. The at least one payment location restriction is associated with the account in a database. A request to make a payment using the account is received over the network. A current user location is determined. The request to make the payment is then authorized or denied based, at least partly, on whether the current user location is included in the at least one authorized user location or the at least one unauthorized user location.

Abstract: A method for restricting a payment from an account based on a time includes receiving at least one payment time restriction for an account from a user device over a network. The at least one payment time restriction includes at least one authorized payment time or at least one unauthorized payment time for making payments using the account. The at least one payment time restriction is associated with the account in a database. A request to make a payment using the account is received over the network. A current time is determined. The request is authorized or denied based, at least partly, on whether the current time is included in the at least one authorized payment time or the at least one unauthorized payment time.

Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, a method of selecting and retrieving information related to selectable items in a dynamic digital event (e.g., a movie) is presented. Each of the selectable items is available for purchase by an end-user. The method includes preparing the digital event for presentation on an electronic device of the end-user. Preparing the digital event includes generating tags for each of the selectable items within the digital event and adding metadata for each item. The metadata includes a description for each item. An indication is displayed to the end-user that one or more of the selectable items are present within at least a portion of the digital event. A determination is made whether the end-user has selected at least one item. Based on a determination that the end-user has selected at least one item, the metadata associated with the at least one item is displayed to the end-user.

Abstract: A method for making a location-based automatic payment includes receiving an automatic payment instruction that designates a payee account. The automatic payment instruction is associated with a payer account in a database. A payment location is received and associated with the automatic payment request in the database. A payer device that is associated with the payer account is determined to be in the payment location and, in response, a payment request is sent over a network to make a payment from the payer account to the payee account.

Abstract: A method for making a payment using an image includes receiving an image from a camera. The image is analyzed using a processor. A payee indicator that is included in the image is determined. Payee information from a database is retrieved using the payee indicator. A request to make a payment to a payee is sent over a network using the payee information. Thus, a payer may take an image that includes a payee indicator and the method will use that payee indicator to retrieve payee information that may include a current payment due to the payee and a due date for that payment, and the payer may quickly and easily send a request to make that payment to a payment service provider to ensure that the payment is made to the payee.