Abstract: A method of negotiating an electronic commerce (e-commerce) transaction for the sale of a selected good can include identifying an asking price for the selected good and retrieving from memory merchant business objectives (MBOs) and consumer privacy rules (CPRs). The MBOs can specify incentive information corresponding to a proposed exchange of consumer information and the CPRs can specify asking prices corresponding to the proposed exchange of consumer information. The MBOs can be compared to the CPRs to determine if an agreement can be reached for the sale of the selected good with an incentive based upon the proposed exchange of consumer information. The e-commerce transaction for the sale of the selected good with the incentive can be consummated if in the comparing step it is determined that an agreement can be reached.

Abstract: A continually improving method for providing information to receivers which can include the step of receiving a request from a remotely located information requestor that specifies at least one information receiver. A transaction can be initiated to handle the request. The transaction can utilize previously recorded information to determine at least one adjustable condition to be used. The previously recorded information can be specific to the information requestor and/or the information receiver. The transaction can generate at least one result for the information receiver. The generated result can be tailored for information privileges granted to the information receiver by an information controller. The result can be conveyed to the information receiver. Feedback can be received concerning the result. At least one of the adjustable conditions can be adjusted in accordance with the feedback. The recorded information can be changed to include the adjusted condition.

Abstract: A method and system for generating codified electronic records. A textual commentary can be received from a user and, in real time, the textual commentary can be analyzed to identify a plurality of codes that potentially correlate to the textual commentary. The identified codes then can be presented to the user in real time. A first user input can be received to select at least one of the identified codes, and the selected code can be added to an electronic record.

Abstract: A method of message delivery can include registering a plurality of reception states for a receiving party. The reception states can specify conditions for establishing communications links with receiving party addresses. A receiving party address can be identified from a first initiated communications link between the sending party and the receiving party. Reception state data specified by the plurality of reception states can be determined according to the receiving party address and can be presented to the sending party.

Abstract: A method of negotiating an electronic commerce (e-commerce) transaction for the sale of a selected good can include identifying an asking price for the selected good and retrieving from memory merchant business objectives (MBOs) and consumer privacy rules (CPRs). The MBOs can specify incentive information corresponding to a proposed exchange of consumer information and the CPRs can specify asking prices corresponding to the proposed exchange of consumer information. The MBOs can be compared to the CPRs to determine if an agreement can be reached for the sale of the selected good with an incentive based upon the proposed exchange of consumer information. The e-commerce transaction for the sale of the selected good with the incentive can be consummated if in the comparing step it is determined that an agreement can be reached.

Abstract: A method of message delivery can include registering a plurality of reception states for a receiving party. The reception states can specify conditions for establishing communications links with receiving party addresses. A receiving party address can be identified from a first initiated communications link between the sending party and the receiving party. Reception state data specified by the plurality of reception states can be determined according to the receiving party address and can be presented to the sending party.

Abstract: A method for providing information to a receiver can include the step of receiving a request from a remotely located information requestor that specifics an information receiver: initiating a transaction to handle the request utilizing previously recorded information that can be specific to the information requestor or receiver to determine at least one adjustable condition used by the transaction: the transaction generating at least one result for the information receiver, which is tailored for information privileges granted to the information receiver by an information controller: conveying the result to the information receiver: receiving feedback concerning the result from the information requestor or receiver; adjusting one of the at least one adjustable condition in accordance with the feedback: changing the recorded information to include the adjusted condition; and using the adjusted condition in handling a subsequent request by the information requestor that specifies the information receiver.

Abstract: A continually improving method for providing information to receivers which can include the step of receiving a request from a remotely located information requestor that specifies at least one information receiver. A transaction can be initiated to handle the request. The transaction can utilize previously recorded information to determine at least one adjustable condition to be used. The previously recorded information can be specific to the information requestor and/or the information receiver. The transaction can generate at least one result for the information receiver. The generated result can be tailored for information privileges granted to the information receiver by an information controller. The result can be conveyed to the information receiver. Feedback can be received concerning the result. At least one of the adjustable conditions can be adjusted in accordance with the feedback. The recorded information can be changed to include the adjusted condition.

Abstract: The present invention cain include a method for providing a real time information service. The method can receive real time data feeds from remotely located data sources. Data from one or more static data feeds can optionally be combined with the real time data. Data elements from the feeds can be input into at least one predictive application. Predictive results can be generated by the predictive application. An information dispatch can be generated from the predictive results. The dispatch can be conveyed to a remotely located information consumer before events that are indicated by the predictive results occur. As the real time data from the data feeds changes, additional dispatches can be automatically convey,ed to the information consumer in a timely fashion.

Abstract: A method for providing information to requestors that includes the step of receiving a request from a remotely located information requestor. The request can be associated with an information controller and with a designated purpose. A transaction can be initiated to handle the request and to deliver a result to an information receiver. A record store can be queried for information associated with the information controller and associated with the designated purpose. The information requestor and the information receiver may not be authorized to directly access content of the record store. At least one request result can be generated based at least in part upon information returned from the querying step. Each request result can correspond to each information receiver and be tailored for information privileges of the information receiver. The information privileges can be established by the information controller. The request result can be conveyed to the information receiver.

Abstract: A method of chat messaging can include, establishing communication links with at least a first and a second participant for exchanging chat messages through a chat engine. A state change can be detected for the first participant. An alternate communication channel and an alternate communication channel address can be determined from a user profile of the first participant. While maintaining the communication link with the second participant, a different communication link can be established using the alternative communication channel and the alternative communication channel address. The first participant and the second participant can be communicatively linked subsequent to establishing the connection through the chat engine.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a method to automate the replenishment of one or more items on a shopping list.

Abstract: A method of delivering targeted application generated information to multiple users can include generating data items to be output to classes of at least one user and associating the data items with data categories. The data categories can be associated with at least one of the classes of users. The data items can be distributed to classes of users that are associated with the data categories of the data items.

Abstract: A method produces a shopping list consisting of one or more items, wherein at least one item in the shopping list is a perishable item. The method operates in an e-commerce site and includes the steps of: storing one or more consumer shopping lists of respective consumers at the e-commerce site; storing a list of items previously purchased by one or more consumers from the e-commerce site; receiving a request from a consumer for at least one consumer shopping list; and determining if the request from the consumer is from a consumer that has previously purchased one or more perishable items from the e-commerce site. If the consumer has previously purchased one or more perishable items from the e-commerce site, then the method performs the sub-steps of: reviewing if any items previously purchased are perishable items with expiration dates; and adding to the at least one consumer shopping list one or more perishable items that have exceeded a predefined expiration date range.

Abstract: A method for producing a shopping list consisting of one or more items, wherein at least one item in the shopping list is a consumable item. The method on an e-commerce site comprising the storing data representing an inventory of items for sale at the e-commerce site. The purchase history of the items purchased by the consumers at the e-commerce site is stored along with the shopping list. A predetermined useful life of at least one item purchased in the purchase history by scanning a product code during the previous delivery of consumable items. The product code includes a date embedded therein. A useful life is predicted based on the rate of consumption by the plurality of consumers is stored. When a request is received from a consumer for a shopping lists to build an active shopping list the purchase history for the consumer to determine if a consumable item previously purchased from the purchase history has exceeded the predetermined useful life is reviewed.

Abstract: A method of chat messaging can include, establishing communication links with at least a first and a second participant for exchanging chat messages through a chat engine. A state change can be detected for the first participant. An alternate communication channel and an alternate communication channel address can be determined from a user profile of the first participant. While maintaining the communication link with the second participant, a different communication link can be established using the alternative communication channel and the alternative communication channel address. The first participant and the second participant can be communicatively linked subsequent to establishing the connection through the chat engine.

Abstract: A method of delivering targeted application generated information to multiple users can include generating data items to be output to classes of at least one user and associating the data items with data categories. The data categories can be associated with at least one of the classes of users. The data items can be distributed to classes of users that are associated with the data categories of the data items.

Abstract: A method of message delivery can include registering a plurality of reception states for a receiving party. The reception states can specify conditions for establishing communications links with receiving party addresses. A receiving party address can be identified from a first initiated communications link between the sending party and the receiving party. Reception state data specified by the plurality of reception states can be determined according to the receiving party address and can be presented to the sending party.

Abstract: A method of negotiating an electronic commerce (e-commerce) transaction for the sale of a selected good can include identifying an asking price for the selected good and retrieving from memory merchant business objectives (MBOs) and consumer privacy rules (CPRs). The MBOs can specify incentive information corresponding to a proposed exchange of consumer information and the CPRs can specify asking prices corresponding to the proposed exchange of consumer information. The MBOs can be compared to the CPRs to determine if an agreement can be reached for the sale of the selected good with an incentive based upon the proposed exchange of consumer information. The e-commerce transaction for the sale of the selected good with the incentive can be consummated if in the comparing step it is determined that an agreement can be reached.

Abstract: In an electronic commerce system, a method of offering an enticement to a consumer during a purchase transaction can include identifying a first item having been selected for purchase by the consumer from an electronic commerce site. Enticement rules, which can specify one or more enticements can be consulted. The method further can include determining one of the enticements based upon the enticement rules and the first item. The enticement can provide the consumer with a buying opportunity relating to a second item associated with the first item. Also, the enticement can be presented to the consumer.