Abstract: A content distribution system allows authors to freely syndicate their content to content distributors in a way that ensures that the author receives appropriate credit for the impact of the content upon readers. The system provides an embeddable control that publishers can embed in a web site or other distribution channel. Authors provide the content displayed within the embeddable control and can include advertisements as well as any content restrictions. For advertisers, the system allows them to advertise with the content instead of the publisher, and allows them to do so in all of the venues that host the content. This places control of monetization of content back in the hands of the author, and incentivizes the author to maximize the distribution of his content to reach the widest possible audience rather than to hoard content at his own site.

Abstract: A local engagement system is described herein that leverages devices people commonly carry with them to dynamically engage them based on their locations and/or activities. One goal of the above referenced system is to leverage the power of the various devices present while providing the audience with a chance to better engage and participate with each other. A side benefit is additional opportunities to market products and services in new and exciting ways. The system includes a presentation component at the event or venue that links to existing systems, a web interface, and optional individual client applications for the devices. Thus, the local engagement system provides a highly engaging experience to people that might otherwise be idle and provides an enhanced opportunity for advertisers or educators to reach the people and give them something entertaining to do.

Abstract: A local engagement system is described herein that leverages devices people commonly carry with them to dynamically engage them based on their locations and/or activities. One goal of the above referenced system is to leverage the power of the various devices present while providing the audience with a chance to better engage and participate with each other. A side benefit is additional opportunities to market products and services in new and exciting ways. The system includes a presentation component at the event or venue that links to existing systems, a web interface, and optional individual client applications for the devices. Thus, the local engagement system provides a highly engaging experience to people that might otherwise be idle and provides an enhanced opportunity for advertisers or educators to reach the people and give them something entertaining to do.

Abstract: An automotive incentive system is described herein that uses vehicle information, location data, customer demographics, and other information to make real-time targeted offers to consumers to encourage particular consumer behavior. The system focuses on the delivery of targeted offers to consumers based on information available from the automobile and geographic information from the car. The system receives vehicle-based information and potentially along with other information identifies one or more offers to provide to the consumer. The system provides an interface through which merchants can add offers to the system and define criteria of consumers and environmental data that trigger each offer. The merchant can specify each of these criteria as well as a corresponding offer. Thus, the automotive incentive system provides consumers with highly relevant offers related to vehicle information and provides merchants with strong sales leads for their products and services.

Abstract: An automated response system is described herein that allows users to submit information queries in a format they are comfortable with while unburdening other users from answering redundant or automatically answerable queries in forums such as email distribution lists. The system provides an email-based smart question and answer system that can be added to existing email or collaboration software to provide automatic replies to common questions. The system can be integrated at a level that prevents such queries from ever reaching other members of the list or can be setup like any other member of the list, receiving and processing queries as they are distributed to list members. Members can vote on responses and the system can automatically use past votes on answers to a question to provide the highest rated answers in response to similar future queries.

Abstract: A content partitioning system is described herein that receives content and automatically determines sentiment information about the content that affects how the content will be displayed. The system can combine sentiment and moderator controls to automatically segregate users by their previous interactions so that they are presented with a subset of content on the site and their influence on the rest of the content is thereby minimized. Upon receiving a request by another user to display content in a forum, the content partitioning system conditionally displays each item based on a variety of criteria. In this way, one group of users can have a reasoned discussion in the same forum that another group of users is behaving badly. Thus, the content partitioning system provides automated moderation of online content that allows discussions to continue in a manner particularly tailored to each user.

Abstract: A dynamic incentive system is described herein that uses location data, customer demographics, and other information to make real-time targeted offers to consumers to encourage particular consumer behavior. In some embodiments, the system provides incentives to attempt to modify consumer behavior. For example, a particular type of merchant may want to reach the consumers of the merchant's competitors to try to win the consumers as customers. Thus, the system may present an offer from the merchant when consumers are detected at the location of a competitor to offer the consumers an incentive to visit the merchant's store. In this way, the dynamic incentive system provides incentives to help merchants sell products and services by reaching more consumers and reaching them in new ways that are highly relevant to the consumers' current activities and location.

Abstract: A dynamic incentive system is described herein that uses location data, customer demographics, and other information to make real-time targeted offers to consumers to encourage a consumer to respond to one or more calls to action. The system receives information about the consumer, such as the consumer's schedule, past purchase history, demographic information, needs, and so forth. The system also collects needs of merchants, such as unfilled appointment times. If the merchant has submitted an offer with a schedule that matches the consumer's, the system may offer the consumer an incentive to visit the merchant. The incentive may include a coupon for a discount on the merchant's services, an offer to unlock digital content, or any other incentive. Thus, the dynamic incentive system provides incentives to help merchants sell products and services by reaching more consumers and reaching them in new ways that are highly relevant to the consumers' current activities and location.

Abstract: A dynamic incentive system is described herein that uses location data, customer demographics, and other information to make real-time targeted offers to consumers to encourage particular consumer behavior. In some embodiments, the dynamic incentive system attempts to reach consumers that are already at a location to perform some behavior. For example, a store in a mall may want to reach out to visitors to the mall to let them know about a particular sale or product for which the store has excess inventory. Upon detecting that a matching consumer is at the location, the system may present an offer to the consumer informing the consumer of the merchant's offer. Thus, the dynamic incentive system provides incentives to help merchants sell products and services by reaching more consumers and reaching them in new ways that are highly relevant to the consumers' current activities and location.

Abstract: A dynamic incentive system is described herein that uses location data, customer demographics, and other information to make real-time targeted offers to consumers to encourage particular consumer behavior. The system provides incentives for consumers to visit a particular merchant's store. The system may offer to unlock a digital content item if the consumer goes to the merchant's store. Merchants can define various offers and conditions for which the consumer can earn the incentive. Thus, the dynamic incentive system provides incentives to help merchants sell products and services by reaching more consumers and reaching them in new ways that are highly relevant to the consumers' current activities and location.

Abstract: A sentiment visualization system provides a method for identifying content sentiment visually, and does so in a way that is also relevant to individuals who are colorblind. The system provides multiple visual cues that identify sentiment. In some embodiments, the visualization shows a bar that displays a color gradient. The color gradient is anchored by a positive color on one end and a negative color on the other end. The bar contains a color-neutral notch that represents where the sentiment value lies. The system may also allow a viewing user to reclassify an automatically determined sentiment of an item, such as by dragging a notch or other control on the visual display to a new location. Thus, the sentiment visualization system allows users to quickly sift through a large amount of content and identify high priority items for which a fast response is warranted.

Abstract: A content distribution system allows authors to freely syndicate their content to content distributors in a way that ensures that the author receives appropriate credit for the impact of the content upon readers. The system provides an embeddable control that publishers can embed in a web site or other distribution channel. Authors provide the content displayed within the embeddable control and can include advertisements as well as any content restrictions. For advertisers, the system allows them to advertise with the content instead of the publisher, and allows them to do so in all of the venues that host the content. This places control of monetization of content back in the hands of the author, and incentivizes the author to maximize the distribution of his content to reach the widest possible audience rather than to hoard content at his own site.