Abstract: Techniques are provided in which advertisements are presented to a user via access to electronic reading content. A first set of information is obtained regarding electronic reading content evidenced as being accessed by the user. A second set of information is obtained pertaining to a particular user. Using both sets of information, advertising targeting parameters are generated to target the user with one or more advertisements by inserting the advertisements within Based at least in part on the targeting parameters, the user is targeted with at least one advertisement via inserting the advertisement within the electronic reading content.

Abstract: Techniques are provided that include using a collaborative arrangement between a first entity associated with a physical location, such as a physical store or residence that has or sells one or more products of a first product type, and a second entity, such as a Web site offering for purchase products of the first product type. According to some such arrangements, if, for example, a user purchases a product from the Web site after the user evidently made a visit to the physical location, or received a display or demonstration of a product of the first product type at the physical location, then revenue or value resulting from the purchase may be split or shared between entities including the first entity and the second entity.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed in which an estimated time a user will have to wait before a user selected video begins playing is calculated. The estimated time may be calculated based on, for example, speed of the connection, quality of the video (e.g., HD versus standard definition), length of the video, load on the server at the current time, etc. A game may be selected based at least in part on the calculated estimated wait time and the approximate time to finish the game. In some embodiments, one or more advertisements may be selected based on, for example, the type of video selected by the user (e.g., Sci-Fi, Action, Comedy, etc.), the search term(s) used by the user to search for the video, history of games played (e.g., what games, if any, has the user played previously), etc. The selected game and the one or more advertisements may be served to the user substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a user with supplemental content associated with a product or item the user sees or hears in a video. The system and method include receiving, by a server computer over a network from a client device, an audio clip associated with a portion of a video; determining, by the server computer, that the video is a specific media program; using, by the server computer, the captured audio clip to map the portion of the video with supplemental content for a product associated with the portion of the video; and communicating, by the server computer, the supplemental content for the product to the client device for display on the client device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recommending social networking connections are disclosed. Information is received from a mobile device relating to software applications that are installed on a first user's mobile device. A weight for each software application is calculated based on usage information and each software application is designated to at least one category. A priority is calculated for each category based at least in part on respective weights of software applications designated to the category. A second user, who is not connected to the first user, is detected, wherein the second user has a predetermined number of categories that are the same as the first user's categories, and wherein priorities corresponding to the second user's categories are within a predetermined range of priorities corresponding to the first user's categories. A recommendation to connect with the second user is provided to the first user.

Abstract: Methods and systems for targeting advertisements to mobile electronic devices while the devices are being charged are disclosed. An indication is received from a mobile electronic device that the device is currently being charged. Targeting criteria are determined based at least in part on usage of the mobile electronic device during a time period between the last charge and the current charge. An advertisement is selected based at least in part on the targeting criteria. The advertisement is transmitted to the mobile electronic device for display on the mobile electronic device.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for use in providing advertisers and other entities with information relating to target audiences. Techniques are provided in which driving related statistical information such as speed, acceleration, etc. may be obtained from risk assessment devices. The collected information may be used to calculate a risk assessment score. Ads may be selected, generated, or modified based on one or more of the risk assessment score, location information, and the user's online profile information. The ads may be transmitted to the user's mobile device or PC for display.

Abstract: Techniques are provided which collect user generated online review information related to a product, and detecting at least information related to an assessment or opinion related to the product included within user generated online communication information. The information related to an assessment or opinion related to the product may be extracted. It may be determined whether the online review information and the information related to an assessment or opinion include fraudulent information. The fraudulent information from the online review information and the information related to an assessment or opinion may be filtered out to generate genuine online review information and genuine information related to an assessment or opinion. The genuine online review information and the genuine information related to an assessment or opinion may each be assigned respective weights, and integrated to create a review summary for the product.

Abstract: Techniques are provided which allow users to view historical price information for a product, and which allow users to specify a desired purchase price. Historical price information may be collected and displayed to the user in a graphical format. The user may specify a desired purchase price that the user is willing to pay for the product. The user provided price may be presented to a seller of the product. The user may be targeted with an offer to purchase the product at the user provided price or may be targeted with advertisements or recommendations for a similar product. Some techniques include targeting a group of users including the user with the offer if the group of users includes at least a predetermined number of users, where each user in the group provided the user provided price.

Abstract: A system for targeting advertising can include a communications interface and a processor. The communications interface can receive data associated with times of use of applications. The processor can be communicatively coupled to the communications interface and can categorize the applications by genres. The categorization is within a time of use group and is based on at least part of the retrieved data. The processor can also determine priority values associated with the genres based on levels of use of the applications during a period of time associated with the time of use group. The processor can also identify a current time and determine an advertisement according to at least one genre of the genres. The at least one genre can be associated with a highest priority value of the determined priority values. The period associated with the time of use group can correspond to the identified current time.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques relating to collaboratively authored stories and electronic books, and the writing thereof. Techniques are provided in which a template relating to a story, and a set of rules governing collaborative writing of the story by multiple user authors, are obtained. Writing contributions, for integration into the story, may be obtained from each of the user authors. A completed story is obtained, in which forming the completed story includes integrating the writing contributions. Access to the story, such as in the form of an electronic book, is provided to users, such as for a fee.

Abstract: A system and method for targeting advertising to devices based on the applications installed on the device are provided. The system and method comprise retrieving data pertaining to the applications a user has installed on a device and assigning the applications weights based on their patterns of usage. The applications are categorized according to their genre and/or the time of day during which they are typically used, and each category is assigned a priority value based on the patterns of usage of the applications therein. An advertisement corresponding to the highest priority category is delivered to the device.

Abstract: Techniques which allow potential customers that may be travelling near a vendor to propose a discounted group purchase offer to the vendor. A group of one or more potential customers travelling in a predetermined direction within a predetermined distance from a vendor's geographic location may be detected substantially in real time. The group may then be connected into a virtual social network and allowed to communicate with one another to collaborate on a discounted group purchase offer. The group may propose the discounted group purchase offer to the vendor.

Abstract: Targeting advertisements to a user on multiple devices includes: selecting an access point; maintaining an internet access log to track web activity across multiple devices within said access point; identifying the multiple devices involved in the web activity; distinguishing patterns of web activity for the multiple devices to identify users of the devices; generating a user interest vector populated with user interests derived from the patterns of web activity; initializing a master log of user interest vectors for all users within the access point, wherein the master log maps the users with the multiple devices; and updating the master log.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided for targeting online ads by grouping and mapping user properties. In one example, the system receives user data associated with one or more users. The system identifies user properties for a user. The system eliminates unacceptable user properties associated with the user. The system identifies permutations of the user properties associated with the user. The system eliminates unacceptable permutations of the user properties associated with the user. Valid permutations remain. The system attaches a weight of importance to each valid permutation. A weight quantifies a level of importance of a valid permutation for the user with respect to buckets. A bucket is an ad category. The system grades each valid permutation relative to a bucket. The system calculates a final grade for each bucket. The system then assigns the user to zero or more buckets based on the final grade for each bucket.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for use in targeting potential customers that may be travelling near a vendor. A set of one or more potential customers travelling in a predetermined direction within a predetermined distance from a vendor's geographic location may be detected substantially in real time. The vendor may specify one or more criteria to target the potential customers. The set of potential customers may be reduced based at least in part on the one or more criteria to create a subset of potential customers. One or more advertisements may be transmitted to the subset of potential customers such that the advertisements may be viewed or displayed or played back on the vehicle's sound system and/or on the occupants' smartphones.

Abstract: Targeting advertisements to a specific user includes steps or acts of: identifying an area of interest that includes a plurality of users using the Internet; logging each Internet request from the plurality of users; aggregating data regarding each Internet request to reveal use patterns; and disaggregating the data according to the use patterns to match the Internet use pattern with the specific user, thus identifying the specific user with each Internet request.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed in which an estimated time a user will have to wait before a user selected video begins playing is calculated. The estimated time may be calculated based on, for example, speed of the connection, quality of the video (e.g., HD versus standard definition), length of the video, load on the server at the current time, etc. A game may be selected based at least in part on the calculated estimated wait time and the approximate time to finish the game. In some embodiments, one or more advertisements may be selected based on, for example, the type of video selected by the user (e.g., Sci-Fi, Action, Comedy, etc.), the search term(s) used by the user to search for the video, history of games played (e.g., what games, if any, has the user played previously), etc. The selected game and the one or more advertisements may be served to the user substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A system and method for targeting advertising to devices based on the applications installed on the device are provided. The system and method comprise retrieving data pertaining to the applications a user has installed on a device and assigning the applications weights based on their patterns of usage. The applications are categorized according to their genre and/or the time of day during which they are typically used, and each category is assigned a priority value based on the patterns of usage of the applications therein. An advertisement corresponding to the highest priority category is delivered to the device.

Abstract: Techniques are provided which allow users to become online ambassadors for their favorite brands and products. Methods and systems may detect if a user is associated with a particular brand or product. The user may be presented with an offer to act as an ambassador for that brand or product. If the user accepts, the system may determine if at least a portion of the user's online activities are directed to promoting the brand or product. The user may then be presented with one or more rewards based at least in part on the user's promoting of the brand. The rewards may include rewards points, cash rewards, coupons, discounts and other incentives.