Abstract: An expected value system for paying and qualifying audiences (EVSPQ) is an online database system for paying EV payments to users for their attention, provided they meet specified conditions. Advertisers post EV payment offers that recipient users accept. In an EVSPQ for paying “realbuyers” (EVSPQ-RB) a qualifying condition of payment is that a user makes a purchase after being exposed to a specified message. The inventive method is a module to be added to an EVSPQ-RB to limit EV payments paid for attention by a prospect for a specified purchase (economic transaction).

Abstract: The invention is a method for operating a computer database system to enable a seller to offer and transact targeted discounts. A first module enables a seller to enter a targeted discount offer including: a product or service that a discount applies to, a discount amount, and targeting conditions for receiving that discount. A second module enables a buyer to accept the discount. A third module executes a payment bet in which the expected value is set at the discount amount. A fourth module enables a buyer to learn that she has provisionally won a payoff in the bet. A fifth module enables a buyer to claim she is eligible for the payoff. A sixth module enables inspection to determine if the buyer meets the conditions of the discount offer. A seventh module enables the winning, eligible buyer to be paid the payoff.

Abstract: We disclose a method for operating an online computer database system that enables users to create, match up and settle bet offers about whether an independent expert will judge a specified statement to be misleading or fair. The method, implemented via the computer system, displays these bet offers, thus providing a new way to debunk or validate a given statement.

Abstract: We disclose a method for operating an online computer database system that enables users to pay make bet offers and respond to bet offers in a variety of ways. The method, implemented via the computer system, displays these bet offers, bet challenges, and the responses (or lack of responses) to those offers and challenges, thus providing new ways to force people to explicitly or implicitly express their opinions.

Abstract: The invention is a set of processes for improving the interface of a self-organizing database. This type of database stores both questions and answers. The improved interface processes enable a user who has found a (first) question in the database to enter a new (second) question and label that second question as “more specific” than the first. When a user presses an “enter more specific question” command, the system enables the user to enter a question and then stores the question and labels it as more specific than the first, and links the two questions in the database. Then, when any user has found the first question, the system enables him to “go to” the linked, more specific question by entering a “go to more specific question” command. Further, when a user has found a question, the system can present a list of all the more specific questions linked to that question. The system also enables a user to find a first question and then enter a new (second) question and label it as a synonym of the first.

Abstract: An expected value system for paying and qualifying audiences (EVSPQ) is an online database system for paying EV payments to users for their attention, provided they meet specified conditions. Advertisers post EV payment offers that recipient users accept. In an EVSPQ for paying “realbuyers” (EVSPQ-RB) a qualifying condition of payment is that a user makes a purchase after being exposed to a specified message. The inventive method is a module to be added to an EVSPQ-RB to limit EV payments paid for attention by a prospect for a specified purchase (economic transaction).

Abstract: The invention is a method for operating a computer database system for the purpose of registering and probabilistically amplifying the value of a payment claim. A first module (sub-method) registers the identity of users who enter payment claims. A second module registers claims entered by users. A third module executes an expected value payment bet for each claim in which a claim has a 1/N probability of “winning.” A winning claim is worth N times the original value of the claim. If the claim is a winner, a fourth module assigns the claim an identifier and informs the user who entered the claim of the winning result and of the identifier. A fifth module enables a system operator to search the database of stored user identities and of stored claims to detect duplicate claim entries.

Abstract: An expected value system for paying and qualifying realbuyers (EVSPQ-RB) is an online database system that enables a seller to pay conditional, expected value payments to realbuyer prospects for their attention to a message. In an EVSPQ-RB, users are eligible to win payoffs if they match the realbuyer conditions set forth by a paying seller. A user who has conditionally won a payoff can then claim the payoff. An EVSPQ-RB tracks the users who have accepted a seller's payment offer and who have claimed a corresponding payoff. The invention is a method for improving an EVSPQ-RB comprised of the following steps: a. upon a seller's request, presenting the seller a list of users who have claimed a payoff from an offer made by the seller via the EVSPQ-RB, b. enabling a seller to specify and view a list of claimants by the product or service bought, or by who the seller bought from, c. enabling the seller to select any of the claimants in the list to be queried, d.

Abstract: The invention is a method for operating an online computer database system for transacting EV payment offers. The system enables a payer to enter a payment offer that specifies the amount of EV payment to be paid to a qualified recipient(s). The system enables a recipient to accept the offer. The inventive method splits the EV payment process into two-bet “parlay” process such that the EV of the first bet equals the EV payment set by the payer, and the EV of the second bet equals the payoff from the first bet. In this parlay process, the payer takes the risk of losing the payoff in the first bet, and the system takes the risk of losing the payoff in the second bet. If the recipient wins the first bet, the system registers that the payer owes the payoff of this first bet to the system. The system then asks the recipient whether he meets the conditions of the payment offer. If the response is negative, the system refunds the payoff to the payer. If the response is positive, the system executes the second bet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating a computer to pay one or more decision makers for attention. The method provides, via a computer, for an advertiser process in which an advertiser sets the terms of an offer to pay for the attention of a decision maker for an organization. The terms define a decision and a decision maker, an amount of money to be paid, and provide rules for specifying how payment is to be split if more than one person influences the decision. The method further provides recipient process in which one or more users accepts the offer and provisionally receives virtual payment. The method further provides an inspection process for inspecting the recipient(s) and paying him/them according to their role(s) in the decision, as revealed by the inspection, and according to the terms of the offer. The method can include sub-methods for deterring cheating, also disclosed.

Abstract: We disclose a betting method and medium that identify a company's “insiders” and enable these insiders to make and transact publicly displayed, non-anonymous bet offers about subjects that are important to the company's financial condition and/or prospects. The invention enables users to make bets about a variety of well-known financial measures and events, such as earnings, return on investment, bankruptcy, and so forth. The invention enables users to make bets about how well an investment company will perform compared to a benchmark or an alternative investment. The invention provides for displaying bet offers and agreements by identified insiders, thereby providing a new kind of financial disclosure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enabling users to pit a product against another product or products in a bet. In this method, the terms and rules of a bet contract are created that define a contest between two or more products. The bet contract also spells out terms for risking money on the outcome of the contest. Users may risk money that a product will be shown to be better than the competing product or products, according to the rules of the contest. At all stages in the betting process, users can view data showing how people are betting on the outcome of the contest.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for enabling advertisers to pay only qualified people for receiving messages. The method utilizes the expected value (EV) payment method to efficiently pay a recipient and efficiently verify her qualifications. In this method, a recipient is paid an expected payment. The recipient collects an actual payoff only upon winning an EV payment bet and upon passing an inspection process to verify her qualifications. A losing recipient is not owed a payoff and does not have her qualifications inspected. In other words, a recipient's qualifications are verified through random audit where she is selected only if she wins an EV payment bet. Thus, a system that implements the method executes EV payment bets and incorporates an inspection process to verify the qualifications of recipients who win the bets, and authorizes payment to qualified winners.

Abstract: A computer system that allows people to place, accept and settle bets for the purpose of communicating. The system cuts out the middleman, sometimes referred to as the bookmaker, allowing bettors to bet with each other directly. In addition to allowing people to place, accept and settle bets, the system enables people to settle disputes and change bets. It also allows people to place special types of bets for the purpose of demonstrating probability estimates. The system allows people to to link bets to ordinary statements that are also entered into the system.