Abstract: A method, system, and product are described for locating items which satisfy a general requirement and then ranking those items according to the utility of each type of item. A general requirement is first received. A utility is specified for each of multiple types of items which would satisfy the general requirement. Available items are then located which match one of the specified types of items. The located available items are then ranked utilizing the utility specified for the types of items.

Abstract: A system and method for handling the return of items supplied by a store. The method entails building a list of items to be returned on a local computing device. The list is sent to a remote server that handles returns for the store. The remote server returns a confirmation of the items that are returnable and/or of items that are not returnable. As the list is built, each item is compared to a return policy of the store and added to the list only if the item qualifies as returnable. The method also allows for requesting the store to honor the return of items that do not qualify for return. Provision is also made for scheduling pickup of items to be returned.

Abstract: An alternative channel is provided for efficient communication between a presenter and audience members during a presentation. In one aspect, a presentation is presented to a plurality of audience members and an evaluation of the presentation is electronically received during the presentation. By virtue of this aspect, a presenter may be easily provided with adequate feedback, while the presentation is being presented, based on which a presentation may be tailored. The resulting presentation may therefore be more appealing to an audience member and more successful for the presenter.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for conducting or otherwise facilitating a transaction or request involving a product. A transaction or request involving a product is decomposed or broken down into two or more secondary transactions or requests involving the product. Thus, for an initial transaction, a set of two or more secondary transactions is established that take place instead of the initial transaction. A transaction may involve the purchase or sale of a product at one or more marketplaces. If an initial transaction or request can or is to be conducted within a given period, then some or all of the secondary transactions also may occur within the given time period. Some or all of the secondary transactions or requests may be conducted at the same marketplace or at different marketplaces.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus and computer code for locating an item enables a person who desires or needs to locate an item to obtain assistance from another person or a group of people who may be unknown to the person or located geographically disparate from the person. A method includes providing a notification to one or more devices regarding an item to be located, receiving a notification regarding a location of the item, and providing another notification to a different device regarding the location of the item.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for conducting a transaction where one or more rules may be applied when an entity is conducting the transaction. Rules may vary by entity, product, transaction and/or the marketplace where the transaction is being conducted.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for notifying at least one entity upon receipt of an item is provided. According to embodiments of the present invention, a determination is made whether an item has been placed in a repository. This determination may be made using any of a number of different types and combinations of sensors. An identification of at least one entity to be notified is then made, and the entity is notified if a determination is made that an item has been placed in the repository.

Abstract: A system to obtain customer information includes detection of interactions of a customer within a retail store, and storage of customer interaction information representing the interactions in a portable customer device. In another aspect, a system to obtain customer information includes detection of customer interactions with an employee, and storage of customer interaction information representing the interactions in a portable customer device. The employee may be located within a retail store or elsewhere, such as a customer service telephone extension.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided wherein a consuming device receives an executable consumption program. According to one embodiment, a consuming device transmits a request for the executable consumption program to a consumable item or to a device associated with a consumable item. The consumable item or the device associated with the consumable item then transmits the executable consumption program to the consuming item. For example, a fuel pump may transmit an updated fuel injection software program to an automobile. According to another embodiment, a consuming device receives a supplemental consumable item in response to execution of the executable consumption program.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided wherein a machine-readable item code is substantially invisible to a human. According to one embodiment, a number of machine-readable item codes are printed on an item's surface, at least one item code being (i) associated with the item and (ii) substantially invisible to a human. For example, the item may have item codes printed on different sides of the item. According to some other embodiments, an item code may be associated with a card-holder, updated by a user, and/or contain instructions, such as executable information.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for targeting information (e.g., advertisement, programming, membership application) includes associating a “social index” with both information segments and individuals and sending designated information segments to people meeting the social index associated with the information segment.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for aggregating reputation information is provided. In one embodiment, a method of aggregating reputation information includes identifying an entity, identifying a plurality of sources having reputation information about the entity, and generating an aggregated reputation rating for the entity based on information from each of the sources.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus and medium to sell an item includes storage of information representing an item for sale in a peer device of a peer-to-peer network comprising a plurality of peer devices, and exposure of the information to one or more of the plurality of peer devices. As a result, a seller may easily offer an item for sale to many buyers over a robust network without incurring high overhead costs.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus and medium to conduct an auction includes conducting an auction for an item based on a plurality of auction parameters, automatically changing one of the plurality of auction parameters during the auction, and conducting the auction based on at least the changed one of the plurality of auction parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided wherein a consumable item parameter is exchanged between a consumable item and a consuming device. According to one embodiment, a consumable item parameter request is transmitted to a device associated with a consumable item, and the consumable item parameter is then received. The device may comprise, for example, the consumable item or a device associated with dispensing the consumable item. The device may also comprise, for example, a device associated with a consumption of the consumable item, a device adapted to control a consumption of the consumable item, or a device that consumes the consumable item.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus and medium to obtain an item includes identification of a plurality of auctions in which the item is being auctioned, and automatically submission of one or more bids to a plurality of the plurality of auctions in order to obtain the item. As a result of these features, the present invention may automatically execute a bidding strategy to obtain for a desired price an item being auctioned in more than one auction.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for supporting software is provided. In one embodiment, a method of supporting a software program includes receiving error data identifying an error in software on a user device. A patch for the error is identified and forwarded to the user device to update the software program. The patch is identified and provided from a central service, a software provider, the patch is identified and provided locally from a data storage device of the user device.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for notifying at least one entity upon receipt of an item is provided. According to embodiments of the present invention, a determination is made whether an item has been placed in a repository. This determination may be made using any of a number of different types and combinations of sensors. An identification of at least one entity to be notified is then made, and the entity is notified if a determination is made that an item has been placed in the repository.

Abstract: A method and system are described for creating and maintaining a firewall subscription service. A firewall is established within the firewall service. Customers are permitted to subscribe to the firewall subscription service. Each subscriber is an independent, paying party. A subscriber may subscribe to protect one or more computer systems. The firewall offers a particular level of security to a subscriber's computer systems when the subscriber's computer systems are communicating with an external network. All communications transmitted to any of the subscriber's computer systems utilizing the external network are received first by the firewall. The firewall is utilized to protect the subscriber's computer systems when the subscriber's computer systems receive communications transmitted utilizing the external network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate an exchange of supplemental information in association with a dispensing of fuel. For example, a gasoline dispensing device may receive from a customer device a request for supplemental information, such as a request to receive an audio file or an updated emissions control software program. Supplemental information may then be transmitted to the customer device while gasoline is being dispensed to an automobile. According to one embodiment, the customer provides payment in exchange for the supplemental information.