Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for planning shipping logistics routes. A computer-implemented method includes: receiving a request for a first shipment to occur during a first time duration, the request being provided by a requestor; obtaining shipment data representing scheduled shipments to occur during a second time duration, the second time duration overlapping the first time duration; providing the request for the first shipment and the shipment data as input to a shipping model; obtaining, as output from the shipping model, simulation results including predicted shipments during the second time duration, the predicted shipments including the first shipment and the scheduled shipments, the simulation results including predicted movements of shipping resources executing the predicted shipments during the second time duration; and assigning shipping resources to the predicted shipments based on the simulation results.

Abstract: Methods and systems including receiving a plurality of shipping bids from a plurality of shipping entities, each entity having goods to ship from locations to destinations, wherein each bid represents an option to ship goods at a shipping price, and wherein each bid comprises a plurality of shipping parameters; receiving a plurality of carrier bids from a plurality of carrier entities, each entity transporting the goods, wherein each bid represents an option to transport the goods at a price, and wherein each bid comprises a plurality of carrier parameters; performing a matching process to generate a plurality of pair-wise partial matches, wherein each match associates a shipping and carrier bid at a modified price, wherein the modified price is based on a deviation between the parameters; providing information representing the matches to the shipping and carrier entities; and generating training data representing which matches were exercised.

Abstract: A method and system for organizing digital photographs is disclosed. A plurality of digital photographs are obtained. Each digital photograph in the plurality is analyzed to obtain metadata related to the digital photograph and/or photograph content information related to the digital photograph. The metadata and/or the photograph content information is then analyzed. The plurality of digital photographs are automatically organized into clusters. Each cluster is associated with one or more predetermined cluster parameter. Each cluster parameter is associated with a metadata item. The digital photographs are then displayed (e.g., in a web page) on a computing device in accordance with the cluster parameter(s). One or more of the digital photographs are reorganized into a different cluster each time additional metadata related to the one or more digital photographs is received.

Abstract: Micro-donations are received from users for various items of content published by different content providers. The micro-donations are aggregated into the user accounts and the content provider accounts until a transaction condition is satisfied. When the transaction condition is satisfied for the user account, a process to collect the micro-donation amount contributed by a respective user to different content providers is effectuated. When the transaction condition is satisfied for a content provider account, the micro-donation amount received from different users and aggregated within the content provider account is provided to the respective content provider. Various user and content provider incentives are implemented to encourage participation by the users and the content providers.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method serves advertisements. The method includes identifying a first advertising opportunity for a user. The advertising opportunity includes an opportunity to display an advertisement to the user. A threshold exposure value is determined. The advertisement is served to the user during the first advertising opportunity. An exposure duration is tracked through the use of at least one processor. The exposure duration represents a total length of time that the advertisement is displayed to the user. The exposure duration is compared to the threshold exposure value. A second advertising opportunity for the user is identified. The method also includes serving the advertisement to the user during the second advertising opportunity when the exposure duration is less than the threshold exposure value, and not serving the advertisement to the user during the second advertising opportunity when the exposure duration is not less than the threshold exposure value.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards employing an admission controller (AC) network device to coordinate voluntary requests by traffic source devices (TSDs) to transmit traffic over a network. The TSDs submit voluntary requests to transmit network traffic during an allocated time frame to the AC. The AC monitors historical network traffic data and, based on various allocation policies, provides permission to at least some of the TSDs in the form of a nonexclusive lease of bandwidth with a rate cap for an allocated time frame. The TSDs receiving the lease voluntarily agree to transmit traffic not exceeding the rate cap for the time frame of the lease. TSDs that receive a zero rate cap voluntarily agree not to transmit. However, urgent network traffic bypasses the AC. The allocation policies used to determine the rate cap and number of permitted senders include a reactive approach, a predictive approach, and a predictive-reactive approach.

Abstract: A method of providing advertising services selects a finite set of topics, and arranges the selected set of topics into a hierarchical structure. The method classifies impression items into the nodes within the hierarchical structure, and allows bidding against the nodes within the hierarchical structure. Some embodiments allow a bidder to request a refinement of the hierarchical structure. These embodiments receive such a request, and compare the request to a set of criteria. If the request meets the set of criteria, the method divides a first node in the hierarchical structure to at least a second and third node. The method allows bidders to bid on each of the first, second, and third nodes. The method optionally measures a performance for the nodes within the hierarchical structure. Based on the measure of performance for the nodes, the method preferably removes an under-performing node from the hierarchical structure.

Abstract: A network based advertisement system includes an optimizer configured to forecast a supply of opportunities, forecast a supply of guaranteed contracts, and forecast a supply of non-guaranteed contracts. Each opportunity represents a user visiting a webpage. Each guaranteed contract guarantees the matching of an advertisement to a number of opportunities. Each non-guaranteed contract guarantees a user event associated with an advertisement. The optimizer then generates a plan for matching contracts to opportunities based on the forecasted supply of opportunities, the forecasted supply of guaranteed contracts, the forecasted supply of non-guaranteed contracts, and an objective function that balances a group of parameters that define the representativeness of contracts, a cost associated with not serving non-guaranteed contracts, and performance objectives associated with contracts.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards employing an admission controller (AC) network device to coordinate voluntary requests by traffic source devices (TSDs) to transmit traffic over a network. The TSDs submit voluntary requests to transmit network traffic during an allocated time frame to the AC. The AC monitors historical network traffic data and, based on various allocation policies, provides permission to at least some of the TSDs in the form of a nonexclusive lease of bandwidth with a rate cap for an allocated time frame. The TSDs receiving the lease voluntarily agree to transmit traffic not exceeding the rate cap for the time frame of the lease. TSDs that receive a zero rate cap voluntarily agree not to transmit. However, urgent network traffic bypasses the AC. The allocation policies used to determine the rate cap and number of permitted senders include a reactive approach, a predictive approach, and a predictive-reactive approach.

Abstract: A method and system for organizing digital photographs is disclosed. A plurality of digital photographs are obtained. Each digital photograph in the plurality is analyzed to obtain metadata related to the digital photograph and/or photograph content information related to the digital photograph. The metadata and/or the photograph content information is then analyzed. The plurality of digital photographs are automatically organized into clusters. Each cluster is associated with one or more predetermined cluster parameter. Each cluster parameter is associated with a metadata item. The digital photographs are then displayed (e.g., in a web page) on a computing device in accordance with the cluster parameter(s). One or more of the digital photographs are reorganized into a different cluster each time additional metadata related to the one or more digital photographs is received.

Abstract: An improved system and method for representative allocation and pricing of impression segments of online advertisement impressions for advertising campaigns is provided. An inventory of online advertisement impressions may be grouped in impression segments according to attributes of the advertisement impressions and advertising campaigns for impressions targeting specific attributes may be received. A representative number of advertisement impressions from the impression segments may be determined for allocation to the advertising campaigns by maximizing the prices of the impression segments for each of the values of the advertising campaigns. The representative number of advertisement impressions from the impression segments may be allocated for the advertising campaigns, and the price of each of the advertising campaigns may be output for the allocated advertisement impressions.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention fill the need of avoiding the display of advertisements that are strongly disliked by users. Displaying advertisements that are strongly disliked (or offend), web sites stand the chance of driving users away or losing users. By allowing users to identify advertisements that offend or annoy (or are strongly disliked by them), web sites can configure the systems so that offensive or annoying advertisements are not displayed to the users in the future. In addition, when a user is seriously turned off by an advertisement, the user is more likely to indicate his/her dislike toward the advertisement (ad). The user is also likely to give a reason as to why he/she does not like the ad, and could be willing to provide further information on what types of ads are also liked or disliked by the user. User input can then be collected, enabling custom application of the user's preference for certain types of advertisements.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for testing a software module. The method comprises receiving a modified software module for use as part of a software application which includes a plurality of constituent software modules, replacing at least one of the constituent software modules with the modified software module to generate a modified software application, generating output data as a function of execution of the modified software application, and storing the output data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for use with electronic mail messages. In one exemplary method, electronic mail messages may be presented in an order based, at least in part, on a presentation scores associated with each message. The presentation score may be based, at least in part, on presentation knowledge information associated with an attribute profile. The attribute profile may, for example, be established and maintained based, at least in part, on non-selective user engagement parameters that may be determined based on a presentation of the electronic mail messages and/or identifiers associated therewith.

Abstract: An automated system and method for periodically searching information relating to a person's contact list and updating an informational database. A target name is extracted from a contact list of a user, and a search is performed (e.g. on the Internet) for data related to the target name. The data is analyzed in accordance with categories of information in the contact list. A determination is made whether a corresponding item in the contact list requires modification. The data is stored on a database, indexed with the target name. The method is performed periodically and automatically. Analysis of the data may include determining whether the data is relevant to a category of information on a predefined alert list. An alert message may be displayed to the user regarding an item of data, if that data is determined to be relevant to a category of information on the alert list.

Abstract: A method of providing advertising services selects a finite set of topics, and arranges the selected set of topics into a hierarchical structure. The method classifies impression items into the nodes within the hierarchical structure, and allows bidding against the nodes within the hierarchical structure. Some embodiments allow a bidder to request a refinement of the hierarchical structure. These embodiments receive such a request, and compare the request to a set of criteria. If the request meets the set of criteria, then based on the request, the method divides a first node in the hierarchical structure to at least a second and third node. The method allows bidders to bid on each of the first, second, and third nodes. Preferably, the method receives several bids for one or more of the nodes within the hierarchical structure, and calculates an equilibrium price for each node. The bids are for purchasing the right to present content in relation to a node.

Abstract: A system is provided for assessing an effectiveness of online advertising by recording the context in which each advertisement is provided and tracking whether each advertisement resulted in a consumer response. When a request for an online advertisement is received, a unique code, which can be utilized to redeem a coupon, is generated and provided with an advertisement. Contextual information associated with providing the online advertisement is recorded for the unique code. Contextual information can include, for example, information about the provided advertisement, information about how the advertisement will be presented, information about the potential viewer for the advertisement, and the like. If the unique code is later utilized to redeem the coupon, the redemption is recorded for the unique code so that an online advertiser can assess the effectiveness of their online advertisements in relation to various contexts in which their advertisements are provided.