Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates data processing. During operation, the system obtains a schema for data accessed using web services provided by multiple endpoints, wherein the schema is provided by a consumer of the data. Next, the system uses the schema to create a custom endpoint for accessing the data. The system then enables, for the consumer, access to the data through the custom endpoint without requiring querying of the multiple endpoints by the consumer.

Abstract: A method for transmitting an order from a mobile device to a physical location of a merchant involves receiving, by the mobile device, the order while the mobile device is outside a predetermined distance from the physical location, storing the order to a storage device, and determining, by the mobile device and after storing the order, that the mobile device is within the predetermined distance from the physical location. The method further involves receiving, by the mobile device, a request from the user to submit the order after determining the mobile device is within the predetermined distance from the physical location, retrieving the order from the storage device in response to the request, and transmitting the order to the merchant after retrieving the order when the mobile device is within the predetermined distance of the physical location.

Abstract: A method for placing targeted advertisement (TAD), including obtaining, from a location aware service provider, current locations of mobile devices used by consumers, wherein the current locations are determined within a pre-determined duration of current time, identifying a crowd comprising the consumers by comparing the current locations and a location of an advertisement presentation device to determine that the consumers are currently within a pre-determined range of the advertisement presentation device, calculating, based on profiles of the consumers, a relevancy score of a TAD message with respect to the crowd using a pre-determined formula, and sending, within a pre-determined time of identifying the crowd and in response to identifying the relevancy score meeting a pre-determined criterion, the TAD message to the advertisement presentation device for presenting to the plurality of consumers.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for determining a list of providers of a commodity. During operation, the system receives a description of the commodity from a customer at a server. Then, the system uses the description to identify a list of providers of the commodity. Next, the system receives a specification of a set of desired provider-traits from the customer. The system then filters the list of providers of the commodity based on the desired provider-traits to obtain a filtered list of providers of the commodity. Finally, the system presents the filtered list of providers to the customer.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a personalized dictionary and vocabulary building tool whereby data representing an electronic media based version of a document is obtained and at least a portion of the electronic media based version of a document is displayed on a display screen associated with a computing system. A user selects any word in the portion of the document displayed on the display screen and electronic data representing the definition of the user selected word is then obtained from one or more of several electronic media sources. The definition of the user selected word is then displayed in an electronic media format on the same display screen displaying the portion of the electronic media based version of a document.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for determining a list of providers of a commodity. During operation, the system receives a description of the commodity from a customer at a server. Then, the system uses the description to identify a list of providers of the commodity. Next, the system receives a specification of a set of desired provider-traits from the customer. The system then filters the list of providers of the commodity based on the desired provider-traits to obtain a filtered list of providers of the commodity. Finally, the system presents the filtered list of providers to the customer.