Abstract: An expiring balance may be provided to a user account that the user can spend or pass along to a friend. The user may be given a limited time in which to spend the expiring balance after which the balance will not be available to the user. When the user decides to pass the balance along to a friend, an expiration time associated with the expiring balance may be reset. The expiring balance may be redeemed at participating locations and, if a location is not participating, the user may be able to notify an entity providing the expiring balance of the non-participation.

Abstract: An expiring balance may be provided to a user account that the user can spend or pass along to a friend. The user may be given a limited time in which to spend the expiring balance after which the balance will not be available to the user. When the user decides to pass the balance along to a friend, an expiration time associated with the expiring balance may be reset. The expiring balance may be redeemed at participating locations and, if a location is not participating, the user may be able to notify an entity providing the expiring balance of the non-participation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes providing an offer to a connector. The method also includes receiving responses from users to the offer, the users having received the offer from the connector. The method further includes completing the transaction with the users. In another embodiment, the invention is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a set of profiles of users. The apparatus further includes a database of connectors, connectors of the database selected from the users based on the profiles associated with the users. The apparatus also includes an interface between vendors and the database. The interface is to receive queries from the vendors and to return connector identities responsive to the queries. In yet another embodiment, the invention is a machine-readable medium embodying instructions. The instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method. The method includes providing an offer to a connector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes providing an offer to a connector. The method also includes receiving responses from users to the offer, the users having received the offer from the connector. The method further includes completing the transaction with the users. In another embodiment, the invention is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a set of profiles of users. The apparatus further includes a database of connectors, connectors of the database selected from the users based on the profiles associated with the users. The apparatus also includes an interface between vendors and the database. The interface is to receive queries from the vendors and to return connector identities responsive to the queries. In yet another embodiment, the invention is a machine-readable medium embodying instructions. The instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method. The method includes providing an offer to a connector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes providing an offer to a connector. The method also includes receiving responses from users to the offer, the users having received the offer from the connector. The method further includes completing the transaction with the users. In another embodiment, the invention is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a set of profiles of users. The apparatus further includes a database of connectors, connectors of the database selected from the users based on the profiles associated with the users. The apparatus also includes an interface between vendors and the database. The interface is to receive queries from the vendors and to return connector identities responsive to the queries. In yet another embodiment, the invention is a machine-readable medium embodying instructions. The instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method. The method includes providing an offer to a connector.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a variety of techniques and mechanisms for controlling and monetizing networking transactions among users of a computer network. At least some of these techniques and mechanisms come about as a result of several new paradigms contemplated by the present invention. One paradigm of the present invention involves monetizing user transactions as a function of relational patterns and connections between different users. These relational connections may have a type attribute such as family, business, competitor, etc. Another paradigm of the present invention introduces a “virtual network” as a set of user having some predefined relational pattern. Once virtual networks are defined for a plurality of users, decisions regarding transactions can then be made based on the characteristics of the virtual network.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a variety of techniques and mechanisms for controlling and monetizing networking transactions among users of a computer network. At least some of these techniques and mechanisms come about as a result of several new paradigms contemplated by the present invention. One paradigm of the present invention involves monetizing user transactions as a function of relational patterns and connections between different users. Another paradigm of the present invention introduces a “virtual network” as a set of user having some predefined relational pattern. Once virtual networks are defined for a plurality of users, decisions regarding transactions can then be made based on the characteristics of the virtual network.