Abstract: An independently verifiable system and method for the exchange of a sequence of tokens corresponding to units of currency. A credit or unit of currency is represented by a digital image referred to as a graphical token which may be displayed on an electronic viewing device or printed on paper. Each token contains a digital code that uniquely identifies the previous graphical token in a series of exchanges. After generating a token, a first user provides that token to a second user in order to initiate an exchange. The second user may choose to verify the validity and currency of the token before accepting the token. Either user may choose to register the token and any parameters associated with the exchange with a registry system. Once a user accepts a token, they may choose to issue a new token in the sequence. They may also choose to redeem the token for the credit associated with a sequence of tokens.

Abstract: Updating a widget comprises receiving a query from a mobile device for the existence of an updated widget; transmitting information indicative of the availability of the updated widget to the mobile device; receiving a request for the updated widget from the mobile device; and transmitting the updated widget to the mobile device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program for improving security in connection with online transactions are provided. A security application configured to monitor received text messages of a short message service is executed in an apparatus. The security application is arranged to have prioritized access to process the received text messages before other applications executed in the apparatus, to identify from contents of a received text message whether or not the received text message includes a transaction authentication message and, upon detecting that the received text message includes the transaction authentication message, prevent the processing of the transaction authentication message by the other applications and carry out user interfacing related to the transaction authentication message within a secured environment provided by the security application.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods of detecting whether an electronic device or computerized device or computer, is being controlled by a legitimate human user, or by an automated cyber-attack unit or malware or automatic script. The system monitors interactions performed via one or more input units of the electronic device. The system searches for abnormal input-user interactions; or for an abnormal discrepancy between: the input-unit gestures that were actually registered by the input unit, and the content that the electronic device reports as allegedly entered via such input units. A discrepancy or abnormality indicates that more-possibly a malware or automated script is controlling the electronic device, rather than a legitimate human user. Optionally, an input-output aberration or interference is injected, in order to check for manual corrective actions that only a human user, and not an automated script, is able to perform.

Abstract: A system includes a digital camera coupled with or integrated within a transaction terminal to capture an image during authorization of a transaction initiated at the transaction terminal. The system further includes a portal configured to receive the image and transmit the image to a communication reference associated with the account information of an account in which the transaction is made, based on a security preference associated with the account information. The image may be optionally analyzed to detect fraudulent use of the account.

Abstract: Techniques and arrangements for detecting potentially fraudulent transactions made on a point-of-sale (POS) device. In some instances, the POS device may upload a batch of authorization requests corresponding to transactions made on the POS device while the POS device was in an offline mode. A payment service may receive this batch and, as opposed to processing the entire batch, may select a subset for processing. After selecting the subset, the payment service may attempt to authorize payment instruments associated with each transaction of the subset. The payment service may then compare an amount of declined payment instruments to a threshold. If the amount is greater than the threshold, then the payment service may flag the subset and/or the batch as fraudulent and may refrain from processing further transactions of the batch.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for fraud prevention in an online distribution network are disclosed. In certain embodiments, service providers that provide forms in association with merchant's web sites for submission of transactions may implement pro-active threat detection based on an aggregate view of transactions in that distributed computer network.

Abstract: A method for implementing an electronically-based negotiation session between users within an ESN. The method includes sending a message including a request portion and a response portion from a first user to a second user in a round of successive rounds, and in response to receiving the message from the first user, sending a message from the second user to the first user in a subsequent round, the message from the second user including a response portion responsive to the request portion of the message from the first user and a request portion. When a new round is performed, evaluating whether an agreement exists by checking messages previously exchanged, and exchanging subsequent messages, when any rounds remain and the session has not been terminated, and granting access and exchanging data between the users, executing actions, and setting policies as negotiated, when the session has been terminated and an agreement exists.

Abstract: Methods and systems relating to a reseller analysis tool are described. In some embodiments, electronic commerce transaction information associated with a plurality of electronic commerce transactions occurring using an electronic commerce system is received at the electronic commerce system. A set of resale transactions from the plurality of electronic commerce transactions is identified using the electronic commerce transaction information, including identifying the set of resale transactions based on resale criteria capable of indicating a sale of an item by an entity that previously purchased the item using the electronic commerce transaction system. A set of rules associated with resale transactions is generated, including generating the set of rules based on the electronic commerce transaction information associated with the set of resale transactions. Based on the set of rules, user transaction information relevant to a transaction associated with a user is provided.

Abstract: An implementation of the inventive concept enables an outside entity to alter user's internet experience on a system-wide level. Specifically, inventive system enables a merchant, a distributor or any other entity to send contextually-relevant messages directly to the user's computer. Upon the receipt of the messages by the controller application residing on the user's computer, the messages are shown to the user by being incorporated into representation of various resources viewed by the user. For example, the received messages are incorporated into web pages viewed by the user by means of code injection. This way, the merchant, distributor or any other entity may provide targeted advertising to the user in a contextually relevant manner. Specifically, the controller application residing on the user's computer may detect requests for specific resources issued by the user in accordance with a predetermined criteria and incorporate the aforesaid received messages into those selected resources.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for customizing digital media marketing messages. In one embodiment, external data is received from a set of detectors located externally to a retail facility to form external data. The external data is processed to form dynamic data. The set of dynamic data is analyzed using a data model to identify personalized marketing message criteria for the customer. A customized marketing message for the customer is generated using the personalized marketing message criteria. The customized marketing message is delivered to a display device associated with the customer for display.

Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods of ranking user interest in physical entities based on the attention given to those entities as determined by an analysis of communications from devices over multiple communication channels. The attention ranking systems allow any “Who, What, When, Where” entity to be defined and ranked based, at least in part, on information obtained from communications between users and user proxy devices. An entity rank is generated for entity known to the system in which the entity rank is derived from the information in communications that are indicative of user actions related to the entity. The entity ranks are then used to modify the display of information or data associated with the entities. The system may also generate a personal rank for each entity based on the relation of the entity to a specified user.

Abstract: Accessing one or more sets of sporting event data, each of which being associated with a particular one of one or more sporting events, and each of which comprising one or more sporting event data that indicate at least current event status of the associated sporting event at a current time. For each of the sporting events, calculating a value by applying the set of sporting event data associated with the sporting event to one or more algorithms, each of which having been determined for a particular sport to which the sporting event is categorized, comparing the value to a threshold requirement, and if the value satisfies the threshold requirement, then displaying the sporting event data associated with the sporting event.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating and using a bitmap index are disclosed. The bitmap index stores bit strings. In a particular implementation, each bit string in the bitmap index corresponds to an attribute of an audience. Each location in each bit string corresponds to the same audience member. The bitmap index supports parallelized and distributed execution of queries with respect to data indexed by the bitmap index. For example, the described bitmap index can be used to index advertising data, healthcare data, financial data, etc.

Abstract: A method of facilitating access to a promotional offer, the method comprising: receiving at a server system a page request from a client device; and sending program code executable in a browser application to the client device in response to the page request, the program code being executable to display at least one promotional offer and a promotional code, to provide a flash object at a display position of the promotional code and, in response to selection of the flash object, to cause the promotional code to be copied to a user-accessible memory of the client device and to open a new browser display of the browser application.

Abstract: A method of incentivizing location-based actions by groups is disclosed. A group of users of a game networking system is notified that an incentive reward is to be provided based on a number of members of the group performing a location-based action transgressing a threshold. The incentive reward is provided based on the number of members of the group performing the location-based action transgressing the threshold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system that use data tags to track tasks in applications to provide Object-to-Object (OTO) services. A first application data tag is issued by a data tag server as in an OTO service platform in response to an initiation of a first application by a first initiator. The first data tag specifies at least one first task for fulfilling a first service. The first application data tag is scanned by a first user terminal by a first participant. A first action data tag is issued by the data tag server. A first dynamically variable task data tag is issued by the data tag server to track the first task in the first action. The first dynamically variable task data tag is updated to record the completion of the first task in the first action when the first task is completed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a bid modifier value include determining, for one or more sets of keywords used in a campaign, a predicted conversion rate for a first device type and a predicted conversion rate for a second device type. Predicted campaign-level conversion rates are determined for the first and second device types using the predicted conversion rates for the one or more sets of keywords used in the campaign. A ratio is also determined between the predicted campaign-level conversion rate for the first device type and the predicted campaign-level conversion rate for the second device type. The ratio may be used as a bid modifier value that relates bids for the first device type to bids for the second device type.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an indication of a reward-generating event associated with an advertisement. The reward-generating event includes an action by a user in response to the advertisement being presented to the user. The method also includes determining based at least in part on the action by the user a reward to allocate to the user for the reward-generating event.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards selective disclosure of user or computing environment attributes to facilitate generation and/or provision of targeted content. In various embodiments, a likelihood that disclosure of an attribute of a user or of a computing environment associated with the user will enable identification of the user may be determined based on an associated population count of users or computing environments sharing the same attribute. In various embodiments, the attribute may be selectively disclosed to a content provider configured to provide targeted content, or a recommendation may be selectively provided to the user as to whether the user should disclose the attribute to the content provider, based on the determination and a risk tolerance associated with the user. In various embodiments, a dimension authority may track and make available population counts of users or computing environments having various attributes.

Abstract: Targeted content is delivered to and received by at least one user device based on user information stored locally at the user device. Program content and targeted content are received. The targeted content received is associated with user information stored locally on the user device, while the program content is broadcast to multiple users. A determination by a scanning process is made at what position or at what time in the program content to include the targeted content. The program content and the targeted content are rendered, with the targeted content included at the determined position or time in the program content, for presentation to the user.

Abstract: An automated communication system with an associated method for presenting customized voices is disclosed. The system which performs a predetermined task accepts information regarding an intended user indicating the intended user's identity, preferences, etc. Next, the system customizes one or more voices for the intended user based on the accepted information. The system then presents to the intended user one or more audible communications converted from text associated with a predetermined task performed by the system using the one or more customized voices.

Abstract: Techniques to verify a participant's visit to a specific location are described. An embodiment may provide a system that generates a pattern that is unique to the location, and that may further be unique to a date or time, a transaction, or other criteria. Participants may capture the pattern, for example, using a mobile device, and transmit the pattern to a verification system. The verification system may decode, translate, decrypt or otherwise obtain information from the pattern. The information obtained from the pattern may be used to verify that the pattern came from the location. The participant may then receive credit for the visit. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatus relate generally to the use of electronic devices to interact with electronic tags associated with objects, services, places, people, or animals (“objects”) in order to access programming material related to these objects. The invention discloses the input of keywords, phrases, preferences, or interests into a user's device to search a plurality of electronic tags within a given physical range to access programming material from the tags—or via data links provided in the tags—that matches the keywords, phrases, preferences, or interests. Furthermore, the invention locates, maps, and labels the objects associated with this programming material on the user's display.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for power-efficient discovery of infrastructure services on a network are disclosed. In one aspect, a method for using advertising windows to transmit service information on a network is disclosed. The method includes transmitting timing information regarding an advertising window during which information on services offered by one or more nodes on the network will be advertised. The method further includes during the advertising window, transmitting information on services offered by one or more nodes on the network.

Abstract: Techniques are provided that include obtaining a Document Object Model of an HTML document, such as a web page of a publisher. Elements of the Document Object Model may be identified that are associated with native advertisement placement candidate containers. Based at least in part on analysis associated with the Document Object Model, and utilizing at least some of the identified elements, one or more native advertisement placement candidate containers may be determined. Some techniques may utilize, in the analysis, construction and utilization of a suffix tree of a string of tags comprising all tags in the Document Object Model. Some techniques may utilize, in the analysis, a node flattening technique in connection with the Document Object Model.

Abstract: An electronic service image marketplace for service images is provided that permits users to browse descriptions of service images implementing desired functionalities of a virtual machine image. The described service images may be further offered for purchase through the electronic service image marketplace. An operational data service, in communication with the electronic service image marketplace, may collect operational data from a plurality of host computing devices executing the selected service image. The operational data service may further analyze the collected operational data to obtain an aggregate measure of operational data for the selected service image when executed by host computing devices. The analyzed operational data may be further provided to the electronic service image marketplace for display within the description of the selected service image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for facilitating transactions between a merchant-partner and an end-user. In one embodiment, a service provider: (a) stages a transaction between a merchant and a consumer; (b) creates a transaction-specific unique reference locator (URL) linked to a transaction-specific web page; and (c) sends the transaction-specific URL to the consumer's mobile device. Whereupon the consumer clicks on the transaction specific URL on their mobile device, the service provider displays a token ID on the transaction-specific web page. The token ID is linked to the staged transaction and is used to initiate data communication between a point-of-sale (POS) terminal and the service provider's processing unit. The service provider can then: receive confirmation that the consumer has presented the token ID and a payment to the POS terminal; display a transaction receipt on the transaction-specific web page; and/or notify the merchant that the consumer has provided the payment.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for provided embedded transaction modules are disclosed. One disclosed method comprises receiving a user input in an embedded transaction module displayed on a first webpage, wherein the user input is associated with a transaction and the embedded transaction module is not affiliated with the first webpage, and completing the transaction within the first webpage.

Abstract: In certain implementations, a system for facilitating voice commerce is provided. A user input comprising a natural language utterance related to a product or service to be purchased may be received. A first product or service that is to be purchased may be determined based on the utterance. First payment information that is to be used to purchase the first product or service may be obtained. First shipping information that is to be used to deliver the first product or service may be obtained. A purchase transaction for the first product or service may completed based on the first payment information and the first shipping information without further user input, after the receipt of utterance, that identifies a product or service type or a product or service, seller information, payment information, shipping information, or other information related to purchasing the first product or service.

Abstract: A system, methods, and apparatus for performing automobile transactions are disclosed. In an example embodiment, automobile market data representative of current automobile market characteristics is stored. The automobile market data may include pricing, inventory, and consumer interest information received from dealers, manufacturers, and consumers. A consumer may provide a request for a response regarding a specific automobile using an image of a vehicle identification number or a graphical user interface. Automobile market data may be provided to a dealer based on the request. Bids to sell the specific automobile may be requested from dealers based on the request. Dealer bids may be provided to the consumer with prices and a delivery options. The consumer may select a bid which specifies a pickup location at a first dealer.

Abstract: Providing prioritization of user online access to an online commerce site. Third party applications using API function calls to access an online commerce site are restricted to specific services by an access rule. An access rule defines which API server on the online commerce site a specific third party application may access when using a specific API function call. In this way, the operator of the online commerce site may prioritize server access per service level agreements based on a specific third party application and API function call.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and method for facilitating a purchase in conjunction with media content information. The apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive a transmission of media content, information regarding the content, and information for facilitating a purchase of at least one of a copy of the content, a good, and/or a service. The content may include broadcast media content and entertainment media content. The apparatus also includes a processor configured to process the information regarding the content and the information for facilitating a purchase of the copy of the content, the good, and/or the service. The apparatus also includes a display device for displaying information.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and method for facilitating a purchase in conjunction with media content information. The apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive a transmission of media content, information regarding the content, and information for facilitating a purchase of at least one of a copy of the content, a good, and/or a service. The content may include broadcast media content and entertainment media content. The apparatus also includes a processor configured to process the information regarding the content and the information for facilitating a purchase of the copy of the content, the good, and/or the service. The apparatus also includes a display device for displaying information.

Abstract: A method of providing a photographic memento is provided. The method includes receiving, at a computer system from a mobile computing device of a user, an order for a photographic memento that includes photo data, formatting instructions, and account information. The method includes printing a formatted image on a first side of a rigid substrate and printing supplemental information on a second side of the rigid substrate. The formatted image is based on the photo data and the formatting instructions and the supplemental information is based on the order data. The method further includes cutting the photographic memento from the rigid substrate in a predefined shape and generating shipping information for the photographic memento based on account information and/or the order data.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to aspects of in-store field-of-view merchandising and analytics. According to one aspect disclosed herein, a system receives a message from a user device. The message can include an orientation of the user device and a location of the user device within an environment, such as a store. The system can obtain a potential field-of-view of a user associated with the user device. The system can determine, based upon the orientation, the location of the user device and the potential field-of-view of the user, an estimated field-of-view of the user. The system can query a database to look-up items located within the estimated field-of-view. The system can receive, in response to the query, a query response identifying an item located within the estimated field-of-view of the user within the environment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to, among other things, providing resource allocation advice, configuration recommendations, and/or migration advice regarding data storage, access, placement, and/or related web services. In some examples, a web service may utilize or otherwise control a client instance to control, access, or otherwise manage resources of a distributed system. Based at least in part on one or more resource usage checks and/or configuration checks, resource usage information and/or configuration information of an account utilizing a web service, and/or user preferences and/or settings, resource allocation advice, system configuration recommendations, and/or migration advice may be provided to a user of an account. Additionally, in some examples, one or more remediation operations may be performed automatically.

Abstract: A system and method provides product/service recommendations by rendering and analyzing content on webpages that are linked to on a user's personal webpage. In this manner, the system and method compiles a more complete view of the user's interest and preferences, thus providing more effective and finely-attuned user recommendations.

Abstract: One or more images of items for an order being processed at processing station of an order fulfillment center may be captured and associated with the order. Alternatively, a short video clip may be captured of the order being packaged. An electronic notification that the order has been processed may be sent to a customer associated with the order. The electronic notification may include a reference to one or more of the captured images or video clips. The customer may use a reference included in the notification to view the captured images. The customer may view captured images to verify that the order has been correctly processed. The captured images may include images of the items being packaged for shipment and may show the shipping address on the package allowing the customer to verify that indeed it is his package in the images.

Abstract: An improved computerized ecommerce method, optimized for smaller merchants such as florists who often provide seasonal perishable gifts that require local delivery, and who often desire to form cooperative networks with local merchants offering related gift services, as well as other related merchants such as other florists in more distant locations. The web server based method allows merchants to easily set up non-static (time variable) websites that automatically provide schedule driven promotions. New products can be quickly uploaded from smartphones, and sophisticated time and location aware algorithms can compute accurate delivery costs and make such costs transparent to customers. Other participating merchants can be easily added to the system to form local and distant cooperative merchant networks. The system simplifies customer use of promotional offers by cross checking customer URL versus promotion lists.

Abstract: A method of fulfilling orders and order fulfillment system includes a mobile assembly cart having a plurality of order assembly positions and a pointer assembly. The pointer assembly generates a beam and directs the beam to at least one of said assembly positions for selectively identifying at least one of the assembly positions for putting an item to or retrieving an order from each identified position. The assembly cart can be positioned with respect to the pointer assembly for the picking or putting and moved away from the pointer assembly after the picking or putting.

Abstract: Methods and Apparatus related to generating representations of information. The information may include menu information for merchants such as restaurants. Referring to menus, methods may include receiving potential information for a first menu, and receiving indications of associations of the information with the first menu and/or any number of additional menus. Information and/or associations may later be updated by a desired set of users.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a network page are provided. In one embodiment, at least one server serves up a network page to a client to be rendered on the client in a networked environment. The network page is associated with a network site that facilitates a purchase of items. The network page includes a graphical representation of a selected one of the items, and a plurality of destination regions, each of the destination regions being associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of shipping addresses. The network page is configured to facilitate an association of the selected one of the items with a respective one of the destination regions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for extracting and displaying one or more products on a virtual storefront embedded in a topical community web page are disclosed. The displayed products may then be purchased by a user or a community member or a member of the group or forum directly at the virtual storefront. The community web page is related to a particular interest or a context and hosts information or media related to that particular context. The systems and methods disclosed herein may facilitate the community web page administrator, community web page owner, or any other person in similar capacity to either select one or more products statically or the products are dynamically extracted from one or more of a connected storefront or a marketplace or both.

Abstract: A lead marketplace system and method are provided. The lead marketplace system and method provides an auction for leads.

Abstract: A user interface may be provided for displaying a series of reports. The user interface may include a primary report area, a secondary report area and a navigation slider. The primary report area may be utilized to display a selected report image associated with a report in a report series. The secondary report area may be utilized to display one or more additional report images associated with other reports in the report series. The navigation slider may be utilized to navigate among the report images displayed in the secondary report area. The report images displayed in the primary and secondary report areas may be manipulated by one or more user commands received in the user interface.

Abstract: Separate user accounts can be linked into a group of linked user accounts so that content items assigned to each of the user accounts can be accessed by each user account in the group. Linking user accounts in this way allows the individual user accounts to share content items while also retaining their individual properties such as username, password, preference data, etc. Linking user accounts allows each user account to retain the content items assigned to the user account when the user account is unlinked from the group. Linking user accounts can be restricted according to linking rules that dictate how many user accounts can be included in a group, when a user account can be added or removed from a group, etc. A master user account can set parameters restricting content items accessible to the user accounts in the group, as well as money spent be each user account.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for wireless beacon connections for providing digital letters of credit on detection of a user at a location. A payment provider may authorize use of one or more wireless beacons at a merchant location.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for presenting and interacting with electronic trading related information on a display screen of a computer system are provided. According to one or more embodiments, buttons are positioned and compressed along an axis, where each button corresponds to a function. A button can be selected through an action of a user input device. A button is removed from the region when a function corresponding to the button is no longer current and when the cursor is not positioned within the region. The remaining buttons, if any, in the region are compressed subsequent to removing the button from the region. A button is not removed from the region when the cursor is positioned within the region.

Abstract: The devices, methods, systems and computer-readable mediums of the present disclosure provide automatic data collection for insurance rating purposes. In particular, a battery powered Bluetooth device may be attached to a personal item of an insured individual. The Bluetooth device may automatically trigger a mobile telephone to begin storing data related to use of the personal item when the mobile telephone is proximate the Bluetooth device. The mobile telephone may periodically transmit the stored data to a remote server.