Abstract: A system rewards users who offer to share the memory, storage, or bandwidth of their computing resource to third parties within a distributed network. Users share processing, storage, bandwidth or memory resources with third parties by permitting such third parties to access files stored in the memory of the users' computing devices. Users that offer files for upload are encouraged to register with a central authority, and receive value each time a third party accesses a resource from their computing devices. The value awarded to each such user is tracked by the central authority and is weighted.

Abstract: A method for providing a plurality of users with the ability to engage in the swap of a plurality of items comprising the following: providing a system for the entry of a plurality of items into inventory of a system by a plurality of users; providing a fixed number of credits for each said item entered which can be then used to obtain other items in the system's inventory wherein the number of credits received for each item will be automatically set by the system depending on each item's characteristics and where the total number of credits allocated represent the total value of all entered items.

Abstract: A system for rewarding online viewing of advertisements is described. The system comprises a processor and a memory comprising a set of executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a user profile comprising demographic user information; to receive an advertising campaign comprising at least one advertisement, at least one reward amount identifier, and at least one user selection criteria; to transmit at least one advertisement to a user based on a comparison of the at least one user selection criteria and the user profile; and receive a user vote based on the at least one advertisement.

Abstract: A computer terminal 110 connected to a manufacturing apparatus 120 as an object of the maintenance management is connected to a server machine 210 providing a maintenance management service by a network 500, enabling bi-directional communication. The computer terminal transmits status information on an apparatus as an object of the maintenance management to the server machine in response to a status information transmission request received from a server at every predetermined interval. The server machine includes a status point information management database for storing status points generated according to status information and determines whether status information has been received at every predetermined interval. Each time it is determined that status information is received, a predetermined point is added so as to update the status points of the status point information management database. This can encourage a customer to perform maintenance by him/herself and reduce workload of a serviceman.

Abstract: A computer terminal 110 connected to a manufacturing apparatus 120 as an object of the maintenance management is connected to a server machine 210 providing a maintenance management service by a network 500, enabling bi-directional communication. The computer terminal transmits status information on an apparatus as an object of the maintenance management to the server machine in response to a status information transmission request received from a server at every predetermined interval. The server machine includes a status point information management database for storing status points generated according to status information and determines whether status information has been received at every predetermined interval. Each time it is determined that status information is received, a predetermined point is added so as to update the status points of the status point information management database. This can encourage a customer to perform maintenance by him/herself and reduce workload of a serviceman.

Abstract: A business organization attracts a client by way of philanthropic giving. The business organization arranges a partnership with a charitable cause where the charitable cause promotes the business organization to a client and the business organization pledges a donation of an amount of funds to the charitable cause based on doing business with the client. The business organization then establishes contact with the client by way of the charitable cause, communicates to the client a pledge from the business organization of a first amount of funds to the charitable cause if the client agrees to do business with the business organization, receives an agreement from the client to do business with the business organization, commences to do such business, and donates the first amount of funds to the charitable cause at a time relevant to a definition of the first amount of funds.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, and tangible computer-readable media for receiving resource consumption information associated with a consumer from a resource consumption validator, analyzing the received information and storing the received information and/or the analysis results are herein provided. In some cases, an environmental impact associated with a consumer's resource consumption is determined. Methods, systems, apparatus, and tangible computer-readable media for automatically accessing a consumer resource consumption account and retrieving resource consumption information associated with the resource consumption account are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selectively cache trading partner transaction messages in a trading partner collaboration environment. At least one trading partner transaction message is received. A determination is made as to whether at least one trading partner business rule requires data from the transaction message. If at least one trading partner business rule requires data from the transaction message, at least a portion of the transaction message in a transaction history cache is selectively cached. Another determination is made as to whether the transaction message is associated with a trading partner business rule. If the transaction message is associated with a trading partner business rule the transaction message is processed based on the associated trading partner business rule and previous transaction message data residing in the transaction history cache.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and a system for supporting software. In one embodiment, a method for providing an updated version of a software program includes conducting a first competition for identifying faults in a software program and conducting a second competition for fixing the identified faults.

Abstract: A system and method of rewarding employees of an organisation are provided. The method includes awarding points to an employee for participation in a plurality of program areas. The total points awarded to the employee for a predetermined period is then calculated and the employee is rewarded with at least one reward depending on the total points awarded to the employee.

Abstract: Methods, computer readable media and systems are described wherein a security deposit is used to facilitate a transaction with a customer. In an embodiment, a process includes receiving an indication that a customer is interested in making a purchase during a transaction from a merchant, and transmitting an offer for a benefit to be applied to the transaction in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer and a security deposit. The task is associated with a subsidy provider other than the merchant. The method also includes providing the offer to the customer, receiving the security deposit, applying the benefit to the transaction before performance of the task, and returning at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer based on the performance of the task. For example, a subsidy provider may offer to apply a subsidy amount to a transaction involving the purchase of a lawn mower in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer such as test driving a new car.

Abstract: A messaging method using a mobile user terminal, the method including the steps of: creating, at the mobile user terminal, at least one graphical messaging symbol adapted to convey a meaning to a message recipient; preparing message content including at least one of the created graphical messaging symbols using the mobile terminal; and sending the message to a recipient via a communication network.

Abstract: Time is of the essence when advertising to new homeowners. The present invention is an advertising technique that enables advertisers to reach new homeowners at the time of closing of the new homeowner's home purchase. Hence, advertisers advertising via the present invention are able to reach potential customers at least several days, even weeks, if not months, before other advertisers using conventional approaches.

Abstract: A method and system for earning credits from a content rights provider/issuer (10) for obtaining content rights includes, in response to a trigger event (20), prompting (24) a user to provide a service in exchange for credits and receiving (26) a service performed by the user in favor of the content rights provider Credits from the content rights provider/issuer (10) are provided (28) to the user (18), and the credits may be redeemable (30) from the content rights provider/issuer (10) for a further product or service.

Abstract: A system of wireless advertising platform has a handheld wireless device that has an inbound wireless data function with a storage function to be able to receive and store, audio, text, image, and flash commercial messages from a message server. The device has a message exposure function that exposes these messages to a device user from the stored memory of the device into the incoming and outgoing communication, to and from the device user. The device has a message tracking function that tracks which messages have been exposed and periodically sends an account record to the message server. The message server receives the account records and uses cumulative account records to create billing statements to the message providers. The communication use cost of the device is discounted to the device user for being exposed messages from revenue from message providers.

Abstract: Method and system for managing delivery of communications such as advertisements to mobile telephone subscribers where delivery to roaming subscribers is prevented or blocked when the subscriber is determined to be using a roaming network and revenue derived from delivery of the advertisements to a roaming subscriber is less than the cost for delivering the advertisements to the roaming subscribers.