Abstract: A method, apparatus and system of method and system of aggregating consideration associated with a request is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a request (e.g., may include a performance request, an article request, a mission and/or an altruistic request) of an entity based on a set of parameters provided by an initiating patron of the entity, allocating an initial consideration to the request from the initiating patron, generating a profile of the request having the initial consideration in a request aggregation environment and allocating, to the initial consideration, an additional consideration provided when a different patron contributes the additional consideration to the request. The method may include determining whether contact information of the entity provided by the initiating patron and the different patron references to a verified contact data and communicating the request to the entity based on the contact information and the verified contact data.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided to facilitate on-line transactions through the issuance of rewards for users who referral a product that is purchased by another. In one example, a user selects a product that the user purchased and an email recipient. The payment provider, who the user used to purchase the product, sends an email with a URL to the recipient, where the URL contains the merchant product page and the email address of the user or person making the referral. If the recipient purchases the referred product, such as clicking on the link or copying and pasting the URL, the payment provider is notified and issues a reward to the user based on the purchase by the recipient.

Abstract: A system for distributing a loan lead generation fee, including: a computer including a processor in communication with a computer-readable medium and a network, the computer-readable medium having a database stored thereon, the database including a listing of the plurality of participants and hierarchical relationships therebetween; a participant input subsystem operably connected to the computer and to the network; a lead generation fee payment subsystem for receiving the lead generation fee that is generated upon closing of the loan; a calculation subsystem for calculating loan lead generation fee payments to be made to at least one participant, wherein the calculation subsystem calculates a fraction of the loan lead generation fee payment to pay the at least one participant based on the hierarchical relationship between the at least one participant and the plurality of participants; and a payment subsystem for distributing a payment to the at least one participant.

Abstract: A method for providing a virtual shopping mall is provided. The method includes receiving a request for a multi-party goods sale contest, proceeding with the multi-party goods sale contest when the contest is established in response to the request, analyzing a contest result in consideration of a sale record after a predetermined time lapses or other triggering even occurs, determining a goods sale rank of the plurality of sellers based on the analyzed sale result, and giving different benefits to buyers purchasing goods of the plurality of sellers according to the determined sale rank.

Abstract: A system and method for substantially immediate issuance of transaction cards includes at least one unassigned transaction card including a storage medium having a card number encoded thereupon. The system also includes a computing system configured to receive application information from an applicant that has been provided said unassigned transaction card, and to activate the unassigned transaction card so that access to monetary funds is extended to the applicant through said unassigned transaction card, upon an evaluation of said application information indicating that the applicant has been approved for access to the monetary funds. The unassigned transaction card bears no visible marking presenting information concerning the applicant and encodes no information concerning said applicant upon the storage medium of said unassigned transaction card.

Abstract: System and method for providing value to both buyers and businesses. Businesses provide value to buyers by providing a searchable database containing member businesses and their products and services. Businesses also provide discounts and specials to buyers as an added incentive. Businesses are provided a means to display their goods and services to a targeted group of motivated buyers searching within the system of the present invention, wherein discounts and specials influence a buyer to transact with a member business rather than a non-member business. The searchable database of the present invention may provide results for buyer search requests pertaining to local zip codes of member businesses, product or service categories, product or service descriptions, and the like. Member businesses may be required to maintain a minimum level of incentives available to member buyers, such as offering at least one buy one get one free offer to member buyers.

Abstract: A referral-based loyalty program incentivizes referrals by awarding rewards to primary customers for transactions by secondary customers. The secondary customers receive primary-account-identifying information, such as by hyperlink, and navigate to an order page of a merchant to establish an account and implement a transaction, for which the primary customer receives an reward. Primary and secondary accounts can be linked with one another at the merchant premises, or online, and can be associated with physical cards carried by the customers and presented during transactions. Rewards can be made contingent upon registration and activation of accounts.

Abstract: A method of SMS message advertising using an mobile device application, the method includes providing the application the ability to download at least one advertisement, giving a sender the choice to select the advertisement to be attached to a SMS message, and then account for the advertisement sent by the sender so that a credit is applied to the sender.

Abstract: A super-saturation method for information-media substantially relates to a three-body cooperation to direct information to an electronic media consumer (reader, surfer, viewer, listener, etc.). Embodiments of the present invention facilitate a first media body substantially offering out of context information placement using a second cooperating media body. A facilitator body preferably guarantees that a consumer of the second media is a known consumer of the first media. Accordingly, the second media body presents an out of context information placement. For example, an exclusive members-only Internet site “AAA” is oversubscribed with potential paying advertising content at $100 CPM. This exclusive site then offers unfulfilled advertisers an option to present their advertisements to certified “AAA” viewers, albeit on a non-AAA Internet site, for $50 CPM. The facilitator locates a certified AAA viewer at an Internet site “BBB” that normally charges $30 CPM.

Abstract: Various techniques of distributing revenue and/or other money, selecting/bonding delivery agents, and performing other tasks are providing herein. Methods include distributing portions of loan payments to one or more referrers associated with one or more loans, bonding of delivery agents, selecting delivery agents, allocating portions of credit card payments and/or sharing advertisement revenue. Other apparatus and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and information processing system for providing messaging through an electronic messaging system. At least one user is determined to have performed at least one of the following two acts, creating an electronic message and sending an electronic message. At least one message is selected from a data store in response to the user having performed at least one of the two acts. The message is embedded within the electronic message. An accounting record is updated that includes information for compensating the user based on sent electronic messages including the message, which has been embedded.

Abstract: Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present invention, a system for sharing interactive electronic information with intended recipients over a network and tracking the results of interaction with the information is provided comprising an executable code installed as an executable button in an electronic form containing the electronic information to be shared, a communication channel selection interface stored on a digital medium, the communication channel selection interface displayable as a result of interaction with the button, and an activity tracking server having a digital medium for storing software and data, the tracking server including a reporting interface stored on the digital medium, the reporting interface accessible to a client sharing the information.

Abstract: An online social networking system for conducting commerce utilizes a grid environment, a widget architecture including a widget operating system, and semantic integration technologies to provide personalized bundling of products and services tied to an individual's life, emergent marketplaces that support collaboratively-based product and service development, merchandising, and recommendations, emergent user experiences, emergent gaming, emergent behavior predictions, collaborative discovery, i.e., social searching, and content and/or people voyeurism. These features are achieved through the use of various techniques including emergent programming, emergent widget processing, emergent computations, emergent applications, widget composition, data integration and exchange, complex system management, security graphs, trust/reputation management, intersecting graphs, database sharding, use of fractal graphs (which may be thinned and expanded), and content mashups.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing complete electronic commerce (“E-Commerce”) transactions and solutions for a marketing company's products via the World Wide Web, including facilities for signing up new customers and recruiting, training and supporting new Independent Business Owners through an interactive online process. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the combination of a marketing business with a membership buying opportunity using both electronic commerce and face-to-face transactions. The present invention is also directed to a system and method for combining a marketing business with a membership buying opportunity, so that Independent Business Owners participating in the marketing plan can introduce customers to a membership buying opportunity and earn bonuses or commissions based on the purchases by those members, while Members in the buying opportunity can consume products or, at their option, qualify to become Independent Business Owners.

Abstract: A method for automatically crediting a registered user for referring a candidate third-party entity to an online system, where the candidate entity is at least one of a commercial, government, or non-profit entity where the online system facilitates transactions between a plurality of users and a plurality of participating third-party entities, and where the online commercial system maintains a personal account for each registered user, includes receiving a transaction request from the candidate third-party entity, receiving an identifier associated with the transaction request such that the identifier corresponds to the registered user, identifying the registered user using the identifier, retrieving a crediting rule associated with the transaction request, and automatically crediting the registered consumer in accordance with the crediting rule.

Abstract: A host system for a merchant to distributing and redeeming incentives to a consumer is provided. The merchant may create an incentive with specifications that determine the value of the incentive and to which consumers the incentive is available. The consumer may create a list of products, which the host system matches to a database of created incentives. The consumer may select and use one of more of the incentives and also may share incentives with other consumers. The host system also provides for the verification and confirmation of incentive use, thus allowing the issuer and the host system to track incentive efficiency. The host system also allows for dynamic incentive value determination based on consumer activity, such as sharing the incentive, incentive usage, reviewing products, or posting in a forum.

Abstract: A reseller program may be used to increase the number of Customer desired domain names that are registered by a Registrar. There are two main embodiments of this reseller program. In the first embodiment, Resellers guide Customers to a Registrar web site through the use of advertisements, links in various web sites and/or links from search engines. The Registrar web site communicates directly with the Customer and registers the Customer desired domain names and compensates the Reseller for guiding the Customer to the Registrar web site. In the second embodiment, Resellers have their own reseller web sites that communicate directly with the Customers and communicate the desired domain names to the Registrar web site so the Registrar web site can register the Customer desired domain names. In this embodiment, the Customer may compensate the Reseller and the Reseller may compensate the Registrar for the services rendered.

Abstract: A private civil security loyalty reward program allows access to a user.

Abstract: A computerized system and method are presented for allowing a real estate agent to directly enroll a buyer in another real estate market by using a computerized system to refer the buyer to a receiving agent. After affirmation by the buyer, the system immediately provides the buyer with listing information obtained through the MLS of the receiving agent. The referring agent continues to participate in the buyer's real estate research through the system, while also being eligible to receive a referral fee paid by the receiving agent. The computerized system maintains a list of certified agents able to receive a referral. Only those agents that have contractually agreed to pay a referral fee for clients obtained from other agents through the system and who meet certain performance minimums in the system will be certified.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product that comprises a non transient computer readable medium that stores instructions for: monitoring an offer to enter a transaction, wherein the offer is being distributed over a social networking community by a referring entity; wherein members of the social networking community interact through a network; detecting a completion of the transaction; and compensating the referring entity, wherein the referring entity differs from an initiator of the offer.

Abstract: A management apparatus includes a collector configured to collect requests of events of which the distribution is required via the network from users of the plurality of terminals, a list generator configured to aggregate the collected requests for each event to generate a list, a disclosure unit configured to disclose the list on a site on the network for a predetermined period, a reception unit configured to receive a request for distributions from a plurality of content distributors via the site for each content included in the list, a selector configured to select a content distributor to which a distribution right is granted from among the plurality of content distributors for each content included in the list based on a predetermined conditions, and a reporter configured to report a selection result by the selector to content distributor with the distribution right granted thereto.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods and systems for providing seamless global assistance to travelers. According to one method, pre-travel services are provided to travelers through client interaction devices. Customized assistance is provided during travel. Post-travel services are also provided to the travelers. The global assistance is provided by seamless transformation of virtual assistance into physical assistance.

Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving at a server information indicating activity levels of users of a computer-implemented social network or acquaintance relationships of the users on the computer-implemented social network. The method further includes generating by the server influence scores for the users based on the received information. The method also includes recursively propagating by the server an ad through the computer-implemented social network between users having an acquaintance relationship by transmitting the ad from a propagating user to a recipient user when a difference between a first influence score of the propagating user and a second influence score of the recipient user is greater than a threshold.

Abstract: The present invention is a web based search engine system and method for searching and displaying web based content from public web-sites and private remote computers of members connected to the Internet. In one embodiment, the system comprises a search query module adapted to accept a search query. The search query module comprises a first field for searching by key word and a second field for searching by purpose. The system further comprises a favorite list collection module adapted to upload favorite URLs from the remote computer of the member. The system further comprises a favorite list data base comprising a list of favorite URLs collected by the favorite list collection module. The system further comprises a generic search module adapted to search the Internet based upon the search query from the search query module. The system further comprises a favorite search module adapted to search said favorite list data base based upon the search query from the search query module.

Abstract: Various techniques of distributing revenue and/or other money, selecting/bonding delivery agents, and performing other tasks are providing herein. Methods include distributing portions of loan payments to one or more referrers associated with one or more loans, bonding of delivery agents, selecting delivery agents, allocating portions of credit card payments and/or sharing advertisement revenue. Other apparatus and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of offering advertising services to a client for advertising a client website on the Internet comprises the steps of enabling a website-related services partner to cause an opt-in object to be displayed on a partner or reseller affiliate website through which the client may choose to establish an Internet advertising services account without leaving the affiliate website, receiving corresponding client information from the affiliate, and using the received client information to establish the Internet advertising services account. The invention also covers a related computer system for performing the method. Generated revenue is preferably shared among the advertising services provider, the partner, and the affiliate.

Abstract: In an aspect there is provided a method. The method may include generating, at a processor, a campaign including an offer and a referral, the offer and the referral included in a widget; and providing, at the processor, the widget including the offer and the referral to one or more media types including a social network. The method may also include creating campaigns through rules based interaction of target end-users, real time analytics (which may include the identification of influencers), and dynamic updates of in-flight campaigns. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Abstract: Handling electronic coupons includes accessing information indicating association of an electronic coupon with an account of a user that identifies multiple retail entities associated with the user. Information indicating association of electronic coupons with the user's account may be transmitted to respective computer systems associated with the multiple retail entities. The computer systems may associate electronic coupons with the user such that the user may redeem the electronic coupons at a retail store upon presentation of a user identifier. When the user redeems an electronic coupon, cancellation information for the electronic coupon may be transmitted to the computer systems of other retail entities associated with the user. Receipt of the cancellation information may cause the respective computer systems to cancel the redeemability of the electronic coupon such that the user is prevented from redeeming the electronic coupon at a retail store associated with the corresponding retail entity.

Abstract: A system and method for centralizing the creation, approval, monitoring and managing of a plurality of incentive reward or spiff programs. The system preferably includes a host system that allows program managers, an administrator and participants to access the system in connection with spiff programs. The system also may monitor and report on the effectiveness of the spiff programs to permit the program manager to increase its return on investment. Once a spiff program is approved, registered participants are automatically enrolled in the program. Upon the entering or receipt of sales information, the system automatically begins the claims process for all eligible products. Centralizing the available spiff programs allows the participants to combine rewards and simplifies tax issues. The users may also view various reports on the spiff programs and directly communicate with one another.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a system of calculating a sales commission using a transformation coefficient in on-line by reflecting sales of members receiving sales commissions and new sales of sub-members, and a record medium thereof. Members receive sales commissions based on members' own sales, so that old sub-members as well as new members actively sell commodities. The property of the tree to which the members belong is more increased, so that the members have reliability and affection for a company. The revenue of the members is more increased, and a company attempts to increase sales and members. A company determines sales commissions paid to members at a constant commission payment rate for the sales of the members without being affected by the enlargement of an organization due to the increase of the members and the amount of sales.

Abstract: A self-uploaded indexing and data clustering method and apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of a server device includes processing a merchant-uploaded inventory data to determine a set of meta-data attributes associated with the merchant-uploaded inventory data and creating an index data using the set of meta-data attributes associated with the merchant-uploaded inventory data. The merchant-uploaded inventory data may be compared with a previous inventory data of a particular merchant associated with both the merchant-uploaded inventory data and the previous inventory data to identify at least a portion of the set of meta-data attributes which do not need to be updated. The index data may be created using an incremental algorithm that builds on preexisting indexes which have substantially similar data as the index data.

Abstract: A marketing method comprising a Provider offering a potential reward to a first party in exchange for promotional assistance of forwarding a first e-mail message to a second party comprising a personalized referral for the marketable entity, a first set of data comprising a first serial number and a first URL link. A first Web site corresponding to the first URL link is created which provides information on the referenced marketable entity and an offer to transact. The first set of data in the first e-mail message is correlated to a first set of database data within a digital database controlled by the Provider. The first e-mail message is forwarded from the Provider to the first party. The first e-mail message is forwarded from the first party directly to the second party without giving any identifying information about the second party to the Provider.

Abstract: An affiliate system in which it is possible to form customers on the initiative of advertising clients is provided. Affiliate System 1 comprises Affiliate Server 10, Advertising Client Server 21, and Advertising Client Terminal 22. These are connected with a network. Affiliate Server 10 stores a reward-payment-was-approved bit string if received a reward-payment-approval-notifying bit string from Advertising Client Server 21, stores a check-was-done bit string if received a check-notifying bit string from Advertising Client Server 21, generates a market-data bit string using the stored check-was-done bit string if received a market-data-disclosure-requesting bit string from Advertising Client Terminal 22, and sends it to Advertising Client Terminal 22.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for incentivizing and rewarding consistent and repeated recycling of recyclable materials.

Abstract: A system and method for providing online incentive programs that allows participants in the programs to access hierarchical reports detailing the current status of the incentive programs. The incentive programs include means to restrict access to the various hierarchical reports to prevent the different levels of management from accessing information relating to higher levels of management. Participants may therefore monitor their performance, as well as the performance of those individuals who are under their control.

Abstract: An exemplary system and method are disclosed for providing a business growth incentive program. Embodiments include systems and methods for government(s) or other entities to market and promote their area, region, district, town, city, county, state, province, country, etc. (all herein referred to as “area”) to the world by using rewards and incentives, to awaken a broad entrepreneurial spirit, to mine human knowledge and to encourage all people (especially local citizens of the area) to speak positively about the area and what it offers with the goal of getting all people to use their unique talents and connections to try and bring in new people, entrepreneurs, businesses, industry, jobs, etc. for economic and other growth in the area.

Abstract: Providing for network-based management of dynamic mobile coupons (DMCs) employed in mobile device-related commerce is described herein. Management can include mitigating processing load involved in processing dynamic characteristics of a set of DMCs, facilitating post-transaction evaluation of DMCs, or facilitating a virtual shopping experience in conjunction with redeeming DMCs in a mobile-commerce environment. Communicative association between a mobile device and network components can be implemented to leverage data collected by the mobile device with communication and processing capabilities of the network. Dynamic DMC states are determined from the collected data, which are implemented to facilitate the mobile-commerce. The disclosure provides an integrated mechanism for efficient utilization of DMCs to enhance user experience and satisfaction with mobile commerce.

Abstract: A method for storage and distribution of electronic publications by content creators and online publishers with referral-based commissions utilizes a repository of products and an associated delivery system. An invitor registers with the system and provides referral addresses to the system, which sends an electronic invitation to use the system to the addresses. The recipients can use the system to purchase electronic publication products and/or to sell their own electronic publication products. Commissions are provided to the invitor based on purchases by the recipients of the invitations and/or based on sales of products on the system by recipients of the invitations.

Abstract: A method and system for providing group discount pricing to individuals. A first customer orders a product from an online store and elects to defer delivery for a finite period of time. The online store provides the first customer with the ability to communicate with other persons to invite them to purchase a product from the online store. The online store assigns a purchase code which associates the other persons as members of the first customer's purchase group when any one of the others purchase a product and agrees to defer delivery for the finite period of time. The online store assigns a discount price to each product as a sale is completed and is added to the purchase group where the discount can be dynamically adjusted by the online store based on criteria that is determined by the online store.

Abstract: Social networking site where the user selects advertising material that is shown on their personal section. The user enters favorites, and stored promotional information associated with those favorites is shown to the user. The user selects which of the stored promotional material will be shown on their personal part of their site. The material can be logos or videos, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing community-specific content to customers of a merchant's web site. In one embodiment, customers who are electronically referred to the merchant's web site from an affiliate web site, or from one of a group of related affiliate web sites, are automatically assigned to the same community. For example, all customers who enter the merchant's web site from links on golf-related affiliate web sites may be assigned to the community “golf.” Customers may also join or be assigned to communities using other methods. Purchase histories and/or other activity data of the merchant's customers is analyzed periodically to identify specific products or other items that are currently “popular” within the community (e.g., best selling), based upon predefined criteria. This information is provided to members of the community, and possibly to other customers, on the merchant's web site and/or on the web sites of the corresponding affiliates.

Abstract: Mediating and pricing transactions based on calculated reputation and influence is provided. In some embodiments, mediating and pricing transactions based on calculated reputation and influence includes determining an influence score (e.g., based on a given dimension) for a subject (e.g., a user), in which the subject is requesting a transaction; and determining approval of the transaction based on criteria including the influence score of the subject. In some embodiments, the influence score is a directly estimated objective measure of influence (e.g., estimated using a social graph). In some embodiments, mediating and pricing transactions based on calculated reputation and influence further includes determining pricing of the transaction based on criteria including the influence score of the subject.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system of using mentions/advertisements as a means to provide incentive or compensation for potential promoters to introduce end users to an offering entity, where mentions/advertisements for the benefit of the promoter are included in communications between the offering entity and end users. An additional function that enables promoters to send communications to the end users is disclosed as well.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing a way for advertisers to rent advertising space from a consumer on an electronic device owned or used by the consumer, such as a computer screen, television screen, or mobile telephone, and pay the consumer based upon the amount of time the consumer actively uses the device. Consumers can also receive compensation for electronic device advertising space referrals based upon the amount of time a referred consumer actively uses the device. The method further includes details regarding the compensation model.

Abstract: A common purchase system and its method having circular membership system for congratulation and condolence are provided. A plurality of member terminals requests for an application of the congratulations and condolences membership, requests an application for registration as a beneficiary and requests cooperative purchase of daily necessaries of life via a communication network. A plurality of terminals of cooperative enterprises receives product information for which cooperative purchase is requested in the plurality of member terminals, delivers a concerned product, and then provides a delivery result information about the product which is bought according to a cooperative purchase request.

Abstract: A method and system for web-based incentive acquisition of material and non-material items is proposed involving an originator designating a desired acquisition interacting with a central host controller or manager system. An electronic system allows an originator to define a commodity or service and set an initial bounty, transferable to a system-member-participant who assists such acquisition upon proof of such assistance. Variations of the present system enable adaptation to employment, personal property, and service circumstances. An alternative module enables a financial rating and a reliability rating for both system members and participants. A financial module allows for holding of deposit funds or value offered for consideration of action in enabling the formation of a binding contract.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to systems and methods for managing, creating, and conducting online personal fundraising campaigns. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention sets forth a system, method and computer program product for creating and managing online personal fundraising campaigns. In an exemplary embodiment, the method may include, e.g., but not limited to, receiving a request to establish a personal fundraising campaign from an initiator for benefit of a beneficiary at a central controller; receiving a plurality of donations at the controller; and disbursing at least a portion of the funds to the beneficiary.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a storage medium and a communicatively coupled processor are presented. The storage medium has stored therein a plurality of executable instructions which, when executed, implement an information server which, upon receiving a request including a resource identifier for an information page that may or may not exist, constructs and issues commands to retrieve the requested information and dynamically generates instructions to create the requested information page for provision to a requesting client if the information page does not exist.

Abstract: A system for advertising with the assistance of an advertiser's associate web site includes enrolling advertiser's web sites for allowing customers to receive information or to electronically purchase items; enrolling advertiser's associates web sites that refer customers to the advertiser's web site in exchange for compensation; electronically providing to the customer's computer, specific hyperlinks via the advertiser's associate's web page that, when selected by a customer, cause a list of advertiser's to be transmitted to the customer's computer, wherein each of said items in said list comprises a selectable advertiser specific hyperlink to the corresponding advertiser; transmitting to the customer's computer a web page which corresponds to the advertiser specific hyperlink selected by the customer, to accomplish a referral to the advertiser; and determining and recording within a computer memory compensation for the advertiser's associate for the referral.

Abstract: The invention provides new and improved methods and systems for online promotion, marketing and distribution of artistic works. An embodiment of a system for distributing artistic works comprises an online store configured for sale and distribution of artistic works to individual buyers. A link server is configured to store links to webpages related to artists works stored in the online store. The link server is configured to download at least one link to a fan computer via the Internet in response to a fan-initiated request for at least one link. The links are configured for embedding by said fan in a clickable portion of the fan's webpage. The online store tracks purchases of artistic works corresponding to a fan's link. The online store provides a reward to the fan based on the tracked purchases.