Abstract: A system and method for a vendor to provide and process a survey with a customer either before, at, or after a consumer transaction is described herein; wherein in one or more embodiments an incentive is offered and redeemable by the consumer contemporaneously with the transaction.

Abstract: A method of providing demographic visitor information to a participating web site including registering a user with an information gathering system, wherein the information gathering system solicits personal information from the user and wherein the information gathering system maintains a profile for the registered user; detecting a visit of the registered user to a participating web site, wherein the participating web site is operated independently from the information gathering system; and providing a demographic information report to the participating web site, wherein the demographic information report is related to at least one registered user who has visited the participating web site.

Abstract: Methods for a buyer to receive a discount from a merchant or another member in a multi-merchant, multi-payer internet commerce platform in a social network. The methods relate to deals which include loyalty-based discounts, prepaid discounts and/or coupon discounts. A buyer may wish a deal form a selected merchant at a selected discount. Upon acceptance by the merchant, the deal is published and available to all members. Existing members may sponsor friends or businesses to become members of the internet commerce platform. New businesses listed on the internet commerce platform are subject to verification by current members entering business telephone numbers and determining if the entered numbers match. Further verification may include an interactive voice response test performed on the business manager's mobile telephone number.

Abstract: A method whereby advertisers wish to deliver at least one of offerings and advertising messages relative to at least one of a product and a service to a target audience of users selected by a system operator during an advertising campaign. The method includes defining the users within the context of a social network, selecting the users from among the users of the social network, storing the information relevant to the defined users and utilizing the information stored/defined within the social network to deliver the messages to the users in an optimal manner.

Abstract: A digital coupon system for electronically distributing coupons and inducements to viewers over broadcast media. The system employs a viewable or audible signal to indicate to viewers the availability of a coupon or inducement during real time viewing using an image animation overlaid onto displayed ad or program content. Coupon inducements and delivery can be based on coupon business rules defining requirements for delivery. The system is especially well configured to encourage the viewing of broadcast media commercials which are frequently skipped over by viewers.

Abstract: A device is configured to receive, from a first mobile device of a first user of a group of users, information identifying a first location of the first mobile device and to receive, from a second mobile device of a second user of the group, a second location of the second mobile device. The device is further configured to determine a geographic area of a venue associated with a coupon. The device is also configured to match the coupon to the group when the first location and the second location are within the geographic area, and transmit information associated with the matched coupon to the first mobile device and the second mobile device. The group is organized by the first user or the second user for a plurality of users to receive coupons for a particular type of service associated with the matched coupon.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for distribution of advertisements between communication devices. The system and method provides for accounting and distribution of incentives related to distribution of the advertisements. The system further provides for association of testimonials from advertising recipients related to the advertisement and for distribution of the testimonials to communication devices. A bi-directional selection between subscribers and advertisers using the system is created whereby both advertisers and subscribers agree to participate in the distribution of advertisements and testimonials.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for paying for an existing report are provided. In the method, an existing report for which a first structure of entities is identified is received. Thereafter, a set of other reports for which respective second structures of entities are identified is received. A weighting for other reports in the set of other reports is assigned, based on the respective structures. A payment for the existing report is extracted based on the weighting, a selected scoring rule, and the set of other reports.

Abstract: A system and method allows users to post reviews as video clips, showing others what their experience was and if the product was useful or not. Such video reviews add credibility to the reviewer. The video review may also allow the user to rate the product based on various individual factors, such as price, quality and functionality. Unlike conventional review systems, where an average review may be provided for the product, the review system and method of the present invention allows a user to rate individual factors, providing the consumer with improved information from the review. The system and method may be provided as an internet web site, where users may register, post and search for reviews of various products.

Abstract: A method by which potential buyers are identified includes receiving a description of an item a potential buyer intends to purchase within a particular time, determining a reward for the potential buyer based on intent data, providing the reward to the potential buyer and applying a penalty to a financial account of the potential buyer if the potential buyer does not purchase the item within the particular time period. The system includes a controller coupled to at least one input device with the controller operable to compute a reward offer. The controller includes circuitry, or software, configured to compute and apply a penalty if the potential buyer does not purchase the item within the particular time period.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems are described for online content management. Online content in the form of answer sets are exposed to a user posing a question to a question and answer service. The question and answer service causes an award amount to be debited from an account associated with the user. The question and answer service receives a user input that (i) selects one or more answers from the answer set, and (ii) specifies a distribution of a portion of the award amount among the selected answers.

Abstract: A method and system to report the environmental benefits of consumers' purchases of alternative fuels. The system tracks and stores the purchases of customers from a vendor of alternative fuels. The system calculates the environmental savings that a customer generates by using alternative fuel in place of standard fuels. Environmental savings may be calculated in terms of various metrics, including reduced carbon emissions, gasoline not consumed, or other environmental benefits. The system provides a marketplace that allows consumers to receive the benefit of the calculated environmental savings by selling, trading, or retiring the generated savings.

Abstract: A system for providing offer codes to customers, the offer codes being associated with rewards in exchange for completion of feedback surveys for a particular business following a transaction between the customer and the particular business. In various embodiments, the system is configured to provide a customer with an offer code for a particular business. In response to receiving confirmation that the customer has completed a qualifying transaction under the offer code with the particular business, the system, in various embodiments, is configured to notify the customer of an available feedback survey. In response to receiving the completed feedback survey from the customer, the system may be configured to provide compensation to the customer, which may be based at least in part on terms and conditions associated with the offer code.

Abstract: A method for rendering content can comprise rendering a challenge, wherein the challenge is contextually related to the content, receiving a response to the challenge, comparing the received response to a comparator element, and providing a reward based upon the comparison of the received response and the comparator element.

Abstract: A system and method provides turn-by-turn directions including placemarks. Each placemark represents a geographically located object such as a business or landmark. A client device may transmit an initial and a final location. Upon receipt of the locations, a server may determine a route comprised of a plurality of route segments. For each route segment associated with one or more placemark, the server may conduct an auction to choose one of the placemarks. The server may receive a plurality of bids associated with a particular route segment. Each bid is associated with a particular placemark. The server selects the placemark by determining a highest bid or other auction criteria. The selected placemark is associated with the route segment and is used to generate a turn-by-turn direction for the route segment, where information associated with the placemark is displayed on a client device.

Abstract: A method and a system to provide information to consumers are provided. A code identification module may receive one or more scanned machine-readable codes. The code identification may further identify respective descriptions of the items corresponding to the one or more scanned machine-readable codes. An incentive generation module may provide to a user an incentive interface depicting a first description of a first set of incentives available with the purchase of a first item corresponding to a first scanned machine-readable code and second description of a second set of incentives available with the purchase of a second item corresponding to a second scanned machine-readable code.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for online marketing, scheduling and booking of service appointments. In one example, the system for scheduling and booking of service appointments includes an inventory database containing schedules of booked and available service appointments associated with a plurality of service providers. The system further includes a calendar-based service provider interface for creating a schedule of services provided by the service provider and storing the schedule in the inventory database. The system further includes a calendar-based service user interface for displaying schedules of available service appointments and booking one or more service appointments.

Abstract: A method includes routing, through a social network enabled router at a location of a business entity, an Internet connection request from a data processing device of a customer of the business entity at the location thereof to a web interface requiring the customer to log in with a social network identifier thereof. The method also includes redirecting, on the data processing device, the customer to another web interface requiring intervention on part of the customer by way of endorsement of the business entity on a social network through the another web interface following the customer logging into the web interface. Further, the method includes permitting, through the social network enabled router, the customer free Internet access at the location of the business entity through the data processing device solely after the customer endorsement of the business entity on the social network through the another web interface.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for generating scores related to interactions with a service provider partner. A historical dataset corresponding to a historical behavior of a set of service provider partners may be identified. The historical dataset may be processed to identify a feature vector. A classifier model may be generated from the historical dataset and the feature vector. Current service provider partner data representing a current service provider partner may be collected. The current service provider partner data may be processed to generate a current service provider partner feature vector. A score may be generated by applying the classifier model to the current service provider partner data feature vector.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to social networking rewards. Specifically, this invention relates to a system and method for providing rewards to users of one or more social networks for performing certain specified tasks.

Abstract: A question and answer processing device receives question information, purchase history requirement information, and attribute requirement information from a questioner terminal device, acquires user identification information which has been searched for by a search means that searches for the user identification information of a user satisfying requirements indicated by the received purchase history requirement information and attribute requirement information, transmits the received question information to an answerer terminal device used by a user identified by the acquired user identification information, receives determined reward information, which indicates a reward determined by a questioner for answer information, from the questioner terminal device which receives the answer information transmitted from the answerer terminal device, and causes a storage means to store the received determined reward information in association with the user identification information of an answerer.

Abstract: A system and method for providing ratings related to a plurality of websites is provided. One embodiment of the system may include program code adapted to execute as a browser toolbar to implement a method comprising retrieving an identifier from the end user computing device, transmitting a request to a remote computer system for a rating value in response to a web page being loaded into the browser, receiving a rating value from the remote computer system, displaying the rating value in the toolbar, receiving a first user rating of the user from the remote computer system, displaying the first user rating in the toolbar, receiving a user input comprising a second user rating from the end user, transmitting the second user rating to the remote computer system, and displaying the second user rating in the toolbar. The remote computer system may store user ratings and reviews and transmit user ratings, an average rating, and a review count.

Abstract: A system and method are provided. The method includes establishing a current belief about the multidimensional distribution of buyers' valuations for at least one item, and, based on the current belief, proposing at least one pricing mechanism, each pricing mechanism establishing a price for the at least one item. Observed buyers' responses to at least one of the set of proposed pricing mechanisms are stored. Region censored updates to the belief about the multidimensional distribution of buyers' valuations are conducted, based on the observed responses, to generate a new belief about the multidimensional distribution of buyers' valuations. Based on the new belief, a pricing mechanism establishing a price for the at least one item is proposed, that is expected to improve a seller's welfare under the new belief, relative to the originally proposed mechanism or mechanisms.

Abstract: A data processing system is disclosed that provides an efficient market for: (1) the provision of insurance and reinsurance between insurers and those seeking insurance and reinsurance, and (2) the sale of insurance between reinsurers. The data processing system provides an efficient market for the provisioning of insurance and reinsurance that not only invites insurers, insurance seekers, and reinsurers to patronize the system, but whose conventions induce them to patronize the system. An embodiment comprises: receiving at a data processing system an underwriting standard from each of a plurality of insurers; compiling a first set of statistics in the data processing system based on the underwriting standards from each of the plurality of insurers; and outputting from the data processing system the first set of statistics to a selected insurer at a price that is based on a measure of fees earned with respect to the selected insurer.

Abstract: A method of operating an internet service system comprises receiving a service request, wherein the service request identifies a user and indicates a service requested by the user, selecting a first brand for display on a first section of a web page based on an identity of the user and the service requested by the user, selecting a second brand for display on a second section of the web page based on the identity of the user and the service requested by the user, generating the web page with the first brand and the second brand, and transferring the web page for display to the user with the first brand in the first section of the web page and the second brand in the second section of the web page.

Abstract: A method and means by which a mobile phone can participate in a promotional offer that is sponsored by an interested party is disclosed. The sponsor creates a promotional campaign and defines its parameters using promotional offer code (POC) data. The POC data is then pre-provisioned into the mobile phone. If a mobile phone user becomes aware of the promotional campaign and wishes to participate, he navigates his mobile phone menu structure to a “promotions” menu and inputs a POC that was included in the sponsor's advertisements. The mobile phone then links the input POC to the pre-provisioned POC data. Another function in the mobile phone then constructs a promotional offer entry (POE) that conforms to the parameters set out in the pre-provisioned POC data. The POE is then transmitted to the sponsor. The sponsor reviews all valid entries and chooses one or more winners. The sponsor can then broadcast a status message to all entrants to inform them whether they won anything from the promotion.

Abstract: A method and system for rating and evaluating music/songs of one or more performing artists includes playing at least two musical performances/songs of one or more performing artists, requesting a third party to indicate a preference of said musical performances/songs, and compensating a provider for determining the preference of the third party. The method and system also enables rating the music/songs of a performing artists by determining a number of different categories/genres of music, assigning a different indicia to each category/genre, assigning a different indicia to each song uploaded onto a system, requesting a third party to listen to one or more musical performances/songs and to designate a preference, and adjusting the numerical scores for the third party's musical category/genre preference by comparing the indicia designated by the third party user with that of the performing artist.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable and executable instructions are provided for recommending print locations. Recommending print locations can include receiving recommendation, user, and geographic information for a first mobile print location (MPL) and a second MPL. Recommending print locations can also include indexing the recommendation, user, and geographic information for each of the first MPL and the second MPL as an automatically created uniform resource indicator (URI) on an MPL system. Furthermore, recommending print locations can include ranking the first MPL and the second MPL based on the recommendation, user, and geographic information and presenting a list, via a user interface, of the ranked first MPL and the second MPL.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for acquiring unsolicited consumer comments. Input from a user indicating that the user has one or more unsolicited comments directed to an establishment or an entity associated with a product may be received at a user device. The establishment or the product to which the user has the one or more directed unsolicited comments may be determined at the user device. A comment input interface to receive the one or more unsolicited comments regarding the establishment or the product from the user may be presented through the user device. The one or more unsolicited comments from the user may be received at the user device. The one or more received unsolicited comments may be transmitted, from the user device, to a comment processor system to prepare for presentation to the establishment or the entity associated with the product.

Abstract: An assignment system and method for generating content creation requests or “assignments” and targeting assignments to content contributors. The assignment system is part of a content distribution system that aggregates, manages, and distributes/syndicates multimedia content that is generated by content contributors. As part of the acquisition of content, the assignment system may compensate the content contributors for the content that they provide to the system. The assignment system generates assignments that are likely to result in content that will be of interest to content consumers. The assignment system targets the generated assignments to content contributors that are well-suited to generate content that will be successful among a target audience. The assignment system notifies those contributors of available assignments and allows contributors to claim assignments to fulfill.

Abstract: An apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to and capable of communication with a plurality of information processing terminals through a network, the apparatus including: distribution means for distributing digital content to at least one of the plurality of information processing terminals; providing means for providing, to the at least one of the plurality of information processing terminals, one or more content constituent elements associated with the digital content and an input form that allows inputting feedback information using the content constituent elements in the at least one of the plurality of information processing terminals; reception means for receiving, from the at least one of the plurality of information processing terminals, feedback information input using the input form; and feedback information storage means for accumulating the feedback information to allow browsing from the plurality of information processing terminals through the network if the fe

Abstract: In some implementations, techniques are described for customer lead generation and fulfillment through viewer participation in television, cellular or mobile telephone, and Internet-enabled computer or computing device platforms. Participation television may be leveraged to identify potential consumers and advertising leads may be selected for the potential consumers. An exchange of information related to an advertisement, offer, or gift may be facilitated between an advertiser and a participant in a participation television segment.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for enabling a client to acquire a commodity via a survey are provided. One system includes a processor and memory coupled to the processor. The memory is configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide a survey to a client, receive the survey completed by the client, and enable the client to utilize completion of the survey to acquire a commodity. A method includes providing a survey to a client, receiving the completed survey, and enabling the client to utilize completion of the survey to acquire a commodity. One computer program product includes a computer-readable medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for enabling a client to acquire a commodity via a survey. The computer program product includes computer code for performing the above method.

Abstract: A method may include receiving, at a mobile computing device from a server via a network, survey information, where the survey information may include data capture instructions. The method may further include presenting, on a display of the mobile computing device, the data capture instructions and a control for capturing data, where the control for capturing data may be configured upon selection to activate a peripheral feature of the mobile computing device, and where the peripheral feature may be configured to capture one or more of audio content, image content, and video content. The method may further include receiving selection of the control for capturing data, and activating the peripheral feature. The method may further include intercepting capture data, where the capture data was created by the peripheral feature. The method may further include providing, to the server via the network, capture information associated with the capture data.

Abstract: Special interest subgroups are formed by a group of participants by establishing a profile for each participant. The profile defines contribution attributes dealing with contributions the profiled participant might make to a subgroup and attribution attributes dealing with benefits the profile participant might receive from participating in the subgroup. For each possible pairing of participants in the group, an overall contribution score and an overall benefit score is calculated for each participant. A mutual benefit score is calculated by combining the benefit scores for both participants in the pair. Participants are assigned to subgroups as a function of participant contribution and mutual benefit scores.

Abstract: An example method of cementing in a subterranean formation includes determining a settable composition for use in the subterranean formation; calculating a total carbon footprint of the settable composition; determining at least one additive for use in the settable composition, wherein the additive replaces at least a portion of the settable composition and reduces the total carbon footprint of the settable composition; preparing the settable composition comprising the additive; placing the settable composition comprising the additive in the subterranean formation; and allowing the settable composition comprising the additive to set in the subterranean formation. Additional embodiments of the present invention include determining an amount of reduction in the carbon footprint of the settable composition; and/or communicating the amount of reduction in the carbon footprint of the settable composition to a customer or end user.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating coupons and rebates for end consumers and purchasers, who purchased products from a supplier in a qualifying transaction for use by their customers, are disclosed. In a typical transaction, the purchaser gives the purchased product to the end consumer. Product order/sales data corresponding to products purchased directly from the supplier by the end consumer are stored in a database and the end consumer is incentivized (e.g., with a purchase discount) to provide corresponding referral purchaser information. Subsequently, the end consumer order/sales data and corresponding referral purchaser information are retrieved and used to generate endorsement rebates for the referral purchaser.

Abstract: A system for determining preference, including a client device with feedback controls, a server and addressable URIs; the device and server in communication over an electronic network and the URIs' content retrievable over the network; the server automatically receiving and storing ratings, tracking URIs, using ratings to create a preference model for URIs, and using the preference model to suggest URIs; the stored ratings include a record having a rated item URI, a rater having a unique identification, a rating value provided by the rater, and at least one metadatum for creating subsets of ratings. Also, a method for automatically creating a chimeric preference vector, the method steps including identifying a multiplicity of datasets of rated items; automatically combining the datasets to form a combined dataset; automatically identifying ratings collisions; treating ratings collisions to form a data subset; and generating a chimeric preference vector based on the data subset.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an advertisement information providing system and an advertisement information providing method. According to the present invention, when a data addresser transmits data to a data addressee through a data transmitting server of a network service medium or when the data addressee receives data from the data addresser through a data receiving server of the network service medium, an advertisement matched with the field of interests of which the data addresser and the data addressee are the most interested is generated in real-time and the generated advertisement is transmitted to the data addresser or the data addressee.

Abstract: Methods of communicating for advertising and for facilitating commercial transactions between businesses and consumers. Said methods are enabled by a software application that allows a consumer to dispatch an offer request to a service provider, wherein the offer request specifies an amount of money that the consumer intends to spend on a particular product category and a geographic area in which the consumer intends to make a purchase. The service provider then communicates the offer request to a plurality of businesses that offer the specified product category and that are located within the specified geographic area. If the offer request satisfies certain criteria established by one or more of the businesses, those businesses will issue offers that advertise special deals and discounts to the consumer. Such offers are generated using a software application. The consumer can then accept and redeem any of the offers that the consumer finds attractive.

Abstract: A system is provided for introducing customers to local businesses using incentives such as free goods or services. The system employs a server having a database and network communications and software capable of communicating with one or a plurality of user computing devices including a desktop, laptop, pad device, and smartphone. The system also includes inducements to the customers to continually provide valuable feedback to the business by limiting and increasing the number of incentives a user may have based on the number and quality of the feedback each user provides. Because the identities of the users visiting the businesses are known, the system provides a means to insure more constructive feedback to the businesses who are aware their identity is known, as opposed to the current mode where anonymous feedback is communicated which may be less than honest or actually placed by a competitor.

Abstract: A display unit displays information in a fitting room. An operation input unit receives operation input of information in the fitting room. An RFID reader writer performs radio communication with an RFID tag, which is attached to a commodity and stores data of a commodity ID for identifying the commodity, and sets a radio communication range in the inside of the fitting room.

Abstract: A system and method for offsetting printing costs. Specifically, the method includes collecting user information about a user and generating a user profile based on the user information. The user profile is stored such that the user profile is used to achieve delivery of data that is targeted to the user based on the user profile without requiring a release of user information in the user profile. At least one offer for the delivery of data is presented to the user. The data is targeted to the user based on the user profile. Thereafter, the method determines that an item of the data presented to the user has been printed. An incentive is received for printing the item.

Abstract: There is a system and method for promoting the sale of retail goods over a computerized network. The system and method includes a virtual shopping cart module operationally deliverable to a mobile communication device over a network. The virtual shopping cart module includes a reader module configured to scan a physical tag of a retail item. The virtual shopping cart module includes a purchase module configured to facilitate purchase of items associated with the virtual shopping cart data. The cart module includes a review module configured to query a consumer regarding an opportunity to purchase a retail item associated with virtual shopping cart data. The virtual shopping cart module includes an incentive module and a rewards module configured to manage rewards and incentives of a consumer associated with the virtual shopping cart data.

Abstract: A billing statement according to one aspect of the invention includes a description of a transaction and an offer pointer associated with the transaction, wherein the offer pointer includes information that may be used to review an offer. In one example of this aspect, a telephone number or a hyperlink is provided adjacent to a total amount owed listed on a statement (e.g., an electronically-displayed billing statement). The offers reviewed may be customized, for example, based on details of the transaction such as the product purchased or the amount of the purchase, the identity of the consumer, and/or on other data.

Abstract: A method by which potential buyers are identified includes receiving a description of an item a potential buyer intends to purchase within a particular time, determining a reward for the potential buyer based on intent data, providing the reward to the potential buyer and applying a penalty to a financial account of the potential buyer if the potential buyer does not purchase the item within the particular time period. The system includes a controller coupled to at least one input device with the controller operable to compute a reward offer. The controller includes circuitry, or software, configured to compute and apply a penalty if the potential buyer does not purchase the item within the particular time period.

Abstract: An embodiment of the current invention is directed to determining that a wireless-service subscriber using a given mobile computing device is likely to transition to another provider (“to churn”). A list of mobile computing devices that have communicated with the given mobile computing device is determined. A relationship-strength value for each mobile computing device in the list is determined. A risk value of the given mobile computing device is determined based on the relationship-strength values of each of the mobile computing devices in the list that have churned. If the risk value is not greater than a risk value threshold, the given mobile computing device is not likely to churn. If the risk value is greater than the risk value threshold, the given mobile computing device is likely to churn.

Abstract: A system and method by which to implement revenue sharing between printer vendors and network service providers or operators. In one example, a method for providing printing access to a mobile device may include acts of requesting information from a printer, receiving the information at a mobile device, providing the information to a communications subsystem of a mobile network operator, based on the information, acquiring a printing capability of the printer, sending the printing capability from the communications subsystem to the mobile device, and upon receipt of the printing capability, if the printing capability is enabled, sending a print request from the mobile device to the printer. A corresponding apparatus may be used to implement the method, which may be provided as instructions encoded on a computer readable medium.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to receive a search query from a user, typically via a web browser, the Internet, and a web server. A search engine obtains a set of potential search results based on the search query. For each Internet domain or web site mentioned in the search results, a set of data sources is accessed to obtain information concerning the legitimacy of the business associated with the Internet domain or web site. The legitimacy information is used to reorder or to change or to augment the appearance or presentation of the search result for the Internet domain or web site. The processed search results are returned to the user.

Abstract: Products and processes are provided in which information an entity is offered a posting award to provide feedback information. In response to receiving feedback information, the posting award is provided to the entity.