Abstract: An advertisement scheduler receives a commercial break schedule generated from a completed assignment of one or more spots that correspond to the deals comprising advertiser's orders to place the spots into one or more commercial breaks in the commercial break schedule based on constraints and placement requirements. The advertisement scheduler may determine representative liability per pending spot for the deals and reshuffle the placement of the spots based on the representative liability of the deals in order to minimize liability associated with the deals. The advertisement scheduler may reshuffle the placement of the spots for maximum delivery of candidate deals, where the reshuffle is based on a forecast of expected viewership associated with the deals, and a pacing computation of cumulative demographics guaranteed at a particular point in time, modify the forecast based on weighting factor, and generate a finalized commercial break schedule based on the reshuffling.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for identifying at least one sports team depicted in media content, such as image or video data. Features of the media content may be provided as input to a first set of classification models that are each trained to identify at least one type of scene associated with one or more sports, then features of the media content may be provided to a second set of classification models trained to identify at least one object associated with one or more sports. Once a sport depicted in the media content is determined based on the first and second set of classification models, the system may determine a team depicted in the media content based at least in part by comparing aspects of the media content to stored data associated with various teams that play the identified sport.

Abstract: An information processing device (10) includes a commodity detection unit that detects a commodity information symbol, a service detection unit (120) that detects a service information symbol, and an association unit (130) that associates commodity information obtained using a commodity information symbol corresponding to a shorter time period, out of a time period from detection of a commodity information symbol to detection of a service information symbol and a time period from the detection of the service information symbol to detection of a commodity information symbol, with service information obtained using the service information symbol.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed herein for spend control in online advertising. Systems include a first plurality of advertisement servers included in a first data center, and a second plurality of advertisement servers included in a second data center. Systems include a performance data aggregator configured to receive performance data characterizing bids placed by the first plurality of advertisement servers and the second plurality of advertisement servers. Systems include a spend control analyzer configured to generate spend control data objects based on an estimate of bidding activity associated with the first data center and bidding activity associated with the second data center. Spend control data objects are capable of configuring advertisement servers to perform advertisement operations within determined budgetary constraints.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for extracting, transforming, and loading data from one database to another database. For example, an extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) component may access an operational log of a given database in order to detect an update to the database. Upon detecting the update, the ETL component may extract a subset of data from the operational log, where the extraction of the subset of data is based on one or more rules. Ones the subset of data has been extracted, the ETL component may transform the extracted subset of data from the operational log into a format for another, target database, where the data format for the other, target database is different from a data format for the given, source database. The ETL component may then load the subset of data transformed into the data format for the other, target database into the target database.

Abstract: A method and system of improving the detection and utilization of attributes of a user. A query is sent to a device operated by a user. The query includes a query database having a plurality of query tags corresponding to expected attributes of a target user and a numerical value associated with each of the plurality of query tags. A plurality of attributes of the user of the device is detected. Data corresponding to the detected plurality of attributes of the user and a response from the user related to the query is received. The numerical value associated with each of the plurality of query tags that corresponds with each of the detected plurality of attributes and creating a new query tags is incremented.

Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, software, and apparatuses provide a system for forming and managing a caravan of vehicles. The system may include computing devices in a plurality of vehicles belonging to a caravan. The computing devices participating in the caravan may communicate various information to each other. This information may be used to generate and manage a route for the caravan. The system may also be used to select a leader and/or order of the caravan for a particular trip. During the trip, the system may monitor the caravan and analyze inputs from participants and vehicles. Further, the system may modify the route based on such inputs and distribute the modified route to participating computing devices so that the caravan may be maintained.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing information to a traffic system allowing a traffic system operator to make faster and better decisions related to whether or not to import specific break structure files. The system, via a dashboard, permits the traffic system operator to select a single network, a group of specific networks or all networks for importation of the specific break structure files. The system and method are configured to handle changes in any of three important programming categories, namely windows, breaks and programming content. The programming categories are separated into easy-to-read columns listing the number of changes for a given future time period allowing the traffic system operator to easily locate the changes. Such a system and method solves the problem of traffic system operators having to “blindly” import data.

Abstract: Playlists comprising media objects can be modified by adding personalized supplemental media objects that can provide a customized entertainment experience. As an example, an application can overlay a playlist on a consumer's device and can call a user-configurable rules engine that can select a supplemental media object (e.g., a pre-recorded and/or dynamically synthesized media file) that is to be played with the media objects. In one example, the supplemental media object can be associated with a user-selected voice personality and can be streamed from a network storage device via a communication network coupled to the consumer device.

Abstract: Electronic messages may be processed using a stamp authority by receiving an electronic message, identifying a stamp associated the message, determining if the stamp is valid, and, if the stamp is determined to be valid, distinguishing the message from messages with which a valid stamp is not identified.

Abstract: A driver's license parser including: a data accessor configured for accessing data from a scanned bar code of a driver's license of a customer; a data parser configured for parsing the data to achieve parsed data, wherein the parsed data represents a customer profile of the customer; a parsed data storer configured for causing the parsed data to be stored; a comparer configured for comparing the parsed data with requirements of a loyalty program enrollment policy to determine what information of the parsed data falls within the loyalty program enrollment policy; a customer profile validity determiner configured for, based on the comparing, determining a validity of the customer profile; and a form populator configured for, if the customer profile is determined to be valid, populating at least one form with the parsed data to achieve at least one populated form.

Abstract: A balanced survey is automatically created in real time, that is, while potential survey participants are evaluated. A survey histogram is automatically re-balanced with each new entry accepted as a respondent. An individual fills out a questionnaire providing demographic and socio-economic data. A vector representation of that person, referred to as an entry, is created. A similarity value is calculated indicating the similarity between the vector representation and a histogram vector representing the make-up of the survey. The similarity value is calculated by taking a dot product of the entry vector representation and the histogram vector. The system then determines whether the similarity value is greater than a similarity threshold value. If the similarity value exceeds the threshold value, the entry vector is integrated into the histogram vector, that is, the individual becomes part of the survey group.

Abstract: Methods and systems for searching and displaying promotional offers on a display screen of a mobile device based on current user location have been disclosed. An example method comprises identifying a location of the mobile device, retrieving from a remote server one or more promotional offers provided by merchants located in the nearby area within a predetermined distance from the identified location, associating the location of the mobile device and locations of the one or more merchants providing the one or more promotional offers with a virtual map, generating one or more map elements associated with locations of the mobile device and the one or more merchants, and displaying the virtual map and the one or more map elements.

Abstract: A method of point of interest (POI) load balancing includes storing load profile data of a plurality of POIs, monitoring a position of a mobile device, determining an arrival of the mobile device at a first POI of the plurality of POIs, measuring a duration of stay of the mobile device at the first POI, determining whether the duration of stay of the mobile device at the first POI exceeds a preset time threshold for the first POI, and sending an incentive for a second POI of the plurality of POIs to the mobile device upon the mobile device exceeding the preset time threshold for the first POI.

Abstract: Various implementations provide an improved advertisement model that enables users to skip advertisements based on an advertisement-watching score. That is, as a user watches advertisements or, in some cases, portions of advertisements, an advertisement-watching score is computed. The more advertisements that a user watches, the higher their advertisement-watching score will be. When the user's advertisement-watching score reaches or exceeds a certain threshold, the user is provided with an option to skip subsequent advertisements so that they can consume their content in a generally uninterrupted manner. When an advertisement is skipped, the user's advertisement-watching score is decreased by an amount. If the user's advertisement-watching score is decreased to below the threshold, the user cannot skip additional advertisements until the advertisement-watching score again reaches or exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: Coupon information is provided electronically in association with receipts for transactions at physical stores and/or online stores. A retailer causes performance of a transaction in which one or more items are purchased. An interface configured to accept input indicating a customer identifier, such as an email address, associated with the transaction is provided. When input has been received via the interface, it is determined whether the identifier is associated with a known customer identity. If the customer identifier is associated with a known identity, digital coupons associated with that identity are applied against the transaction. An electronic receipt is further provided for the transaction via, for instance, the provided email address or a web-based application in which a session is established in connection with the identity.

Abstract: A system environment supporting one or more advertisers and one or more ad publishers provides a means of sharing user-targeted advertisement. One or more hashing modules in the system environment provide the advertisers and ad publishers a means of sharing this information without revealing a user's personally identifiable information (PII). If a lossy hash is chosen, then an advertiser can communicate targeted advertisements to an ad publisher without revealing any PII to the ad publisher that the ad publisher did not already know.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and system for product compatibility determination is provided. The method includes determining information associated with monitored usage patterns of an environment for a new product, prior to purchasing the new product, and comparing specifications associated with the new product to the monitored usage patterns of the environment for the new product. The method further includes determining whether the specifications are within a threshold of the monitored usage patterns of the environment and in determining the specifications associated with the new product are not within the threshold of the monitored usage patterns of the environment, generating at least one recommendation.

Abstract: A device exchanges a message with an Internet site in order to provide a reward to a consumer. A user device posts a message to the Internet site, and an authentication server verifies the message and sends notification to the consumer of the reward. The message contains a key string (such as a hashtag), and a geographic location corresponding to a predefined geographic region that is known to the authentication server. The authentication server, which stores a mapping between the predefined geographic region and the key string, verifies the message by determining that the geographic location where the image data was captured is within the predefined geographic region. Having verified the message, the authentication server sends a reward notification to the user device.

Abstract: A method for user-generated content privacy control, including: detecting a trigger event, identifying a post for permissions analysis, determining permissions for the post, and storing the updated permissions in a post indexing system.

Abstract: A personal power plant stores energy at the load site from renewable sources and through connection with a utility, enabling the personal power plant to support real time or near real time system load balancing and to eliminate net-metering. The personal power plant determines a charging profile based on predicted energy usage for a next 24-hour period. The personal power plant can provide an indication of the excess amount of electrical energy stored, but not needed for the next 24-hour period. When times of high demand are anticipated, the utility can reallocate energy to other users which it would otherwise provide to participating personal power plants aggregating the excess energy from a plurality of personal power plants. At such times, inverse power generation occurs as the personal power plants do not draw power from the grid which, in aggregation, reduces grid load.

Abstract: A device may include one or more processors. The one or more processors may obtain product information relating to one or more products. The product information may be obtained from a set of web sites on which the one or more products are offered. The one or more processors may normalize the product information to determine normalized product information. The one or more processors may determine one or more product metrics based on the normalized product information. The one or more processors may generate a user interface based on the one or more product metrics. The user interface may provide information relating to the one or more product metrics. The user interface may permit a user to interact with the information relating to the one or more product metrics. The one or more processors may provide the user interface for display.

Abstract: Methods and systems for extracting intents and intent profiles of users, as inferred from the different activities they execute and data they share on social media sites, and then (i) monetization of such intents via targeted advertisements, and (ii) enhancement of user experience via organization of their contact lists and conversations and posts based on their content and conceptual context.

Abstract: An approach is provided for a more efficient and user friendly mechanism for sharing, transferring, or continuing a content consumption session via another device. The approach includes a method for determining a request to share a content consumption session from at least one device associated with a user to at least one other device associated with the user. The method further includes causing, at least in part, a generation of data describing at least one state of the content consumption session. The method also includes causing, at least in part, a transfer of the data to the at least one other device. Additionally, the method includes causing, at least in part, a mapping of the at least one device, the at least one other device, or a combination thereof to the user based, at least in part, on another request to continue the content consumption session at the at least one other device using the data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a method for providing content. An initial request for a resource is received. A determination is made when fixed or recyclable contact information should be provided with the resource, wherein the contact information is associated with a content sponsor that sponsored the resource. When recyclable contact information should be provided, first recyclable contact information for the content sponsor and time-out information are identified. The first recyclable contact information and the time-out information are combined in an identifier. The identifier is stored on the requesting device and the resource is provided including the first recyclable contact information responsive to the initial request.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for receiving a request that includes a user identifier of a user that submitted a search query and an entity identifier of an entity that is referenced by the search query, identifying a plurality of knowledge elements that are related to the entity, identifying, in a consumption database, one or more items that have been indicated as consumed by the user and that are associated with the entity that is referenced by the search query, assigning rank scores to the plurality of knowledge elements, based at least on identifying the one or more items, selecting one or more of the knowledge elements from among the knowledge elements based at least on the rank scores assigned to the knowledge elements, and providing, in response to the request, information associated with the entity and the one or more selected knowledge elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating WiFi transactions are provided. A consumer device logs in to a merchant's WiFi network and a tab for the consumer is opened up with the merchant. The merchant adds items ordered by the consumer to the tab until the consumer decides to close the tab. The consumer can close the tab by logging off the merchant's WiFi network, pressing a button on a mobile device indicating that he or she wants to settle the tab, or specifying that the tab should be closed after a certain amount of time.

Abstract: A method for disseminating ads over a communications network is disclosed. The method includes transmitting a plurality of ads to a plurality of terminals, receiving from a terminal a consumer's telephone number/email address/social network handle, a unique ad identifier for a particular ad and a unique terminal identifier, generating and storing a record including the consumer's telephone number/email address/social network handle, the unique ad identifier and the unique terminal identifier, generating a message associated with the particular ad, transmitting to a text message gateway/email server/social network a request to send a message to the consumer's telephone number/email address/social network handle, receiving a request from the consumer's mobile device, accessing the record using the unique record identifier, generating a custom page based on the data from the record, and transmitting the custom page to the consumer's mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method for creating, sending, receiving, or displaying messages with smart variable expressive text or graphics is described. The method includes providing a user interface for inputting content and specifying an appearance of the content, receiving the content and an appearance control input via the user interface, responsive to the appearance control input, creating a message including the content and formatting information, and sending the message including the content and the formatting information.

Abstract: A system for generating an enhanced distributed online registry that utilizes an interoperable framework, and machine learning and natural language processing technologies to automatically provide compatible registry items. A persistent secure connection across distributed systems facilitates automatic synchronization of the generated online registry items across the distributed systems and devices accessing those systems. The online registry application processor utilizes machine learning and natural language technologies to generate an acquisition trending model which may be utilized to generate an enhanced distributed online registry that may determine and provide registry items that are compatible with the customer acquisition. Utilizing a persistent bi-directional connection, the online registry application processor may automatically synchronize the enhanced distributed online registry in real time as registry items are added and purchased.

Abstract: A client device or an online system determines a position in an interface presented by a client device for presenting content associated with an application installed on the client device based in part on a bid amount associated with the application. Scores are determined for the application and other applications installed on the client device based on an expected amount of user interaction with each application and bid amounts associated with one or more of the applications. Based on a score associated with an application, a position in the interface for presenting content associated with the application is determined. If the determined position satisfies a position specified by the bid amount and content associated with the application is presented in the determined position for at least a threshold amount of time, an online system charges a third party system associated with the application an amount.

Abstract: A social networking system captures performance metrics of an offer by selecting a whisper code to include in an offer when presenting the offer to users of the social networking system. The social networking system receives information for providing its users with an offer for redemption at a merchant establishment. The social networking system also receives a set of rules for selecting a whisper code to go with the offer. The rules may be based on any context for which the advertiser or merchant may want to track performance of the offer. When presenting the offer, the social networking system selects a whisper code using those rules. This tracking using different whisper codes enables the merchant to understand the performance of the offer campaign based on the context in which the social networking system presents the offers to its users.

Abstract: A system, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium to detect absent airline itineraries.

Abstract: A credit account extraction system is configured to identify account information in credit data associated with a consumer and populate a digital wallet of the consumer with the identified financial card information. The financial card information may then be used by online retailers, for example, to expedite transaction completion.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods provide incentive-based usage of an audio recognition system. In an aspect, a system is provided that includes a query component configured to receive an audio sample from a device and a recognition component configured to determine an identification of the audio sample. The system further includes a reward component configured to identify a reward associated with the identification of the audio sample, wherein the query component is further configured to provide a query result to the device, the query result comprising the identification of the audio sample and the reward associated therewith.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for adding value to a stored value card in excess of the purchase price for the stored value card is provided. In one embodiment a stored value card transaction processor receives an activation or redemption request for a stored value card from a point of sale terminal. The activation or redemption request comprises at least one of a card identification, a point of sale terminal identification, a merchant identification, and an activation time which is compared to data stored in a stored value card datastore to determine if the stored value card to be activated is eligible for a value added award. The processor then determines the value added award and modifies the request to include the value added award. The processor then transmits the modified request to the card issuer authorization system and receives a response which is forwarded to the point of sale terminal.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for controlling the content of an electronic message on an electronic messaging system including a plurality of communities that facilitates the tailoring of the content of a posted electronic message to the interests and/or access privileges of such communities. An electronic lexicon is provided for each community, the lexicon defining content relevant to the community. The electronic message is interpreted for disclosure to a particular community to identify content in the message relating to content in the electronic lexicon of the particular community. The electronic message is redacted based on the identified related content if the electronic message contains content in a form unsuitable for the disclosure.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are described herein for placing secondary content into a break of unknown duration in a stream of primary content. In one aspect, the described techniques may include streaming a segment of primary content, for example, by a reduce capability client device, such as a mobile device or tablet. The device may receive information indicative of a break in the streaming of the primary content. The device may play secondary content based on receiving the information indicative of the break. The device may determine when a next segment of the primary content is available, and begin streaming the next segment of the primary content upon detecting that the second segment of the primary content is available.

Abstract: A system and method for verified monetization. A definition of a commercial campaign is received wherein the definition comprises an identification of an advertiser and an advertisement, at least one trigger condition, at least one monetization condition, at least one verification policy, and at least one monetization action, wherein trigger conditions relate to the occurrence of trigger events, the monetization conditions relate to location data relating to at least one person, verification policies relates to the reliability of the location data, and the monetization actions relates to payments to payees. When an indication of an association between a user and the advertisement is received, the user is associated with the commercial campaign. When the occurrence of trigger events is detected, if the campaigns monetization conditions and verification policies have been satisfied, payees are paid according to the campaign's monetization actions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for generating communicable linkages that collectively provide a cloud-based dynamic credential selection and implementation system. The system generates a user profile containing user preferences, historic trends, and user resources based on information collected from a user and user associated accounts. The dynamic credential selection and implementation system is triggered by the user signaling the system of a proposed transaction. The system requests updated resource characteristics from resource managers. The user profile, resource characteristics and transaction characteristics are evaluated and ranked by the dynamic credential selection and implementation system before completion of the transaction, which in some embodiments requires user approval of the selected resource.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for adding at least one advertisement to a personal communication and providing additional communication data to a recipient that interacts with the advertisement. A sender network device communicates with an advertising application operating on a Web site to generate a personal communication containing at least one advertisement, where the at least one advertisement is selected from a palette of advertisements. In one embodiment of the present invention, the sender has control over advertisements that are displayed together with the personal communication by allowing the sender to delete (or remove) an advertisement from either the at least one advertisement or the palette of advertisements. If a displayed advertisement is interactive, and the advertisement is interacted with, the advertising application will provide the recipient with additional communication data in a format that can be understood by the recipient network device.

Abstract: A system, a method, and a computer program product for providing an asset intelligence network to maintain information about various assets are provided. At least one server generates a first information based on a first data received from at least one first party using at least one template. The server uses the template to generate a second information based on a second data received from at least one second party. The second data is related to the first data. Based on the template, the server creates a uniform record containing a combination of the first information and the second information, and stores the created uniform record.

Abstract: A system and method for media trade-in exchange. The apparatus comprises a kiosk that allows a user to provide a plurality of media items to the kiosk for verification and analysis and then calculate the exchange redemption value. The exchange redemption value is calculated based on the physical damage of a media item, the included media item packaging, the included media item documentation, and the authenticity of the media item. The user may then choose to receive the redemption value in a plurality of options comprised of cash, debit, store credit, reward points, gift card, eCodes, or may alternatively, decline to accept the redemption value offer and have the media item returned to them.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to improve selection of promotion pricing parameters. The method may determine one or more promotion pricing parameters for a promotion that is offered by a promotion and marketing service. The method includes generating one or more predictive models based on historical promotion performance data and generating a revenue equation using the one or more predictive models. The revenue equation provides an estimate of a revenue received by the promotion and marketing service based on the one or more predictive models. The method further includes determining an estimated revenue using the revenue equation based on one or more input sets of promotion pricing parameters provided as input to the revenue equation, and selecting at least one of the input sets of promotion pricing parameters for the promotion based on the estimated revenue. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein may enable a user to add an incentive displayed along with content on a networked television to a digital wallet associated with the user. The user may be capable of selecting the displayed incentive using a remote control in communication with the networked television, or using their mobile device which may be in direct communication with the networked television, or in communication with the networked television over a network. When the user selects the displayed incentive for storage in a digital wallet, the user may be prompted to authenticate to a provider associated with the digital wallet, wherein the authentication may be performed through the networked television using the remote control. The incentive may then be added to the user's digital wallet and may be used or applied when the user performs a transaction using the digital wallet.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for merging versions and activities associated with a file into a history feed and displaying the history feed on a user interface of a client computing device. In one aspect, a file is identified and activities associated with the file are also identified. It may be determined whether the file has at least one activity. When it is determined that the file has at least one activity, at least one actionable history element for the at least one activity is generated. Additionally, the generated history elements are merged to generate a history feed. The history feed is displayed on a user interface. The history feed may be displayed with an application that has opened the file.

Abstract: Audience segmentation can be based on a viewing angle of a user viewing a video of a multi-angle viewing environment. During playback, a sequence of the user-controlled viewing angles of the video are recorded. The sequence represents the viewing angle of the user at a given point in time. Based on the sequences of several users, a predominant sequence of viewing angles of the video is determined. One or more audience segment tags are assigned to the predominant sequence of viewing angles. During subsequent playbacks of the video, the sequence(s) of user-controlled viewing angles of the video are recorded. The recorded sequence(s) of the subsequent user(s) are compared to the predominant sequence of viewing angles of the video, and the subsequent user(s) are assigned to an audience segment based on the comparison and the corresponding audience segment tags.

Abstract: Sensitivity to incentive changes of survey participant may be computed and analyzed. Participants and one or more attributes associated with the participants may be identified. The participants may be clustered into one or more clusters according to the one or more attributes. An incentive amount to be given to a participant in a cluster of said one or more clusters may be perturbed by performing random perturbation computation. The incentive may be distributed to the participant. One or more responses of the participant may be monitored. Individual incentive sensitivity representing incentive sensitivity of responsiveness of the participant per incentive change may be computed based on the monitoring. Incentive amount computation may be dynamically adjusted responsive to determining that the individual incentive sensitivity changed by a predefined criterion.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are described herein for placing secondary content into a break of unknown duration in a stream of primary content. In one aspect, the described techniques may include streaming a segment of primary content, for example, by a reduce capability client device, such as a mobile device or tablet. The device may receive information indicative of a break in the streaming of the primary content. The device may play secondary content based on receiving the information indicative of the break. The device may determine when a next segment of the primary content is available, and begin streaming the next segment of the primary content upon detecting that the second segment of the primary content is available.

Abstract: A method, a computer program product, and a computer system for determining buying online and picking up in store. A computer receives from a shopper a request for buying online and picking up in store. The computer parses stores carrying an item purchased online and connections of the shopper in a social network. The computer provides the shopper with a list of one or more connections for picking up the item for the shopper. The computer sends to one of the one or more connections a token for picking up the item and information of a store where the item is picked up, after the shopper chooses the one of the one or more connections for picking up the item. The computer sends to the shopper a notification, after the item is picked up by the one of the one or more connections for picking up the item.