Abstract: This is a pre-paid card system used to store monetary value and subsequently for making payment to merchants through the telephone system or through a data network. Unlike static credit card numbers, this invention employs the generation of encrypted dynamic codes for each transaction, which must be verified within a specific time, for payment initiation. Codes are send by merchant when a purchase is agreed upon and each codes have a time limit to be used. Customers need to accept this codes and present them to the host computer to complete the payment process. Codes from both merchant and customer are decrypted at the host computer to produce the authenticated instructions for the payment. This invention also employs a unique formula to calculate stored value including in foreign currencies.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products and systems are described for online-content management. Online content from multiple contributors is received at one or more first computers for public online display. An authentication score is determined for a contributor of the multiple contributors. The contributor's name and a representation of the contributor's authentication score is published online for display on one or more second computers in association with the online content received from the contributor.

Abstract: A method includes identifying a media file for distribution and identifying a plurality of commercial messages as possible content that can be associated with the media file when it is distributed. Votes from a plurality of customers can be received, with each vote reflecting a customer's preference for at least one of the plurality of commercial messages. The votes can be calculated and at least one preferred commercial message can be designated based on the calculation. At least one preferred commercial message can be associated with the media file to create a combined media file and the combined media file can be distributed and/or made available for distribution.

Abstract: A method of displaying information items, the method comprising: determining a ranking score for each of a plurality of information items based on a history of votes received for each of the information items, the determining comprising: assigning a value to the information item for each vote received in respect of that information item, assigning a weight to each value as a function of the recency of the vote, and calculating a score for each information item, the score being calculated as a first sum across all votes of the product of the value of each vote with its assigned weight, divided by a second sum of the weights across all votes; determining, responsive to a first serve request and based on at least one criterion, at least one of the information items to be displayed at a client device; and transmitting to the client device code executable by a browser application to display the at least one information item based on the ranking score.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for offering a deal to a group of users, and for determining differential discounts for the users of the group that participate in the deal. A deal is offered to users of a group of users formed in association with a corresponding topic. Each user of the group is enabled to selectively accept the deal. The deal is confirmed with a plurality of users of the group that accepted the deal. Discounts for the deal are differentially assigned to the plurality of users based on at least one parameter such that at least two users that accepted the deal have discounts that are different from each other.

Abstract: Apparatuses, computer readable media, methods, and systems are described for identifying risk assessment queries for assessing risk of a process, providing the identified risk assessment queries to a client device for presentation, receiving response data from the client device comprising responses to the risk assessment queries, determining response values for at least some of the risk assessment queries based on the received response data, and calculating a process risk metric based on the determined response values.

Abstract: A service provider facilitates consumption of goods, brands, or services on an interactive network using characterizations of consumers, behavior, brands, consumable goods, advertisers, and advocates to determine a three-way match between a consumable good, a consumer, and an advocate. The matching method determines one or more goods likely to be benefit from the marketing scheme by maximizing the estimated contextual value of personalized advocacy. Further, the service provider captures the value of the personalized advocacy in each match, and distributes that value in the form of various marketing incentives.

Abstract: A service provider facilitates consumption of goods, brands, or services on an interactive network using characterizations of consumers, behavior, brands, consumable goods, advertisers, and advocates to determine a three-way match between a consumable good, a consumer, and an advocate. The matching method determines one or more likely consumers by maximizing the estimated contextual value of personalized advocacy. Further, the service provider captures the value of the personalized advocacy in each match, and distributes that value in the form of various marketing incentives.

Abstract: A service provider facilitates consumption of goods, brands, or services on an interactive network using characterizations of consumers, behavior, brands, consumable goods, advertisers, and advocates to determine a three-way match between a consumable good, a consumer, and an advocate. The matching method determines one or more advocates by maximizing the estimated contextual value of personalized advocacy. Further, the service provider captures the value of the personalized advocacy in each match, and distributes that value in the form of various marketing incentive.

Abstract: Computer systems and methods on servers in a communication network, including computers with processors and computer-readable media to send a notification to a user each time a solution opportunity is submitted for a reward page created by the user. The reward page can be based on information received from the user and the received information including a description of a goal or need. Also, to receive an acceptance or rejection selection indicator for each of the received solution opportunities and if a solution opportunity is a rejection, to associate a rating value with the rejected solution opportunity. Finally, determine a future privilege for each user who submitted the rejected solution opportunity based on the rating value associated with the rejected solution opportunity.

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: Creative energy of consumers is captured and incentivized by businesses when the businesses provide personal incentives that reflect the extent to which the consumers make productive contributions to a socially networked business and consumer space. The personal incentives provide consumers lower prices through coupons, rebates, or other discounts for various items sold or distributed by the businesses. Consumers that are more productive or active in the social space can receive lower pricing on items. The personalized incentive for a particular consumer may be based on the quantity and quality of product reviews provided by the consumer as well as other factors such as consumer loyalty to a particular merchant or business. This business and consumer space spans the brick-and-mortar as well as the online retail spaces allowing consumers to use a mobile device to make online purchases by scanning a tag on a tangible object in a brick-and-mortar store.

Abstract: Application developers can request to have their applications registered for use with a content delivery platform. The operator of the content delivery platform establishes perimeters defining geographic areas, and maintains records reserving particular areas for delivery of content associated with particular sponsors. Registered applications running on mobile devices can request content from the content delivery platform. Based at least in part on the request, the content delivery platform can identify a target location, which may be the location of the mobile device, or some other location indicated in the request. A mobile device can be provided content based on the relationship of the target location to the geographic areas, so that a registered application running on a mobile device with a target location contained within a geographic area assigned to a particular sponsor will receive content related to that sponsor.

Abstract: Approaches for employing computerized processes to conform the behavior of users to a set of best practices and policies is provided. In an approach, a tool for use in performing a desired task may be identified. A plurality of characteristic values is stored, on a machine-readable medium, for each of a plurality of tools. Each of the plurality of characteristic values identifies a number that reflects how much the tool associated with the characteristic value supports a particular characteristic. A score for each of the plurality of tools is computed. The score for each tool is the sum of the characteristic values that are associated with each tool. Thereafter, display data that describes how to render a pictorial representation, which uses the scores in depicting a relative measure of how appropriate each of the plurality of tools is for the desired task, may be transmitted to a client.

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: A new user-friendly game editor allows game players with little or no experience to create new games or game levels. Game element structures can be “drawn” using an “auto completion” feature that automatically functionally connects and/or arranges chosen game elements to provide a visually pleasing environment that is easily navigated by game characters. Such technology can allow an end user game player with little or no technical background to easily develop game levels that are fun to play and do not suffer from any significant defects or other problems that would decrease ease of navigation, functionality or amount of fun. The user may share the authored game with other users via a network so other users can retrieve the game and play it on their own game playing devices. Users can provide feedback concerning the fun and functionality of the game. Good feedback can entitle the game author to recognition including for example bonus points.

Abstract: A system and method for providing incentives to consumers to share their consumer information with third parties is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided which includes the steps of: accepting consumer information; storing the consumer information; requesting permission from the consumer to share their consumer information with a third party; and offering the consumer a selected incentive in exchange for their permission to share their consumer information.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products and systems are described for online-content management. Online content from multiple contributors is received at one or more first computers for public online display. An authentication score is determined for a contributor of the multiple contributors. The contributor's name and a representation of the contributor's authentication score is published online for display on one or more second computers in association with the online content received from the contributor.

Abstract: One embodiment of the instant invention is a computer-implemented method for processing transaction-related data that includes at least the following steps of: receiving seller data about a seller; receiving buyer data about a buyer; generating a seller profile; generating a buyer profile; receiving transaction data about a current transaction between the seller and the buyer for an offering; generating a transaction composite for the current transaction; determining a classification rule for each transaction composite class; and classifying the transaction composite into a particular transaction composite class based on comparing the classification rule to: i) the generated seller profile, ii) the generated buyer profile, or iii) the current transaction.

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: Aging of avatars and objects toward eventual removal or removal from the displayed virtual universe through enabling the setting of defined parameters for the aging of said avatars and objects toward eventual removal of said avatars and objects from said virtual universe space; and predetermining a set of events, the occurrence of any one of which events would modify the aging of selected avatars and objects.

Abstract: A graphical user interface presents an image to a user and two labeled axes of that image corresponding to evaluations by the user of the image or of something represented by the image. The user moves a computer mouse or other input device to select a single location on the image. The display screen provides immediate feedback to the user of the location currently being pointed to by the input device, such as the x and y coordinates currently being moused over. The user then selects the location on the screen being pointed to, thus inputting his two dimensional evaluation. Optionally, based on the user's multidimensional evaluation, commercial offers such as coupons can then be presented to the user based on the user's likes and dislikes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for the generation and presentation of a search score for a given user on the basis of searches that the user performs over a corpus of documents. The method of present invention comprises selecting a given user and a time period over which to calculate the search score. A score function is applied to information regarding past observed queries for the given user over the time period to calculate a search score for the given user. The search score is displayed to the user in a variety of context using a number of software applications.

Abstract: A content recommendation system is disclosed that allows users to identify friends, recommend content to friends, and receive awards for influencing friends. Interfaces can be used to display rankings of recommended programs, user profiles and their awards, and dynamic chats relating to specific content.

Abstract: An electronic lock box system that includes a central computer, which allows “listing agents” (if used in a real estate sales environment) to custom tailor a survey questionnaire that relates to features connected with the potential sale or lease of a property, and thereby garner feedback information from potential buyers (or lessees), or at least from “showing agents” that represent potential buyers/lessees. To improve response rate, the listing agent can add incentives to other agents who provide useful feedback. Furthermore, the system can be configured such that reciprocal feedback is necessary in order for a participating agent to see feedback about his or her own listings.

Abstract: Social network reward techniques are described. In an implementation, a method implemented by at least one computing device includes obtaining data that describes users' interaction with a social network service and determining influence of one or more said users on other said users via the social network service from the obtained data. A reward is computed based on the determined influence for at least one said user.

Abstract: A method of managing franchises using a credit-card payment system is provided.

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: Systems and methods of delivering and accessing information such as targeted advertisements and other information content in a computer network environment that increase the efficiency of services provided by advertisers, while enhancing the economics of information content owners. The system implements a triangular economic transaction enabling negotiated transactions involving an information content owner, an advertiser, and a consumer. During the transactions between the respective parties, the information content owner is in control over terms of sale for its information content, the advertiser is in control over terms of its advertising campaign, and the consumer maintains control over personal profile information upon which the targeting of advertisements is based. The system allows the consumer to view targeted advertisements or any desired information content at a computer or computerized device on his or her own schedule, while maintaining a desired level of on-line privacy.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and system for predicting markets, including providing a plurality of prediction questions by an administrator over a network interface, displaying a first screen whereby a user may choose between a plurality of tabs containing a plurality of prediction question topics, displaying a second screen showing the prediction questions, displaying a third screen showing a single prediction question, upon request by a user, and optionally, awarding points to the user.

Abstract: An example relates to survey analysis, survey panel members analysis, accuracy metrics, reliability analysis, and statistical analysis, to come up with confidence levels, and get an overall reliability of survey panel members, based on a score and percentile, and give incentives to the panel members, based on their reliability scores, to encourage them to be more reliable and truthful in the surveys, including their background and their demographics, increasing the values of the survey results drastically. In addition, this covers many separate embodiments: methods for improving and “incentivizing” truthful behavior in consumer panels; using Trustscore to measure and reward consistency and truthfulness; tag surveys to segment panels; and Doublecheck'd as a tool, to utilize the best responses through asking panel members twice (or more) with the same survey, and only including results from the members who answer the same both (or more) times.

Abstract: A method for rating a submission, including receiving the submission from a user, where the submission is associated with a category; obtaining a self-rating and a user contribution level associated with the category, where the self-rating is obtained from the user; determining a submission score for the submission based on the self-rating and the user contribution level; and presenting the submission score for the submission.

Abstract: A video client receives an advertisement for presentation on a display and presents to a user, on the display, the advertisement and a rating interface for the advertisement. The video client receives, via the rating interface, a user input to rate the advertisement and sends, to a server, rating information based on the user input to rate the advertisement. The video client also receives, from the server, incentive information based on the rating information and presents to the user, on the display, the incentive information.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel mobile web services discovery method that is capable of fulfilling the requirements from both the clients and providers. It allows the provider to balance the cost to performance ratios and utilize the network bandwidth more effectively, while also attaining the quality levels expected by the client.

Abstract: Methods, techniques and systems for electronically facilitating donations are provided. Example embodiments provide a Donation Facilitator Social Network (“DFSN”), which enables users (participants in the DFSN) to more easily donate to the organizations, especially non-profits or NGOs, that are most suitable to their interests and desires. In one embodiment, the DFSN comprises one or more of an NGO Search Engine; an NGO Suggestion Engine; a weighting and ranking engine; account management; sponsor integration support; donor matching services; a DFSN API; and one or more data repositories such as NGO data repository; and a user data repository, which maintains information on the various preferences, weightings, donation accounts of the participants. These components cooperate to automatically distribute funds to a weighted list of organizations based upon donation specifications amongst other criteria.

Abstract: A rewarding Internet advertising system and method utilizes questions and answers in a limited time to acknowledge if members conform to incentives due to viewing advertisements, and this method can achieve the result of propagating advertisements and upgrading profits of viewing advertisements, this system includes a member administrating module, an advertisement displaying interface module, an advertisement administrating module, and a rewarding administrating module.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable media for community-based ranking in an electronic store. The method includes receiving a predictive ranking of an item in an electronic store and feedback about the item from each of a group of individuals, the predictive ranking being predictive of item performance in the electronic store. The method further tracks an actual ranking of the item over time based on item performance in the electronic store, provides an incentive for individuals in the group of individuals whose associated predictive ranking coincides with the actual ranking of the item, and presents in the electronic store received feedback from at least one individual associated with the predictive ranking that coincides with the actual ranking of the item. Rankings can be directed to different subdomains in the electronic or online store. Individuals having favorable successful prediction ratios can receive incentives.

Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods for interactive on-line advertising using auction prizes awarded based on user engagement as determined by ad-survey submission, methods including the steps of: providing an ad survey having an advertisement and a survey for viewing and submission; upon a user submitting a completed ad survey, presenting the user with an incentive to be pledged, by the user, to an ad-survey auction; and awarding an auction prize to a wining user based on a maximum amount of pledged incentive in the ad-survey auction by the winning user. Preferably, the method further includes the step of: constructing a user profile having at least one user characteristic for users of the ad survey. Most preferably, at least one user characteristic is selected from the group consisting of: a user surfing pattern, publicly-available user data, private user data, a user interest, and an ad-survey interest.

Abstract: A method for buyer-driven targeting comprising the steps of: separately receiving from each of a plurality of buyer entities a respective third party proof of purchase record; entering information contained in the received proof of purchase records into a searchable electronic database; obtaining search criteria for the database; searching the information in the database based on the search criteria to obtain a group of buyer entities; and providing an incentive to each of a plurality of the buyer entities in the group.

Abstract: A method and system for awarding user points in response to user interest is provided. User points are redeemable for price discounts on products and services. The method involves, in response to receiving a user request for information, presenting to the user a question, receiving a user response from the user and incrementing a points balance associated with the user in response to the user response. The system includes a server for communicating with a user; a database for storing a points balance associated with the user; a question-and-answer component operable to present a question to the user and receive a user response from the user; and a points balance component operable to increment the points balance in response to the user response. The method and system are applicable to a theme-based website in which the questions presented to the user relate to the website theme.

Abstract: A system for generating rewards for information rendered by an information provider to a user. The system includes a receiving element to receive an information request from the user and identification elements to identify the user. The system also includes a delivery element for delivery of the information requested by the user from a service provider and a voluntary reward element for allowing the user to provide a reward to the service provider. A value determination element provides a system of value for the user based upon the reward provided by the user.

Abstract: A facility for rewarding the provision of useful item reviews is described. The facility receives a plurality of item reviews, each from a source. The facility publishes each of the plurality of received item reviews, and assesses the usefulness of the published item reviews. Based upon this assessment of usefulness, the facility selects one or more of the published item reviews, and provides rewards to the sources of these selected item reviews.

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: An Internet advertising system is disclosed. A commercial project database stores a commercial, a questionnaire related to the commercial and a predetermined answer to the questionnaire. A user database stores a cellular phone number correlated to a user. A server is arranged to transmit the commercial and the questionnaire related to the commercial to a user equipment used by the user via the Internet network. An inputted answer from the user equipment via the Internet network is received and verified. The server transmits an authentication code via a cellular phone network based on the cellular phone number. An inputted code from the user equipment via the Internet network is verified for consistence.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code for facilitating or allowing a user's affinity for a property to be evaluated, recognized, rewarded and/or monetized. A user may access a Web site, computer system, kiosk, or other resource operated by, for or on behalf of a property. For example, a server may implement a Web site on behalf of one or more properties. The user may then provide or authorize a payment that allows the user to receive or take a test directed to examining the user's knowledge of a property and/or to receive information regarding one or more actions that the user may complete to demonstrate the user's affinity for the property. A user demonstrating affinity for the property may receive recognition or other benefit associated with the property.

Abstract: A computer-based system collects performance information, e.g., grades, submitted by students. The system automatically searches its database to see if the performance information satisfies any sponsorship pledges contained in the database. If so, the system executes the pledge and rewards the student for the good performance. The system can also be used to sponsor education programs, and to find suitable job candidates with the right performance records and credentials.

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

Abstract: A method and system for gifting using interactive multimedia and a gifting system. The gifting system can include a gift card, a website for redeeming the gift card, a plurality of gift representations corresponding to actual gift items, and means for advertising additional retail products or services to consumers. The gift card can also include a greeting card and a unique card identifier associated with the user. The methods and systems can be used to advertise products to consumers, which can be purchased for personal use or for gifting. The system can be used to direct consumers to a card issuer's website. The system can include a customizable avatar to read aloud text converted to an audio speech file that relates to the gift item. The system can also include a game in which points redeemable for gift items are awarded to the website's users for answering advertisement-related questions correctly.

Abstract: An information-processing system for market research includes a number of stations connected to the computer, each desirably having a touch screen. The program available in the computer is adapted to output a series of questions to a respondent, optionally after providing beforehand information necessary to answer a question. Once the respondent has answered the group of questions, the respondent receives a free reward, such as a gift voucher or product, for example. By presenting product information about which questions are asked, the invention ensures that each respondent has viewed the provided information before the respondent can receive their reward.

Abstract: The computer-based method and system shares revenue with a content provider and registered users. A web page has supplied electronic content and ads with displays and hyperlinks to a corresponding advertiser designated web site. Associated sales referral fees are tracked based upon user click throughs. The content provider is incentivized because the system shares the associated sales referral fees with him based upon factors such as frequency of posting content, quality rankings by users, gross value referral fees, and page user-visitors. Registered user-visitors are incentivized by providing each with N quality ranking tokens and by sharing the referral fees with users who post tokens on content. The QA ranking formula accounts for the quantity of posted tokens, the sequential order of posting, the number of user-visitors, and the referral fee to the content provider. The fees are paid to debit card, credit card, or cell phone account payment processors.