Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in a network in a mobile environment provides tracking of interactive events related to electronic advertisements. An application running on the network provides a listing of interactive capabilities to a tracking application, also running on the network. The tracking application identifies interactive events of interest and assigns event codes to these events. During operation, the application reports these events to the tracking application.

Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for positioning targeted sponsored content on a mobile communication facility includes the steps of: (a) receiving data corresponding to transaction events having occurred via the interaction of a user with the mobile communication facility, wherein the transaction events include transmission of data representative of a first set of products or services having been purchased by the user; (b) selecting advertising content based at least upon a relevance between an advertisement for a second product or a second service and the purchased first set of products or services in the transaction events, wherein the relevance is further based on information relating to compatibility of the advertising content, second product, or second service with the mobile communication facility; and (c) presenting the selected advertising content on a display of the mobile communication facility.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for providing advertisements in virtual world environments. In one embodiment, the method may include providing at least one advertisement to be displayed within a virtual world environment distributed to a plurality of user computer systems. The method may also include determining that a user is interacting with the advertisement in the virtual world environment. In one embodiment, the method may further include tracking one or more factors associated with the interaction.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for processing events related to presented content. In one aspect, a method includes determining a time window count of a number of advertising events associated with an advertisement during at least one time window before a conversion event; and determining a credit that represents a strength of an association between the advertisement and the conversion event, wherein determining a credit includes selecting a weighting model for the at least one time window count.

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

Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for positioning targeted sponsored content on a mobile communication facility includes the steps of: (a) receiving data corresponding to a transaction event having occurred via the interaction of a user with the mobile communication facility, wherein the transaction event includes transmission of data representative of a first product or a first service being purchased by the user; (b) selecting advertising content based at least upon a relevance between an advertisement for a second product or a second service and the purchased first product or first service in the transaction event, wherein the relevance is further based on information relating to compatibility of the advertising content, second product, or second service with the mobile communication facility; and (c) presenting the selected advertising content on a display of the mobile communication facility.

Abstract: A system for selectively communicating promotional information to a person, includes a sensing system, a storage device, a controller, and a projection device. The sensing system measures a detectable feature associated with the person sensed by the sensing system and the storage device stores a plurality of promotional segments. The controller uses the measured detectable feature associated with the person for selecting one of the stored promotional segments and causing the projection device to project to the person at the predetermined location the selected promotional segment.

Abstract: A method of and system for providing customer-specific information involving a) obtaining customer identification information for identifying a customer to be served at the weigh station; b) storing a plurality of customer profiles for a plurality of customers wherein each customer in the plurality of customers has an associated customer profile; and, c) when the customer is in the plurality of customers, retrieving the associated customer profile for the customer using the customer identification information and providing associated customer-specific information based on the associated customer profile to a weigh station display.

Abstract: A method of advertising, marketing, and auction sale of real estate properties, chattel properties and financial instruments and more particularly a method of handling last minute online bidding extensions are described. An Internet website has been designed for this purpose such that prospective customers or interested bidders may view property specific photographs and other details with respect to the property on property profile pages. In the electronic bidding format, as long as at least one bid is made within an established bid period before the deadline, the bidding can be extended for a pre-determined amount of time.

Abstract: A business method for promoting goods and services of providers includes the steps of designating a group of targeted recipients, and storing demographics information of each recipient in an electronic database. A plurality of direct mail items including provider promotions is generated, and each marked with a machine-readable ID code unique to each of the recipients. The direct mail items are sorted by their respective ID codes into cooperative mail packages, each mail package containing multiple items with common ID codes. The mail packages are then forwarded to respective recipients. After redemption of a direct mail item by a recipient, the ID code is read and electronically linked with the recipient's demographics information contained in the electronic database. A report is generated based on the direct mail items redeemed. The report may include a geographic map which plots respective locations of recipients, and/or a listing of receipts grouped into a plurality of demographics segments.

Abstract: A system and method to facilitate optimization of targeted advertisements based on user profile information are described. A set of event keywords associated with an event or action performed by the user or an agent of the user is identified in a data storage module. User profile information, if available, is further retrieved from the data storage module. A set of profile keywords is further identified from the retrieved user profile information and the set of profile keywords is compared to the set of event keywords based on predetermined business rules to determine a set of resulting keywords. Advertising information related to the set of resulting keywords is further retrieved from an advertising storage module.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to determine the effects of trade promotions on competitive products are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes identifying a plurality of competitive products and calculating a weighting similarity index for each one of the plurality of competitive products based on the target product. The example method also includes selecting a competitive product subset of the plurality of competitive products, each of the competitive products within the subset having a target similarity index, and retrieving point of sale (POS) data related to the target product and the competitive product subset. Further, the example method includes calculating a competitive trade index based on sales activity of the competitive product subset, the competitive trade index indicative of the target product sales effect, and generating a report including the competitive trade index.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to determine the effects of trade promotions on subsequent sales are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes determining a plurality of decremental effect factors, each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of weeks, wherein at least some of the decremental effect factors are indicative of a downward trend in sales of a product that was under a promotion condition during a first one of the plurality of weeks. The example method also includes determining a plurality of decremental effect terms, each decremental effect term equal to the product of a corresponding coefficient multiplied by a corresponding one of the decremental effect factors, and determining a pantry loading effect term based on the plurality of decremental effect terms. Further, the example method includes determining a pantry loading incremental sub-volume based on the pantry loading effect term, and generating a report including the pantry loading incremental sub-volume.

Abstract: The inventive technology enables the search engine operator to charge the advertisers who place their links on the search engine only if the user uses the search results to visit the advertiser's web portal(s) and generates revenue for the advertiser. This concept is especially attractive to the advertisers because it eliminates the risk, which the advertisers face in conventional search engines, when they are changed by the search engine per user click irrespectively of whether the user's visit resulted in advertiser's revenue.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for generating display advertisements from search based keyword advertisements. The system includes a keyword generation unit for generating one or more advertising keywords from a received category profile defining a classification hierarchy, for use in selecting one or more candidate advertisement messages from a plurality of advertisement messages, an advertisement selection unit for receiving one or more candidate advertisement messages comprising a text message selected from the plurality of advertisement messages and selecting one advertisement message from the one or more received candidate advertisement messages based upon one or more characteristics associated with the received one or more candidate advertisement messages and a creative advertisement assembly unit for generating an advertisement image based on the text advertisement of the selected one advertisement message for display in network based content.

Abstract: An NFC enabled telecommunications communication device is mounted behind the touch point of a smart poster. The content data downloadable from the smart poster is managed remotely, monitored and usage data of the smart poster analyzed at a server via the telecommunications device.

Abstract: In various embodiments, strategies, tools and techniques are provided for processing and analyzing data in an advertising measurement system accessible through a software-as-a-service model or a client-downloaded computer program. The system may be configured to receive and process household media exposure data, product purchase data, advertising data, program data, and demographic data, wherein the data may be obtained from various sources, including from a program delivery source (e.g., a television set-top box) located in a household of a consumer. The data may be matched and cross-correlated for calculating return on advertising investment measurements and other metrics. The data may be used to optimize media placement generally or to address advertising content to specific households. Methods for storing and accessing data in the advertising measurement system by distributing the data across multiple shards are also provided. In addition, methods for protecting privacy of communicated data are disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for presenting credit card offers over the internet. The method includes assigning a weight to each of a plurality of categories of offer elements, each of the plurality of categories of offer elements including a plurality of offer elements, assigning a weight to each offer element in each of the plurality of categories of offer elements, providing a plurality of credit card offers, evaluating each of the plurality of credit card offers to determine whether the credit card offer has at least one offer element corresponding to at least one of the plurality of offer elements, determining an overall weight based on the weights assigned to the offer elements corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of offer elements and based on the overall weights of each of the credit card offers, determining where on a webpage to display each of the credit card offers.

Abstract: A system and method for determining total capacity, amount reserved or sold and remaining availability of ad impressions for an online advertising publishing system. Calculations may be based on multiple factors including for example 1) actuals of historical data of ad impression delivery, 2) various delivery parameters including ad targeting overlap with other ads, timing, priority and impression goals, and 3) a mathematical algorithm and calculations of the above incorporating adjustments due to seasonality and market factors. The resulting calculations are used to reserve, schedule and target advertisements to be delivered over a network to be viewed by consumers.

Abstract: A business method for promoting goods and services of providers includes the steps of designating a group of targeted recipients, and storing demographics information of each recipient in an electronic database. A plurality of direct mail items including provider promotions is generated, and each marked with a machine-readable ID code unique to each of the recipients. The direct mail items are sorted by their respective ID codes into cooperative mail packages, each mail package containing multiple items with common ID codes. The mail packages are then forwarded to respective recipients. After redemption of a direct mail item by a recipient, the ID code is read and electronically linked with the recipient's demographics information contained in the electronic database. A report is generated based on the direct mail items redeemed.

Abstract: A scaleable server-based, on-demand media processing engine automates the production and delivery of media. A digital processing engine automatically transcodes a plurality of media files having different formats into a composite media file.

Abstract: A system having a client, a host server, a sponsor server, and a video server, which are all interconnected via the Internet and which operate seamlessly together in order to provide video content to an end user at the client and allow the end user at the client to purchase products and/or services from the sponsor that are featured in the video content provided by the video server. As the user views video content on his or her computer, images associated with segments of the content are periodically provided in conjunction with the video content. Each image contains an image map, which defines areas in the image. Each defined area is associated with a product which is displayed in that area of the image. Each defined area is also associated with an anchored hyperlink which links to web content from a sponsor server. The web content includes product information for that particular product featured in that area of the image.

Abstract: A predicted performance metric of a candidate advertisement in an advertising slot can be received and compared to a baseline predicted performance metric for the candidate advertisement. A target bid associated with the candidate advertisement can be adjusted based upon the comparison, and the adjusted bid can be submitted to an auction for the advertising slot.

Abstract: An advertising-effectiveness determination method includes receiving a call made based on identification information provided to an information-providing medium in association with advertisement information. The call is connected to a call receiver indicated by the identification information. Input information input into a calling equipment of the call receiver and sent from the calling equipment is received. An effectiveness of the advertisement information is determined based on the received input information.

Abstract: A method and system fulfills ad requests for delivery of ads to mobile clients in a mobile network. Ad data silos for ad requesters are maintained. The ad data silos are organized according to selected characteristics of the mobile clients of the ad requesters. In response to an incoming request for delivery of an ad, an attempt to fill the incoming request includes at least one of (1) retrieving an ad from a corresponding ad data silo to fulfill the incoming request, and (2) retrieving an ad according to a first priority policy from ad source among the plurality of ad sources to fulfill the incoming request. Also, in response to the incoming request, or other signals that may indicate current activity by the ad requester, an ad is retrieved according to a second priority policy for filling the corresponding ad data silo.

Abstract: An information management method is for managing identification information that is explicitly or implicitly provided in a web page and that is for identifying a call receiver. The information management method includes changing the status of the identification information rendered available for a call connection to a first call receiver from being available for sending to the web server hosting the web page into being unavailable for sending. The status of the identification information rendered unavailable for the sending is changed into being available for a call connection to a second call receiver. The status of the identification information rendered available for a call connection to the second call receiver is changed into being available for sending to the web server or other web servers.

Abstract: An asset management engine, system and method. The engine, system and method may include a vault including at least one asset, an administration display including a plurality of DLLs for controlling interrelations of the at least one asset to at least one field, and an asset classification module including at least one table, wherein the at least one table includes a plurality of simultaneously viewable ones of the at least one fields, wherein at least two of the fields include a unique category of ones of the at least one asset, and wherein ones of the unique category are accessible only to select users indicated via said administration display. A campaign delivery service that delivers campaigns created by ones of the select users and integrating ones of the at least one asset from ones of the category that are accessible to the creating ones of the select users may also be included.

Abstract: A multi-layer sheet material imageable by both direct thermal printing devices and digital offset printing presses (e.g., Hewlett-Packard (HP) Indigo digital offset printing presses), is provided. In one contemplated embodiment, the inventive sheet material demonstrates good ink/media adhesion when imaged using HP Indigo presses, and is comparable or superior to standard direct thermal grades in terms of printability and durability. Where HP Indigo and direct thermal are on demand printing devices, the present invention makes it possible to have a production line where both are in operation at various process steps.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for advertisement distribution includes receiving, in a computer system, an input from an advertiser that has previously registered an advertisement for on-demand activation. The input is generated based on the advertiser having an immediate availability and directs the computer system to initiate the on-demand activation substantially in real time with receiving the input. The method includes determining, using the computer system, a geographic location of the advertiser that corresponds to the immediate availability. The method includes defining, using the computer system, a target group to which the advertisement is to be presented, the target group identified based on at least the geographic location and the immediate availability. The method includes initiating the on-demand activation using the computer system, for receipt of the advertisement by at least part of the target group, the on-demand activation initiated substantially in real time with receiving the input.

Abstract: In a computer-implemented method of determining an abstraction of a plurality of differentiated goods available for exchange, data regarding each differentiated good is stored in a computer storage, wherein the data regarding each differentiated good includes an attribute value assigned to at least one attribute of the differentiated good. A processor of a computer determines a first abstraction of the plurality of differentiated goods based on the stored data. The first abstraction includes at least one abstract good. Each abstract good includes one or more differentiated goods. At least one abstract good of the first abstraction includes at least two distinct differentiated goods. The processor determines for each abstract good a specification for the abstract good based on the data regarding one or more differentiated goods forming the abstract good. The processor stores in the computer storage the specification determined for each abstract good.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying whether certain web-based media or web-based videos are likely to become popular is provided. Videos that are identified as having a strong likelihood of becoming popular with a particular demographic group are paired to advertisements or other media appropriate for the particular demographic group. Videos that are likely to be popular are identified by measuring early input rates such as request rates, replay rates, comment rates, forwarding rates and reply rates. Input rate patterns including pattern segments correlated to inputs from a particular demographic group are identified.

Abstract: The effectiveness of advertisements with respect to a group of panelists is measured. Based on the results of such analysis, advertisements and/or variants thereof are selected for presentation to consumers. Effectiveness of advertisements is measured, in one embodiment, by detecting exposure to advertisements, and then monitoring panelist behavior following exposure to an advertisement. In one embodiment, the group of panelists is a representative sample of a larger population, so that observations of panelist behavior can be used as a basis for making decisions regarding presentation of advertisements to a larger audience having characteristics similar to those of the panelists. Once the relative effectiveness for various audiences has been determined, advertisements can be selected for presentation to individual consumers or to groups of consumers, so as to maximize effectiveness. In one embodiment, such analysis and selection is performed substantially in real-time.

Abstract: An engine, system and method for a delivery tracking software engine for tracking metrics associated with delivery of at least one endorsed advertisement to at least one consumer over at least one computing network.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems, methods, and software applications, which are configured to manage marketing templates that are to be used in e-mail marketing campaigns, are described in the present disclosure. According to one embodiment, among many, a computer readable medium is configured to store instructions that are executable by a processing device. The computer readable medium includes logic adapted to enable a user to create a marketing template and logic adapted to enable the user to publish the marketing template on one or more social networks. The computer readable medium also includes logic adapted to enable the user to incorporate the marketing template into an e-mail marketing campaign. Furthermore, the computer readable medium comprises logic that is adapted to track statistics related to recipients' responses to the e-mail marketing campaign.

Abstract: A widget composition engine is described. The engine includes a vault, which includes a plurality of media assets associated with different brand categories, a plurality of rule assets, associated with the vault and governing use of ones of the plurality of media assets and ones of the media assets returned responsive to searches in accordance with the different brand categories, and at least one widget template associated with the vault, where ones of the plurality of media assets are placed into the at least one widget template to form the widget, in accordance with the governance by ones of the plurality of rule assets.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products classify subscribers based on viewing habits. An event record is stored that associates a command entered by a subscriber to a time. The event record is merged with data describing media programming to form event timeline data describing the at least one command and the media programming selected by the subscriber over a period of time. Credit card purchasing data is retrieved that describes the subscriber's credit card purchases. The event timeline data is compared to the credit card purchasing data. The subscriber is classified in a category associated with a product or service when the event timeline data indicates that the subscriber viewed an advertisement and afterwards purchased the product or service.

Abstract: A user interacts with content received from a remote server; content (e.g. feeds from social networking sites, advertisements) is received over a wireless network at a mobile telephone, which then automatically displays a specific item of the content on the mobile telephone, without the user explicitly requesting the display of that specific item of content. In response to the user selecting or highlighting the displayed specific item of content, the mobile telephone lists multiple options that, if individually selected, each initiate an associated action that corresponds to a particular way of responding to or interacting with the specific item of content.

Abstract: Presented are embodiments of a system and method that tracks user actions associated with a displayed advertisement, absent of cookie technology. The system may generate an ETag in response to a user action, such as an ad click, and transmit the ad media to the user. The system may then determine whether other actions performed by the user resulted from the advertisement.

Abstract: Mobile commerce systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a mobile commerce platform includes a visual design tool. The mobile commerce platform may be electronically stored on a computing device, such that it is configured to manipulate computer readable data electronically stored on the computing device. The visual design tool may include an interactive graphical canvas and a block diagram. The interactive graphical canvas may be configured to enable the modification of the block diagram. The block diagram may include a first object block, a second object block and at least one connecting symbol. The first object block may define a first campaign instance, the second object block may define a second campaign instance, and the at least one connecting symbol may define a campaign sequence. Further, the mobile commerce platform may be configured to execute a mobile campaign according to the first campaign instance, the second campaign instance, and the campaign sequence.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a payment incentive for distributing digital files over a network are provided. The method and system allow a publisher, distributor(s), and/or users to receive a payment incentive for downloading digital files on the Internet. The present disclosure creates a method and system where every party along the distribution chain will have an incentive for further distribution of the digital content file. The method includes the steps receiving by a server of a file agent at least one digital content file from a content provider; presenting the at least one digital content file for purchase; downloading the at least one digital content file to at least one user for a transaction amount; distributing a first distribution amount of the transaction amount to the content provider; and distributing a second distribution amount of the transaction amount to the at least one user.

Abstract: Ticket scarcity management system adjusts event promotion and ticketed sales methodologies to maintain optimal sales conditions for an interactive event.

Abstract: A system and method is described herein for pulling information from numerous areas from manufacturers to end users to generate a total market map of the creation, use, and disposition of all products in a market. The system allows a customer to look at items, and suggest or request modifications from a manufacturer. This system may use known data, such as body measurements and body shape, to determine which products may meet the needs of a large subset of consumers. This also includes gathering profile information about users, such as fashion style and lifestyle preferences, shopping and spending habits, site browsing and usage history, and other demographic and psychographic data to discover market segments and the types of items most likely to be desired or purchased by consumers in each segment.

Abstract: Described is a technology in which Bluetooth® devices, e.g., navigation devices, are enhanced with additional power amplification to allow long range radio communication links between moving vehicles and/or between moving vehicles and roadside hubs. In one example, collection and dissemination of traffic information, including aggregation and filtering, is facilitated via a Bluetooth® vehicle-to-vehicle and/or vehicle-to-roadside hub ad-hoc network. Also described is efficient connection establishment and data transfer for vehicle to vehicle and vehicle-to-roadside hubs via the enhanced Bluetooth® radio. The ad-hoc network comprising a mesh of vehicles/a supernode also facilitates the exchange of information that originated at an Internet source.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an electronic advertisement method using an advertisement intermediation site, comprising: registering an electronic ad of a sponsor with an adidentifier of the electronic ad on the advertisement intermediation site; distributing the registered electronic ad to a text writing area of other site with attaching a distributoridentifier when a distributor member distributes the registered electronic ad to said other site including at least one text writing area; monitoring distribution status, exposure number and click number of the distributed electronic ad using the adidentifier and the distributoridentifier so as to calculate an advertising result; and rewarding the distributor member with a portion of an advertising cost paid by the sponsor as a first advertising fee based on the advertising result of the distributor member.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for delivery of a sponsored content to a mobile communication facility user. In embodiments, a request may be received for a sponsored content from a publisher, and one or more content inventories may be searched for a content that is relevant to the request. Content may be selected for delivery to the publisher from one or more content inventory. The content may be selected based at least in part on a relevance between the content and the request. The content, and the content inventory from which the relevant content is chosen, may be selected based at least in part on a statistical weight relating to the amount of revenue a wireless operator may realize upon presentation of the content to a mobile communication facility.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically creating an image. In one non-limiting embodiment, the image is created for an advertisement that may be targeted to an individual. The method includes identifying image input parameters that the image will be based on, such as a particular product to display, a specific viewer of the image, etc. The method selects image elements from a database of image elements, such as backgrounds, messages, animation, etc., based on the image parameters. The method then creates the image using the image elements where the design and creation of the image is subject to certain rules and constraints that must be followed, such as font size, color schemes, etc.

Abstract: A method of managing a shopping mall site. A variety of products are on sale over a network at the shopping mall site. The method is able to induce a buyer to purchase the product using a user created content (UCC). The method includes receiving information about a requester to register the requester as a marketer, registering the user created content with a shopping mall managing system, storing information about the marketer, the UCC, and the product when a request for product purchase is transmitted to a buyer terminal, and distributing and paying a fee of a obtained profit to the marketer.

Abstract: A web advertising effectiveness measuring apparatus measures a viewing time period of an advertisement on a web page displayed on a display device of a user terminal, the apparatus includes: a device for acquiring window information including a location and a size of a window in which the web page is displayed; an device for acquiring advertisement information including a location and a size of the advertisement; a device for acquiring a display area of the advertisement; a device for taking images of a user; an device for detecting an eye direction of the user based on the images; a device for making a determination whether the advertisement is on a visual line of the user; a device for measuring the viewing time period based on the determination; and a device for linking and storing the viewing time period and the advertisement information.

Abstract: An advertisement providing system includes a storage unit storing plural advertisements; a pull-type display managing unit that displays on a display, an advertisement designated by a viewer, from among the advertisements; a counting unit that counts, for each of the advertisements, frequency of display on the display; a generating unit that, based on the frequency of display for each of the advertisements, generates a display schedule for the advertisements; and a push-type display managing unit that displays the advertisements on the display, according to the display schedule.

Abstract: A system and computer based method are provided for measuring the effectiveness of advertisements. The systems may include a first networked server providing an ad associated with an advertiser at random times over a limited period of time, where the networked server logs in a database when the ad is served to an ad-viewer, a display connected to a client computer presenting the ad, a second networked server measuring the customer response after providing the ad and storing the customer response and a time of response in a second database, and a computer application program for performing cross-correlations across the first database and the second database to determine the correlation of consumer response to the ad.