Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of combining search and ecommerce includes receiving a search request from a consumer for a product and/or service. The method further includes executing the search request to yield one or more search results from a provider of the product and/or service. In some embodiments, the search results can include different response types from a provider to a consumer that can include an offer to fulfill the search request, a counter offer to the search request, or an executed purchase against the search request. The method also includes transmitting the one or more search results to the consumer.

Abstract: An advertiser computer system is described. A key phrase advertising index includes a plurality of key phrases. A relational data generator generates a set of related suggestions for each key phrase. An advertisement construction module stores an advertisement for each respective key phrase and inserts the related suggestions for the respective key phrase in the advertisement. A bidding engine is used for bidding on a key phrase on a search engine computer system. A user at a user computer system selects one of the related suggestions and a related suggestion execution engine receives the request signal from the user computer system.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for indicating an optimal magnification level for displaying search query results in a mapping application running in a computer device. The method comprises: obtaining search results for a business or category of interest in a geographical area; determining the search results to be displayed within a mapping application; determining an optimal magnification level corresponding to a search result; generating a magnification indicator for indicating an optimal magnification level for the search result to be displayed within the mapping application; and adjusting the display within the mapping application to change to the determined optimal magnification level responsive to selecting the magnification indicator for that search result.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for selective placement of promotional elements within a search result layout. For example, a search result layout may be constructed with one or more search results relevant to a search query (e.g., images, websites, and/or other content associated with a “vacation” search query). Promotional elements may be retrieved based upon the search query, and display ranks may be assigned to such promotional elements based upon various ranking factors, such as user engagement, search result correlation, and/or relevancy, etc. In this way, promotional elements may be interspersed amongst search results within the search result layout based upon display ranks (e.g., a download vacation app promotional element may be assigned to a layout portion between a first search result and a second search result). Because promotional elements may be interspersed with search results, visual labels may be assigned to promotional elements (e.g., “AD”).

Abstract: Various techniques for selecting electronic messages based on user data residing on user devices are described herein. In one embodiment, a method performed by a computing system includes receiving a search query via an input device of the computing system, transmitting the received search query to a server, and receiving a set of electronic messages from the server in response to the transmitted search query. The method also includes selecting a subset of the received electronic messages at the computing system based on user data residing on the computing system. The selected subset of electronic messages are then displayed via an output device of the computing system.

Abstract: A system and method for management of advertisements is described. Advertised results may be provided based on a ranking and a matching of an advertisement with a sponsored answer and/or an organic result to a query. An advertisement may be provided using a human assistant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, system and computer program for management of paid advertisements displayed in response to a search query entered into a search engine. A vendor's inventory is discovered by reading from an inventory database. Search terms are determined for item categories in the inventory database, reading from fields of the inventory database. A user can specify additional or replacement search terms to be associated with a particular item. Advertisement sets are then created for items which are currently available or “in stock,” each set containing an advertisement corresponding to an item, the associated search terms, and a landing page identifier. The landing page displays search results from the vendor's inventory database, relating to the corresponding item category for that advertisement.

Abstract: An interactive television program guide application is provided that queries a user regarding the user's interest in television programs and suggests television programs to the user based on the user's responses. The interactive television program guide application identifies a television program that is potentially of interest to the user. The interactive television program guide application then queries the user regarding the user's interest using questions that are formulated based on attributes associated with the identified television program. Using the user's responses to the questions, the interactive television program guide application identifies and suggests one or more television programs to the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods to search with a mobile device are described. The system may receive a request, over a network, from a device. The request may include search information to search a database and location information including a first location that identifies a location of the device. The system may further generate search results based on the search information that describes items and arranges their descriptions based on the search information, the first location, and a current event corresponding to the location of the device. The system may further arrange the descriptions of the items as a first arrangement based on an order associated with a second location that is associated with a historical event that matches the current event. The system may further communicate a user interface, over the network, to the device. The user interface include the descriptions of the items in accordance with the first arrangement.

Abstract: Recommending network object information to a user includes, for each of a plurality of network objects, a respective plurality of behavior frequencies by the user is determined; a network object among the plurality of network objects that is of interest to the user is identified, the identification being based at least in part on the respective plurality of behavior frequencies that corresponds to each of the plurality of network objects; and additional information relating to the identified network object is provided to the user.

Abstract: This specification describes technologies relating to content presentation. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving ad information from a seller; generating, using one or more processors, a single conversion ad using the received ad information, where the single conversion ad has an available inventory of one such that only a single conversion of the ad can be performed; transmitting the single conversion ad to one or more potential buyers; receive an input from one of the one or more potential buyers; and notifying the seller of the user input. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.

Abstract: Techniques are provided in which advertisements are presented to a user via access to electronic reading content. A first set of information is obtained regarding electronic reading content evidenced as being accessed by the user. A second set of information is obtained pertaining to a particular user. Using both sets of information, advertising targeting parameters are generated to target the user with one or more advertisements by inserting the advertisements within Based at least in part on the targeting parameters, the user is targeted with at least one advertisement via inserting the advertisement within the electronic reading content.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically assigning marketing allocations, including advertisements and coupons, for a business to marketing channels. An investment engine and recommendation engine uses input data to assign marketing allocations to marketing channels. Consumer activity is generated that produces corresponding output data. The investment engine calculates a return-on-investment (ROI) metric, and the recommendation engine generates a report related to the input and output data. The input data, marketing allocations or channels are adjusted to optimize the ROI metric and recommend marketing campaign strategies. The system also automatically determines which keywords the business should assign their marketing allocations to when a consumer utilizes similar keywords on a search engine. Targeted keywords are determined by applying budget weights to keywords related to the business and monitoring output data, such as a click through rate of the marketing allocations.

Abstract: Methods for identifying social network users to display with an advertisement in response to a search query are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a search query from a user, the user having a user presence on a social network, and identifying at least one advertisement responsive to the search query, the at least one advertisement associated with an entity having a social presence on the social network. The method also includes identifying another user of the social network that has a mutual user connection with the user on the social network and has interacted with the social presence on the social network, and providing, for display and in response to the search query, the at least one advertisement responsive to the search query, an identification of the other user, and an indicator of the interaction of the other user. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing task-based information are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes identifying a set of previous interactive sessions for a particular task. For each identified interactive session in the set of previous interactive sessions, a set of implements used during the interactive session are identified based on content of the interactive session. At least one implement in the identified set of implements is classified as a required implement for the particular task. The classification is based, at least in part, on a portion of the previous interactive sessions in which the implement was identified. Classified implements are indexed according to the particular task. Data identifying the indexed implements are provided in response to receipt of a search query referencing the particular task.

Abstract: A method and a system for distributing content are provided. In the method, an input regarding an advertising keyword is received from a user. The advertising keyword is associated with one or more advertisements. Related keywords are identified from among candidate keywords based on a determined relationship of the related keywords to the advertising keyword received from the user. Reference information associated with each of the related keywords is identified. The related keywords and the reference information associated with the related keywords to the user are automatically provided. A selection of at least one of the related keywords is received from the user. The at least one selected related keywords are associated with the one or more advertisements for distribution.

Abstract: A method for providing information to a plurality of vendors located remotely from a broadcast network. A plurality of user-defined parameters are received by a user input database with at least one of the user-defined parameters including a user profile. Each of the user profiles includes a user identifier code identifying a communicator device associated with a particular user. Real-time data indicative of the spatial locations of the communicator devices is received by a communicator location database. Search information is received independently from a plurality of vendors and a data set is generated for each vendor.

Abstract: A method includes generating preliminary search results based on a search query received from a user device. The preliminary search results include search-result links to a plurality of native applications. Additionally, the method includes identifying a plurality of entity records that each include an association with one of the native applications of the preliminary search results. Each of the entity records includes an entity name and an entity link. Each entity link includes a reference to a state of a native application associated with the entity name of the entity record in which the entity link is included. Additionally, the method includes selecting one of the entity records based on an advertiser bid price associated with the entity record, retrieving the entity link from the selected entity record, and transmitting the search-result links and the retrieved entity link to the user device.

Abstract: Advertising is used to generate awareness of commercial Internet web sites. To greatly simplify the marketing of a commercial Internet web site, the automatic creation of an advertising campaign would be desirable. A method of automatically creating an Internet web site may be performed by first crawling through the Internet web site to identify products and services offered by the Internet web site. Information about the identified products and services is stored. The system then creates advertisements for the identified products and services. The advertisements may include images, text, a link to the web page where the product or service was found, and keywords associated with the product or service. The automatically created advertisements may then be placed into an advertisement pool for use with advertising supported web sites. The automatic Internet advertisement campaign creations system of the present invention may be used to create free trial advertisement campaigns for potential advertising clients.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for searching a web based content source and displaying the results. The system includes a display device; a user input device; a data storage device; an application controller; and a plurality of gadgets that search a web based content source by receiving a search query, submitting the search query to a search mechanism adapted to search the web based content source, receiving the result, and displaying the result in an operative window. The system accepts input in the form of a search term from a user via the user input device and passes the search term to the application controller; and the application controller determines which gadgets are to be searched, formulates the search term into a search query appropriate for each gadget to be searched, and passes each search query to its corresponding gadget for searching and display of the results.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving user search experience with a search engine by providing a way for associated users to create and share personalized lists of local search results and/or advertisements through endorsements of such local search results and/or ads. Local search endorsements can be used to personalize the search engine's ranking of local search results by offering a way for users to re-rank the results for themselves and for those who trust them.

Abstract: Recommending network object information to a user includes, for each of a plurality of network objects, a respective plurality of behavior frequencies by the user is determined; a network object among the plurality of network objects that is of interest to the user is identified, the identification being based at least in part on the respective plurality of behavior frequencies that corresponds to each of the plurality of network objects; and additional information relating to the identified network object is provided to the user.

Abstract: Methods of allowing an advertiser to contact a remote user are disclosed. As a user interacts with a search engine, the search engine obtains advertisement data related to the user's search requests. The advertisement data can include an advertiser's contact information associated with one or more contact mechanisms, which can be correlated to the mechanisms available to the remote user. Once a common set of mechanisms has been identified; call request links are instantiated for each of the commonly available mechanisms. The remote user can select one of the call request links near an advertisement and submit their contact information for the corresponding contact mechanism. The search engine can send a call request, including the user's contact information, to the advertiser to enable the advertiser to call the remote user back.

Abstract: In an information retrieval system, a system and method for presentation of information and/or resources that are pertinent to an individual's interests or task. Guiding individuals to places of interest on a network where information is stored. Displaying or otherwise presenting useful information to the user.

Abstract: Method and system for delivery of personal search services and advertising. The method includes collecting information from the user about the user's personal search engine, including, but not limited to digital content data sources, link crawl depth of those digital content data sources, and time interval to refresh the index of the digital content data sources created. In one embodiment of the present invention users do not pay a fee in return for allowing the provider to present advertising to the user as the user uses the invention. In another embodiment, advertisers purchase advertising display services from the provider to be displayed to specific users.

Abstract: A client side computer system for receiving and displaying advertising content in a computer network includes a user input device, a display device, a keyword capture module extracting keyword data from user input, an ad invocation module, and an ad deployment module. The ad invocation module is responsive to the keyword capture module and generates an advertising call request to an advertising server. The ad deployment module receives an advertisement from the advertising server and displays the advertisement on a requested webpage displayed on the display device.

Abstract: A system and method for targeted delivery of advertising of a first or second sponsor to a plurality of cellular phones of a first or second type by way of a competitive bid auction process includes (a) receiving a offline purchase datum; (b) presenting to the first and second sponsor data corresponding to (1) the offline purchase datum and (2) the first type and the second type of cellular phone; (c) receiving from each sponsor advertising associated with the offline purchase datum characteristic, wherein each advertising has a different rendering capability associated therewith; (d) attributing a priority to the delivery of the advertising based upon a resultant yield determination; and (e) transmitting the appropriate advertising to the types of cellular phones having the corresponding rendering capabilities of the advertising.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating product advertising campaigns in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a product target generation server system includes a processor, product data including a plurality of attribute-value pairs describing a set of products, semantic models including data describing relationships between product targets, concepts described using categories and attribute-value pairs, and target grouping data constituting a set of groupings of product targets, global performance data including performance data, wherein the processor is configured to identify at least one category in a portion of the product data, determine a product advertising structure based on the product data and the identified at least one category, match a portion of the groupings of product data with the product targets within the global performance data, identify performance data, and generate at least one product target using the identified performance data and the product data.

Abstract: Campaign creation systems and methods for enhancing semantic models using unstructured data in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a campaign creation server system a semantic model enhancement application configuring a processor to obtain unstructured data, parse the unstructured data into parsed data, where the parsed data includes at least one piece of token data including at least one word and at least one relationship, identify at least one token not present in a semantic model, when the token is determined to be a value, identify relevant attributes within the token based on the at least one relationship in the token, when the token is determined to be a category, identify at least one parent category in the semantic model based on the at least one relationship, and update the semantic model based on the identified at least one token.

Abstract: Among other things, information is received that represents tags and tag relationships associated by users of content with items of content, and rankings of items of content are derived based on the tags and tag relationships.

Abstract: Systems and methods for presenting dynamic offers to a computer user are presented. In one embodiment, in response to a request for content, one or more items in the content are identified. For each of the items, a determination is made as to whether to offer a dynamic offer for the item is made. For those items where it is determined to make a dynamic offer, the dynamic offer is incorporated into the content. The content is then presented to the computer user. Alternative, a component on the user computer identifies one or more items in content to be displayed to the computer user. The user computer then obtains dynamic offers corresponding to at least some of the identified items and incorporates the dynamic offers into the displayed content.

Abstract: In various embodiments, systems and methods are provided for facilitating enhanced advertisement display. In embodiments, an indication of an entity preference and a corresponding entity bid in association with an advertisement are received. Thereafter, the entity preference and the corresponding entity bid associated with the advertisement are provided for use in an advertisement auction when at least one search result for a query is associated with the entity preference. In such a case, the entity bid is used to participate in the advertisement auction.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating clustering of ads and map content, the method including receiving a request associated with a target region on a map from a user device, identifying an ad for display to a user based at least in part on the received search request, determining a location associated with an ad of the one or more ads, determining a region criteria based on the location of the ad, retrieving, one or more map content items having a location meeting the determined region criteria, comparing the ad and the retrieved one or more map content items to identify a map content item associated with the same entity as the ad and providing the ad and the identified map content item to the user at the user device, wherein the map content item is displayed as a single entity with an identifier of the map content item.

Abstract: A method and a system that identify seller ads to potential buyers within a network-based commerce system are provided. The method and system may operate to receive a request including a product identification from a seller, and assign to the seller, based on a distance function and the product identification, a matching identification entry included in a set of identification entries. The request may also include financial metrics. The method and system may further include operations to identify one or more seller ads associated with the matching identification entry, as determined by a distance measured between the matching identification entry and at least one extracted identification entry extracted from a selected content page and included in the set of identification entries. The identification of the one or more seller ads may also be determined by a relevance function based on the financial metrics.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to methods and systems that record the location of a user and determine the corresponding physical named location (e.g. business location) visited by the user. The system further provides suggested or recommended destinations and targeted content, which may include advertisements, to the user. A network includes a server programmed with a database of location information, a database of user information, payment account information, and a wireless communication system capable of communicating with the user's mobile device. The location of the mobile device is ascertained and recorded. The system determines the physical named location (e.g. business location) visited by the user and stores the information in a location history including specific businesses visited by the user. The system further provides suggested or recommended businesses of interest, and may also additionally provide advertisements, based on the user's current location and location history.

Abstract: A software and/or hardware facility that identifies keywords in a message received by a mobile device and provides advertising and contextual services to the mobile device based on a keyword selection by a user. The facility analyzes a received message to identify keywords in the message. The keywords are identified based on user-specific information that is maintained on the mobile device. The message is displayed to the user with the identified keywords highlighted to the user. When the user selects a keyword, the facility identifies one or more advertisements that are targeted to a user in a manner that takes into account user-specific information. The facility also identifies one or more contexts that are related to the keyword. The facility displays the identified advertisements and contexts to the user. If the user selects an advertisement or context, relevant services are called to deliver responsive content to the user.

Abstract: This specification describes technologies relating to content presentation. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving data from a plurality of users within a geographic region associated with a location; analyzing the received data to derive a category for the location; annotating the location with the category; and using the category to boost candidate content items for delivery to users in the location in response to future content item requests.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a phone directory service to a user terminal in a mobile communication network are provided. The method includes receiving a search request including a search keyword for the phone directory service and a subscriber identifier for the user terminal from the user terminal, acquiring subscriber information of a subscriber possessing the user terminal from the mobile communication network in which the user terminal is registered using the subscriber identifier, acquiring a business list of businesses corresponding to the search keyword from a business DataBase (DB) for managing businesses which have subscribed to the phone directory service, arranging the business list based on a communication pattern of a group of similar subscribers which have been determined to have subscriber information similar to that of the subscriber possessing the user terminal according to a predetermined criteria, and providing the arranged business list to the user terminal.

Abstract: A software based system and method of displaying location based information from an information site on a network by determining location data of a user of the location based information on the network. The location based information is generated based on the determined location data of the user; and generated location based information is provided to the user over the network.

Abstract: An advertisement server can provide sponsored listings for uniquely identifiable objects to remote search engines. The remote search engines display the listings locally as sponsored search results. The advertisement server can verify sponsored search results remain eligible for display, in real-time with a query received by the remote search engine. The verification can be based on budget values associated with an ad campaign.

Abstract: Customized route guidance presentations associated with various routes may be generated based on data reflective of anecdotal knowledge and preferences associated with travelers. A marketplace may be provided for searching and purchasing the route guidance presentations. Providers of the data may be compensated upon purchase of the route guidance presentations.

Abstract: A method and system for electronically annotating an image, or preferably, specific portions of an image, with information. In one aspect, a user may generate an image, annotate the image, and upload or otherwise disseminate the annotated image to a web page or the like. Annotations are provided as labels that provide information about the image or items therein. Further users may access the labels to access the information. The labels further enable searching and contextual advertising.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for accessing electronic data through entry of images as queries in search engine. The system uses various image capturing devices and communication devices to capture images and enter them into image database. Image recognition techniques encode images in a computer readable format. The processed image is then entered for comparison into at least one database populated with images and associated information. Once the newly captured image is matched with an image in the database, the information linked with that image is returned to the user.

Abstract: The present invention is and includes a device, system and method for providing an image enhancement widget. The device, system and method include a javascript component that, upon execution, obtains at least one subject of primary content on a networked page, and at least one permission for enhancement of the primary content, ones of a plurality of content produced remotely from the javascript component and according to the javascript component, and an enhancement widget. The enhancement widget may be a flash widget.

Abstract: A device for providing keyword advertising capable of efficiently setting advertising costs, when providing keyword advertising via a network; a method for providing such keyword advertising; and a recording medium on which is recorded a program for executing same are provided. Billing is executed based on a final-bid price by one or more advertiser requesting to bid for specific keyword advertising but also by: confirming the bid time of each advertiser and setting a final-bid raking based on the bid amount; setting a final-bid ranking, that is based on the bid time, for advertisers who submitted the same bid amount; and setting, as the final-bid price of each advertiser, a monetary amount with a high pre-set amount vis-à-vis bids of advertisers entering final-bid in lower ranking based on the set final-bid ranking.

Abstract: A system and method to identify targeting criteria for online advertising campaigns based on natural query event data are described. A request to determine targeting criteria is received from an advertiser entity. Natural or algorithmic query event data related to the advertiser entity is retrieved from a data storage module. Attribute data associated with targeted customers is extracted based on the retrieved natural query event data. Finally, the attribute data is further processed to determine a set of criteria to target advertisements to the customers.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes automatically generating adgroups for use in a search advertising by obtaining source data describing a set of product data describing a set of products, obtaining a list of initial keywords, obtaining a taxonomy based on the source data and the initial list of keywords, identifying a set of category data based on the source data and the taxonomy, where an identified category in the set of category data classifies at least one piece of product data based on the attribute-value pairs for the piece of product data and keyword components within the taxonomy, identifying one or more landing pages that are relevant to at least one piece of product data based on the set of product data and the set of category data, and automatically generating adgroups comprising the identified set of category data, product data, and the identified landing pages.

Abstract: A buyer-seller matching system that uses incentives to verify commissions from matching the buyer with a seller. An item locator system that comprises a repository of information about items for purchase may be provided over a network for users to access information about items for purchase. Along with each item, the system presents an incentive that may be realized if that item is purchased from a designated third party seller. The user then executes the purchase with the seller, who pays the system the agreed upon fee and also issues a certification of purchase to the buyer. The user may then take the certification of purchase back to the central repository to redeem the incentive. The item locator system then checks to verify that it has received a fee or commission from the seller for bringing the seller a buyer of the item. The fee or commission may be based on the price of the item, such as if the item is a new house for sale and the seller is a new house builder.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cataloguing items such as maps and geospatial data sets store in a database information defining a geospatial region corresponding to each item and a size characteristic of the geospatial area. The database may be queried to identify items of interest by intersecting a search seed comprising one or more geospatial points lines or areas with the areas corresponding to the items. A result set containing items produced by a query may be ordered at least in part according to the size characteristics. In some embodiments the size characteristics comprise square roots of the areas of the geospatial regions.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for retargeting content in a search environment. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request for a content item to be provided with a search results page and determining that one or more retargeted content items are eligible for presentation with the search results page. Each of the retargeted content items is a content item that is eligible for presentation with the search results page based on: (1) the search query matching a targeting keyword for the retargeted content item, and (2) the user identifier matching a retargeted identifier that is included in a retargeting set for the retargeted content item. A responsive content item to be presented with the search results page is selected, based at least in part on bids that are associated with the retargeted content items, and data specifying the responsive content item are provided.