Abstract: Systems and methods of marketing to mobile devices are provided. Other methods, apparatus, and computer readable media are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for facilitating user joint purchasing and user-participated online advertisements, including: providing means for a user to request joint purchasing of products and services online; subtracting sponsoring amount provided by users' sponsors from the listed prices of products and services; dividing the cost of products and services among users participated in joint purchasing; receiving separate payments from such users; delivering products and services based on system configurations and user joint purchasing instructions; integrating existing third party online advertisements with user incentives; and enabling users to create and modify online advertisements for entities and individuals, wherein said advertisements can be customized or designed by said users.

Abstract: The subject specification provides a system, method, and computer readable storage medium directed towards allocating digital canvasses for digital graffiti. The specification discloses receiving data corresponding to digital graffiti formed from a gesture undergone by a device. The specification also discloses identifying a digital canvas corresponding to the digital graffiti as a function of the received data.

Abstract: A content delivery system that is based on user interest. The system includes client and server components. At each client, information about user interactions is collected and compared to information defining a set of user interest categories. In this way, the client can determine one or more interest categories in which the user fits. The client can then offer to the user content that is classified in accordance with the same set of user categories. The server can supply the client with the information defining user interest categories and a manifest of content options with associated categories. Additionally, the server can receive indications of when each content offering is presented to a user and when the user selects to acquire a content option. The server may also participate in offering the content. The content may be software applications.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates user selectable advertising networks. Advertising content can be formed into cohesive subsets of advertising. These subsets can be related to criteria to facilitate selection between available subsets of advertising content. A selection component can facilitate selection of the available subsets of advertising content based on these criteria. The criteria can be related to user preferences. Further the criteria can relate to explicit user preferences such as opt-in or opt-out indicia. The user can be presented with more relevant advertising content where user selection of advertising networks occurs.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing promotion information to a mobile asset are provided by various embodiments of the invention. At least one triggering event for soliciting promotional information may be detected. Based on the detection, a request for promotional information may be communicated to a promotional information server and promotional information may be received in response to the request. At least a portion of the promotional information may be presented to a user by a designated asset.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for collecting and disseminating customer and agent data, distributing real estate marketing literature, issuing literature vouchers, issuing commission receipts, and sending follow-up emails to solicit feedback data. The system includes a customer terminal, which is in communication with a data center, which, in turn, is in communication with a business terminal. The customer terminal includes a device for inputting customer and agent data and a device for distributing relevant marketing literature and issuing literature vouchers and commission receipts. The customer and agent data is sent to the data center, where it is stored for subsequent retrieval by a salesperson using the business terminal. The data center automatically generates and sends follow-up emails to the customer and agent to solicit feedback data. When the feedback data is received, the data center updates the relevant customer and agent data with the feedback data.

Abstract: Systems and methods to provide information to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes an interchange and a data storage facility storing information identifying an item and a seller of the item. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format and with the controllers in different formats. When an advertisement of the item is selected on a mobile phone, the interchange uses the converters to communicate with the mobile phone to confirm the request to purchase the item via premium messages. The interchange automatically identifies the seller using the information stored on the data storage facility and electronically purchases the item on behalf of the user of the mobile phone.

Abstract: Described herein are various techniques for automatically generating recommendations for a user based upon a social network of the user. A user can request a recommendation for a particular context, and a social network of the user can be automatically pared to create a subnetwork, wherein individuals in the subnetwork have provided ratings for the particular context and/or contexts that are in some way related to the particular context. The knowledge/ratings of individuals in the subnetwork may then be leveraged to automatically generate the recommendation for the particular context.

Abstract: Mobile advertising on personal cellular telecommunications devices includes an initial Level 0 Interactive Display Message (IDM) having a content precursor for requesting additional content with or without a visual advertising component. Level 0 IDMs may be displayed as part of a user initiated client application or automatically replacing an idle screen. Mobile advertising can optionally include one or more Level 1 Advertisement Display Messages (ADMs) including text, graphics, video, and the like Level 1 ADMs may be interactive or not.

Abstract: An e-commerce system and method combining different product presentation formats, where each format has a video presentation component. One such format is the presentation of a live, pre-existing “shop at home” video production feed, consisting of continuously scheduled 5 segments, each segment presenting a product or set of products. A Video on Demand (VOD) format, where users may request different video streams. The VOD streams being similar to the live feed, but stored on a server and organized in one or more different segment orders, as compared to the original order of the live feed. Third, a traditional e-commerce product catalog may be provided. However, as an enhancement, the product catalog may be connected to the VOD server, and stream the presentation segment associated with each product, when a user is viewing the product detail page for that product.

Abstract: Software applications may include many types of sponsorship-related features, such as integrated advertisements displayed to users and captchas that improve advertisement targeting by distinguishing human users vs. automated processes. However, these techniques may consume developers' efforts and creativity, and, if not well-integrated in the application, may annoy or distract users. As an alternative technique, an advertisement may be programmatically analyzed to generate a challenge and a solution. The challenge and an input component may be integrated into the application; a user's challenge response may be automatically compared with the solution; and a reward may be presented for satisfactory input. This automated technique may better integrate advertisements with the application and may improve the effectiveness of the advertising, while also reducing the amount of developer effort and creativity expended on the advertisement integration.

Abstract: An approach is provided for the presentation of an actionable object on a mobile device. A presentation of an actionable object is initiated on a mobile device. The actionable object invokes an action. An input from a user specifying selection of the actionable object is received. Whether the mobile device is able to complete the action is determined. If the mobile device cannot complete the action, the action is substituted with an alternative action relating to the actionable object.

Abstract: A system for servicing a printing system includes a first device and a processor in communication with a storage medium. The system receives a first request to service the first device, determines a first number of carbon credits associated with driving a vehicle to a location of the first device, receives a second request to service a second printing device having a second number of carbon credits, offers a selected number of carbon credits to a customer to incent acceptance of remote repair of the first device, and causes remote service to be performed relative to the first device upon an acceptance of the offer. The selected number of carbon credits may be greater than the first number of carbon credits and, at least in part, to the first and second numbers of carbon credits.

Abstract: A cost maintenance scheme useful with an advertising system which orders ads in a manner that maximizes both their relevance and their economic value, and which provides a fair bidding process in which a winning bidder is assured of not having paid too much. Ordering may be done based on accepted maximum ad bid information and/or ad performance information. For example, this information may be used to determine a position value. Cost may be determined based on accepted maximum ad bid information and/or performance information. Billing the determined cost may be subject to a condition precedent.

Abstract: Tools and techniques related to software with integrated advertising content are provided. These tools send requests for software, and receive the software in response to these requests. These tools then integrate advertising content into the software, and distribute the software with the integrated advertising content.

Abstract: A mobile device receives a radio simulcast of streaming data and content. The mobile device extracts metadata from the radio simulcast. The mobile device identifies a communication channel to a content provider by comparing components of the metadata with reference data. The mobile device presents a user interface for connecting to the content provider through the communication channel. The mobile device also records the metadata with a time stamp and provides a user interface for displaying the data and time of content received.

Abstract: A framework for content delivery includes a content distribution manager operable to select content for distribution in response to a request for content. The selection of content may be made based in part on scheduling information associated with sources of available content and selected by content providers. The selection may further be based in part on a content selection policy selected by publishers who initiate requests for content.

Abstract: A system and method with a distributor physically acting upon a computer to send an electronic communication to a recipient. The system delivers dynamic content to the recipient's electronic communication based on the distributor's preferences using identifiers in static code placed within the body of the electronic communication. Cookies sent by the system to the recipient define the content and enable dynamic redirects to websites from hyperlinks from this content.

Abstract: In the Internet field, interfaces which support social interaction are used by two or more people to share information and content. An example is a geolocation (map-type) interface (a web page for instance) which is relied upon by users to obtain travel routes, plan trips and find geolocation information, such as stores, restaurants and other places. Described here is a system for advertising whereby targeted advertisements are displayed to users of such an interface and the advertisements are the result of an analysis of user behavior during a particular interface session or several sessions, so advertisements are closely targeted to each particular user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for targeting the delivery of advertisements over a network such as the Internet are disclosed. Statistics are compiled on individual users and networks and the use of the advertisements is tracked to permit targeting of the advertisements of individual users. In response to requests from affiliated sites, an advertising server transmits to people accessing the page of a site an appropriate one of the advertisement based upon profiling of users and networks.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a processor-readable medium can store code representing instructions configured to cause a processor to receive a website address from a requesting device. A device identifier associated with the requesting device can be received. A geographic location associated with the requesting device can be determined based at least in part on the device identifier. A domain sublease record can be identified based at least in part on the geographic location and the website address. A web content portion associated with the domain sublease record can be sent to the requesting device.

Abstract: An on-line advertising system provides advertisements to users. At least one candidate advertisement is identified in response to an advertisement trigger. At least one key is identified relating to features of the candidate advertisement, the advertisement trigger, or a combination of the candidate advertisement and the advertisement trigger. Candidate advertisement performance is estimated based on historical data relating to the key.

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: A method of facilitating delivery of advertising to users of mobile computing platforms is disclosed. A geographic database contains data entities that represent geographic features, such as roads, located in a geographic region. Advertising zones are defined within the geographic region. Associated with at least some of the data entities that represent geographic features are data that indicate in which of the advertising zones the represented geographic feature is located. Advertisers are allowed to associate advertising messages with the advertising zones. Users of mobile computing platforms are provided with geographically-related services that use the geographic database. As a user of a mobile computing platform travels in the geographic region, the location of the mobile computing platform is determined. The user of the mobile computing platform is provided with the advertising message associated with the advertising zone in which the mobile computing platform is determined to be located.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed for processing advertising bids based on user interactions. A particular method represents available user interactions in a probabilistic interaction graph that contains user interaction probabilities. Bids for advertising opportunities are received, and an expected overall bid value for each of the received bids is calculated using the probabilistic interaction graph. The bids with the highest expected overall bid values are awarded the advertising opportunities. The bidders awarded advertising opportunities are charged a fee that may be based on actual user interactions, the expected overall bid value of their bid, and the next-highest expected overall bid value of the received bids.

Abstract: This invention relates to the methods of coordinating and tracking product and service demonstrations. An event coordinator directs event operators to conduct a product or service demonstration event. The event coordinator provides event operators with cards, such as debit cards, credit cards, or smart cards, to purchase items needed for the demonstration. The event operator contacts a card administration system to activate the card. The card administration system verifies that the provided card ID and event ID are valid, and associates an authorized budget of the demonstration event with the card. The event operator then purchases items with the card, and conducts demonstrations. Event data is provided to the parties involved in the demonstration such as a product manufacturer or service provider, the event coordinator, a staffing agency, the event operator, and a retail store.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of providing a user information-based search using a get_Data operation in TV-ANYTIME service. In the user information-based search provision method of the present invention, a user information (PersonalInformation) element is added as an element of the get_Data operation. A request message of the get_Data operation is received. User information is extracted from the user information (PersonalInformation) element in response to reception of the request message. A user information-based search is conducted using the extracted user information. Results of the user information-based search are transmitted using a response message of the get_Data operation. Accordingly, the present invention is advantageous in that a client provides user information to a service provider using a get_Data operation, and the service provider can search for contents suitable for each user in consideration of the user information.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which submission of targeted advertisements can be facilitated using text messaging. Text message received from advertisers can include advertisement information and target audience information. Such information can be used to generate an advertisement for the advertiser. The generated advertisement can be provided for targeted distribution to users.

Abstract: Systems and methods directed to online media advertising are provided. Through the use of the present invention, one may more effectively use competitive analysis, build a media plan, generate a creative piece from the scratch for an advertising campaign, purchase media across multiple publishers and track the campaign through a single web-based platform. The system being a computer system having a memory, a processor, input/output devices, a system bus operatively coupling the computer system components, a plan module adapted to receive one or more user-defined campaign criteria from a user and prepare a media plan satisfying the user-defined campaign criteria, and a purchase module adapted to receive one or more inputs from the user and automatically create one or more media booking orders based on the inputs.

Abstract: Methods and systems for searching comprise presenting a first information set to a user, receiving feedback, applying an evolutionary algorithm based on the feedback to generate a search query, causing the search query to be executed to generate a second information set, and presenting the second information set to the user. Then, in response to user input, the first information set is again presented to the user; feedback is again received, an evolutionary algorithm is again applied based on the feedback to generate a search query, and the new search query is caused to be executed to generate a third information set which is presented to the user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for advertisement mixing in a communication system. A method operable by a network node includes determining an advertisement associated with a communication device, mixing the advertisement with a call service to be provided to the communication device, and transmitting the advertisement and the call service to the communication device. An apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive a call service, processing module configured to obtain an advertisement associated with the call service, and rendering module configured to render the advertisement.

Abstract: An ad server system takes into consideration information about a user who clicks on an ad in determining whether to charge the advertiser for the click event, and/or in determining an amount to charge the advertiser. In one embodiment, unless the user is recognized, the advertiser is not charged for the ad selection event. Thus, advertisers do not have to pay the ad placement provider when the users who click on their ads are not recognized. If the user is recognized, the ad server system may determine whether and/or how much to charge the advertiser based on information about the recognized user. This information may include, for example, whether the user has set up an account, whether a valid credit card is on file for the user, and/or other types of user information that can be used to hold fraudulent users accountable for their actions.

Abstract: A conditional e-coupon distribution method distributes e-coupons predefined by sellers to mobile users only if the number of mobile users requesting such e-coupons equals or exceeds a threshold. The method receives a request to browse e-coupons from a mobile user. The method receives the location of the mobile user and determines a plurality of sellers local to the mobile electronic device and a plurality of corresponding e-coupons available from the local sellers. The method receives a request for a particular e-coupon from a seller and authorizes the provision of said e-coupon to the mobile user. At the end of a processing cycle, the mobile user receives the requested e-coupon if all conditions, such as a period of time and threshold, have been met. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein allows for storage of the method.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an advertising method using internet e-mail and chatting window which involves an advertisement in e-mail or chatting window, and compensates the person for seeing the advertisement.

Abstract: Functionality can be implemented to transmit advertisements to customers who have registered to receive promotional messages from a business. Detecting wireless devices in the vicinity of the business, determining if the detected wireless device is registered to receive promotional messages, and transmitting the promotional messages to the detected wireless device can help businesses build customer loyalty, increase brand recognition, provide positive brand association against competitors, and receive repeat sales. Providing registered customers with additional options of rejecting incoming promotional messages or unsubscribing from the customer database can reduce the number of unsolicited messages transmitted.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for messaging over a data network, such as the Internet and interactive TV, which allows every registered user to generate and update one or more user portfolio(s) containing information relative to Providers and/or individuals of which the user is willing to view their messages. The messages are displayed inside the space of the webpage where usually banners are shown. The system may provide benefits to the user upon displaying messages with commercial value to him. The disclosed messaging system allows an easy and effective communication path between providers and users any time publicly or privately in the banner area of a web site, which does not occupy additional space on the user's browser, and does not require the user to load another application besides his browser.

Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided in which targeted advertisements may be presented to a user and targeted actions taken in the program guide based on the user's interests. The program guide monitors the user's interactions with the program guide to determine the user's interests. Interactions that may be monitored include interactions that indicate the categories of programming that interest the user (e.g., movies, sports, children's programming, etc.), setting a reminder for a program, purchasing a program, requesting information on a program, browsing program listings for a particular time or channel, etc.

Abstract: Social networking site where the user selects advertising material that is shown on their personal section. The user enters favorites, and stored promotional information associated with those favorites is shown to the user. The user selects which of the stored promotional material will be shown on their personal part of their site. The material can be logos or videos, for example.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for marketing through advertising video games are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises presenting a list of the one or more products, services, brands or locations to one or more users; requesting the users select one or more products, services, brands or locations; receiving data indicating which of the one or more products, services, brands or locations the at users selected; presenting one or more video games to the users, presenting one or more instances of advertising related to the specific products, services, brands or locations selected by the users to the users; providing one or more incentives related directly to the specific products, services, brands or locations selected by the users to the users and receiving data from the users regarding their interest in, acceptance or rejection of the incentives provided to the users.

Abstract: One example embodiment relates to a method that comprises receiving a request from a user via a computer network to list of one or more items on the computer network that are part of a garage sale; and providing advertising to the user that indicates where the items in the garage sale may be found using the computer network. Another example embodiment relates to a system that comprises a communication module connected to a computer network; the communication module being adapted to receive a request from a user to list items that are part a garage sale; a multiple listing engine that receives data relating to the items from the user and lists the items for sale on the communication network; and an advertisement that includes information as to where buyers can view the items that are part of the garage sale on the communication network.

Abstract: An improved system and method for allocating and pricing impression pools of advertisement impressions with frequency capping is provided. An upper bound on the number of impressions which an impression pool can supply to satisfy advertiser demand may be generated and used as a constraint to allocate impressions to satisfy advertiser requests. Either a deterministic upper bound may be generated or a stochastic upper bound may be generated on the number of impressions which an impression pool can supply to satisfy advertiser demand, and this upper bound may be used as a constraint to allocate impressions to satisfy advertiser requests for advertisement placements on the display advertising properties. In an embodiment, frequency caps, display frequencies, arrival rates of unique users, and departure rates of unique users may be used to compute the upper bounds on the number of impressions which an impression pool can supply to satisfy advertiser demand.

Abstract: A media distribution system for providing advertising comprising a network; wherein the media distribution system includes a media distribution device in communication with the network, wherein the media distribution device includes a personal computing device having a first display module. The personal computing device includes a second display module coupled to the personal computing device, disposed opposite the first display module and oriented in a substantially opposite direction from the first display module. The second display module may be pivotly coupled to the first display module. The media distribution system further includes an advertisement control module in communication with a plurality of media distribution devices over the network; wherein the advertisement control module is configured to control display of advertisements over the plurality of media distribution devices.

Abstract: A system and method for providing live-interaction between a user and a call center representative regarding an advertisement of interest. The method is operable as program steps running on a stored program computer having networking capabilities. The system comprises a live-interaction routing module, an ad request module, an ad content rendering module, a live-interaction module, and an ad lead interface module. The user generates a live-interaction request which the system routes to an available call center representative. The communication request information causes an ad publishing service to provide advertising content to be delivered to the user's browser, and a communications link to be established between the user and representative. The system further allows the representative to provide additional ad related content to the user during the communication session.

Abstract: A system and method for providing advertisement lead calling in a networked environment. The system provides an advertisement contact module, a call request module, and a request transmission module. The user views an advertisement that he or she is interested in. An icon, placed proximate the ad by the system, allows the user to request additional information concerning the ad. The system generates a pop-up window in response to the user's request, whereby the user enters his or her contact information. The system then transmits the information request to the advertiser or the advertiser's representative to facilitate contact between the two. The user is notified as to the status of the transmission (pending or complete).

Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing information pertaining to one or more individuals or entities with whom a user has at least one pre-defined type of relationship (e.g., a social networking relationship) and information pertaining to the user's behavior with respect to the one or more individuals (e.g., manual designation, interaction with communications received from and/or sent to the user, and the like) to present relevant search results and/or advertisements to a user in response to receiving a search request are provided. Upon receiving a search request from a user, information about the user's relationships and behavior with respect to those relationships is utilized to determine user-relevant search results and/or advertisements. The search results and/or advertisements that are determined to be relevant to that particular user based upon the user's behavior and presented.

Abstract: There is provided an advertising service providing method and apparatus capable of reducing a load of an advertising cost on an advertiser and increasing participation in an advertisement when providing advertising services via a wired or wireless communication network and a broadcasting network, the method including: collecting persons waiting for participating in an advertisement, determining a number of the persons, receiving a request of an advertiser for inserting an advertisement, determining a target number of advertisement participants and a target class with respect to the requested advertisement within a range of the persons, calculating an advertising cost and a total amount of winning/prize money in proportion to the determined target number of advertisement participants, providing the advertisement to the persons, the providing the advertisement is finished when a number of persons participating in the provided advertisement reaches the determined target number of advertisement participants, dete

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a dispatch management system and method. Customer information is received by a first company and forwarded with dispatch instructions to a second company, namely, a dispatch company which handles dispatching a service technician or other support representative to the customer. The dispatch company then sends to the first company customer information regarding products and/or service related to the customer. It is then determined which products and/or services are to be advertised to the customer based on the customer information and information received from the dispatch company. Advertisements are then sent to the customer based on this determination.

Abstract: A system and method for generating and presenting an interactive advertising quiz in conjunction with video media. The system generates an interactive advertising quiz having video content with one or more redacted elements. A redacted element may be, for example, a brand, logo, product, actor, or other identifier that is normally present in the video content. The system presents the interactive advertising quiz to a user and quizzes the user as to the identity of the missing element in the video content. The system receives the user's guess regarding the redacted element in the video content, and determines if the user's guess was correct. Correct guesses may result in incentives being awarded to the user. The interactive advertising content is shown in a post-roll position following online video content that has been shown to the user. The user may also challenge other users to play the interactive advertising quiz.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide context-sensitive advertising for content on a mobile device. In some embodiments, context information about a mobile device, a user of the device, and/or content to be consumed on the device is used to formulate an advertisement request. The advertisement request is submitted to an advertisement source, which gathers relevant advertisements that correspond to the context information. The relevant advertisements are provided to the mobile device, and one or more of the relevant advertisements are injected into content, by the mobile device, before the content is consumed by a user of the device. In some embodiments, an advertisement is marked with a sentinel marker when it is injected into content. When the content is to be sent from the device, the sentinel marker is detected and the marked advertisement is removed from the content before the content leaves the device.