Abstract: Mechanisms are provided to facilitate buying and selling products utilizing social pricing. Sellers initiate sale of a product with volume discounts for a limited time. In other words, the more people that buy a product, the lower the price for the group. Buyers have a real incentive to become prosumers that not only purchase a product but also promote purchase by others. A social pricing system brokers interaction between sellers and buyer groups, and provisions mechanisms to aid promotion of products by consumers utilizing social networks and other online activities.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, systems, and modules for sending messages to message-recipients based on targeting parameters and optional location data. Examplary embodiments of the invention are configured to operate in a geographic area defined by a collective such as a shopping mall comprising a plurality of tenants, wherein the message-senders include the tenants and a representative of the collective.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a plurality of table-top display devices for displaying advertising content associated with advertiser to patrons of a business establishment. Each of the plurality of table-top display devices includes a display screen configured to display the advertising content, a data storage configured to store content data that defines the advertising or promotional content, and a control unit configured to access the content data in the data storage and control the display of the advertising content on the display screen. The display screen is a touchscreen display. The system also includes a server subsystem configured to allow user selection of the content data and to facilitate distribution of the content data to the plurality of table-top display devices. Distribution of the advertising content to the plurality of table-top display devices is at least partially managed by the advertiser.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided to facilitate buying and selling products utilizing social pricing. Sellers initiate sale of a product with volume discounts for a limited time. In other words, the more people that buy a product, the lower the price for the group. Buyers have a real incentive to become prosumers that not only purchase a product but also promote purchase by others. A social pricing system brokers interaction between sellers and buyer groups, and provisions mechanisms to aid promotion of products by consumers utilizing social networks and other online activities.

Abstract: A visit-pattern-aware mobile advertising system is provided for urban commercial complexes. In order to provide highly relevant advertisements to mobile users, next visit place is predicted through a probabilistic reasoning technique based on the collected visit place history, and an advertisement to be provided is selected based on the predicted next visit place. Since the advertisement is selectively provided according to the next visit place predicted based on a visit place history of an advertisement receiver, it is possible to increase an advertisement effect.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to methods and systems that record the location of a user and transmit targeted content to a user based upon their current and past location information. A network includes a server programmed with a database of location information, a database of user 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 businesses visited by the user. Managers of physical business locations provide content relating to their physical business locations the system. The content is caused to be transmitted to the mobile devices on behalf of the managers when it is reported that the mobile device is located at the physical business location.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for Real-time Instant Presence with Advertisement (RIPA) using an instant messaging topology with wireless technology to instantly setup and update of presence information of an instant messaging user. The invention provides location information of a business and other business information to a wireless instant messaging user/customer of the business, and obviates the need for the users/customer to manually enter presence information of the business. The invention further provides methods for promotion, advertising and network marketing of a business using presence information sent to instant messaging users and instantly propagated through instant messaging address lists.

Abstract: Improved techniques for targeting advertisements are provided, which take into account the content of electronic communications delivered via text messaging and/or other forms of communications. The system may automatically select advertisements based on message content, and the selected advertisements may then be displayed alongside messages, and/or embedded in or included in messages, for presentation to the sender and/or recipient of the message. Overall conversational context, including content of past messages between the parties, can be taken into account in selecting advertisements. In at least one embodiment, the content of a displayed advertisement can change dynamically in response to changes in the subject of a text conversation. Senders of messages can be rewarded for allowing advertisements to be embedded and/or displayed in connection with their messages.

Abstract: Capability to present forms, items and menu commands behavior, which translates to other languages, in combination with network communication and a user interface event listener, is compiled into binary code (Step 1), loaded (Step 2) and run (Step 3) on a mobile networked device. Such capability includes at least one of placement, appearance, behavior, logic, format, user interaction behavior, input validation and video. Instructions, not characterized as compiled code, browser pages or scripting language, are assembled and stored on a server. The running binary code on the mobile networked device requests and receives the instructions (Step 4) which trigger the capability code to present variable format and information (Step 5).

Abstract: A system and method is provided that, in at least one aspect, associates a search term with a building that occupies more than one street address by selecting the term based on all of the listings located at all of the street addresses occupied by the building.

Abstract: Wireless personal area network (Zigbee, Bluetooth, UWB) and wireless identification technologies (Near Field Communication (NFC), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)) are implemented in particular client server functions and communications. Connected with an Authentication Server, a wireless HUB authenticates user identification and provides the user with access to secure data communication with a wireless terminal such as a cellular phone or a PDA. A Location Server provides user locations via methods such as RSSI, TDOA, and GPS and sends location information to a Center Control Server and the Authentication Server. With location information, the Center Control Server initiates and optimizes secure information processes and coordinates the functions of servers and user terminals.

Abstract: A person is viewing a display. By evaluating tracked information about the person, the display and/or the content being viewed, a tracking system determines that an opportunity exists to present an advertisement that is relevant to the person in the context of the person currently viewing the display. The tracking system provides advertiser data for the advertisement and instructions for generating the advertisement to a synthesis system local to the viewer and the viewer's display system, which dynamically synthesizes the advertisement and provides it to the display.

Abstract: An advertisement service allows advertisers to obtain a right to provide an advertisement to a mobile device that is located within or nearby a particular geographic region. For instance, the advertisement service may map one or more entities (e.g., retailers, schools, museums, etc.) to a geographic region at which these entities are located. The advertisement service provides an offer to one or more advertisers to provide an advertisement to a mobile device located within or nearby one of these geographic regions. Based on responses received to the offer, the advertisement service provides information to the mobile device for display of an advertisement.

Abstract: A method of generating and distributing promotional offers by businesses, or on behalf of businesses to consumers, through a network, which includes collecting consumer coupon parameters regarding coupons which the consumer would be interested in and business coupon parameters regarding the terms of coupons, and matching businesses to interested consumers, and transmitting coupons to interested consumers.

Abstract: A network apparatus useful for providing directions and other information to a user of a client device in wireless communication therewith. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes one or more wireless interfaces and a network interface for communication with a server. User speech inputs in the form of digitized representations are received by the apparatus and used by the server as the basis for retrieving information including graphical representations of location or entities that the user wishes to find.

Abstract: By using the location information of a wireless communication terminal, an advertising information display method, etc. is provided to display on a display, highly useful advertising information, that is, advertising information of an advertising information transmission source, which is located at a location that is close to the location at which the user of the wireless communication terminal is present.

Abstract: Disclosed is an internet traffic monitoring method. In the method, a first packet, sent from a user client, having a web content request meeting certain monitoring selection criteria is detected. Upon detection of the first packet, a second packet is forwarded to the user client. The second packet has a redirection with a fabricated web content request to a monitoring web page including at least one monitoring implement.

Abstract: A product placement and advertising method utilizes a video signal having a product placement with an active hypertext link and/or a linking advertisement. If the user of a mobile terminal receiving the video signal clicks on the product placement or linking advertisement, the server obtains the location of the mobile terminal and generates or selects an advertisement which is related to the location.

Abstract: Content Management Systems (CMSs) can be configured to edit available content. The CMS can be provided as a web interface so that content can be rapidly updated. User data can be collected associated with an individual user or one or more specific locations. Examples include information related to venue traffic, efficacy of floor plan and layout, store placement, advertising rates as a function of location, lease rates, user demographics, user purchasing habits, and other user profiles.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprises receiving a request for content from a user, determining a user list associated with the user, the user list including a definition that characterizes members of the user list, determining additional data related to a context associated with the user, and providing user list definition data and the additional data along with the request to a consumer that has subscribed to the user list.

Abstract: A method of providing a geo-fenced advertisement to a mobile communications device is provided. The advertisement has an associated virtual scratchcard offer. The scratchcard is displayed only when the mobile communications device is less than a first predefined distance from a location of a business. The offer is revealed only when a user performs a virtual scratching function with the mobile communications device while the mobile communications device is less than a second predefined distance from the location of the business. The second predefined distance is less than the first predefined distance.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods to improve the relevancy of rendered advertising material to one or more consumers based on user-defined preferences, geolocation, and user-granted permission. The present invention achieves this through the presentation of exemplary methods for: i) the consolidation of advertisement information to include description, inventory, price, quantity and geolocation information of one or more merchants in a commerce network; ii) the delivery of relevant advertising material to one or more consumers using preference filters that can specify one or more merchants, merchant locations, products and services, and/or regions of interest at any time; and, iii) the presentation of location-based advertisements that are based on consumer-based permission and preference filters. These methods improve the user-targeting, geographic and time relevancy of advertisements by connecting merchants with relevant consumers who are looking to purchase items at that point in time.

Abstract: Digitally marked objects and promotional methods include presenting a digitally watermarked object to a reader device at a first location, decoding information from the watermark, and triggering a first response thereto. The method also includes presenting the object to a reader device at a second location, decoding information from the watermark, and triggering a second, different, response thereto.

Abstract: Embodiments of a location sharing network manager process are described. The process is executed on a server computer coupled to a plurality of mobile communication devices over a wireless network. Each mobile device is a location-aware mobile communication device. The process determines the geographic location of a mobile communication device operated by a user within an area, displays a map representation of the area around the mobile communication device on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device, and superimposes on the map the respective locations of one or more other trusted users of mobile communication devices coupled to the mobile communication device over the network. An advertising platform manager provides tools for an advertiser to create and transmit relevant ad messages to a user based on specific location, time, and profile data of the user.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for providing a wireless network service to a user terminal free of charge, by providing a doorway page for exposing an advertisement on the user terminal provided with the wireless network service through an access point. Accordingly, the user terminal may be provided with the wireless network service free of charge, other than the cost of viewing the advertisement exposed on the doorway page. An advertiser and a proprietor may expose the advertisement at the cost of providing the free wireless network service.

Abstract: A method of advertising is disclosed and includes monitoring transmission data of one or more cellular towers located along a freeway and recording an identification and a time and date stamp for one or more cellular devices that establish communication via the one or more cellular towers as the at least one cellular device travels within a user vehicle along the freeway. Further, the method includes determining one or more types of media files that are supported by the cellular device and monitoring the movement of the one or more cellular devices along the freeway. The method also includes transmitting one or more advertisements to the at least one cellular device when the cellular device is within a predetermined range of a freeway exit. The one or more advertisement is transmitted in a format of the one or more types of media files supported by the cellular device.

Abstract: A global customer satisfaction system includes point-of-sale customer feedback terminals for receiving in-store customer feedback including satisfaction ratings and other customer feedback regarding participating vendors as the customer pays for purchases. The system also includes post-sale customer feedback terminals for receiving more detailed customer feedback regarding the vendors from members after the sales have been completed. The system also includes an aggregation and dissemination system for combining the ratings received form customers into global customer satisfaction ratings for participating vendors, and disseminating the customer satisfaction information through customer satisfaction qualified directories, which are organized or searchable by geographical, type of product or service offered by the participating vendors, and other factors.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a merchant offer program application, which is downloaded onto a customer computer, and that works in connection with the customer's accounts at an institution. The merchant offer program application monitors the websites that the customer views, as well as the content the customer is viewing on those websites, such as the products offered for sale through the website or other information on the website. The merchant offer program provides additional information to the customer, such as special offers that are available for the product being viewed, the identity of other merchants that offer the product or a competing product, advertisements or offers regarding other ancillary products typically sold along with the product being considered, etc. The information sent to the customer can be based not only on the website product being viewed, but on the customer's past purchase behavior, account balances, interests, etc.

Abstract: The invention provides an electronic advertising system (200) having an electronic advertising board (210) with a number of advertising slots (230). Each slot (230) can contain an advertisement (225). If all advertising slots (230) are full, one or more of advertising slots (230) can be cleared to accommodate a new advertisement, in accordance with a chosen criterion. The criterion may be selected from a range including date, price, category, products/services, location, or randomly.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting targeted information (e.g., advertisements) for serving with map views. The information is associated with target geographical areas (e.g., cities, metropolises, regions, countries) identified by the information providers. A given message or other set of information may be served with map views that significantly intersect the message's target area. A target area significantly intersects a map view if it overlaps the map view by at least a threshold percentage of the map view (e.g., 25%). Messages' target areas may first be compared with a map view to identify those that significantly intersect. Then, the messages whose target areas significantly intersect the map view may be filtered or screened based on any search terms or key words received with a request for the map view.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting, accessing, and/or managing promotions transmitted to mobile electronic devices. A user can input preferences for stores and brands that they wish to receive promotions from. Also, a list of stores and brands having promotions can be stored on a promotions system. User location data can be cross-referenced with the user preferences and store and stores carrying brands to determine what, if any, promotions are to be transmitted to a user.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to a computer configured to identify potential customers which may include a processor and memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer to perform a method for identifying potential customers for a first bank, by electronically receiving data regarding the first bank, electronically receiving data regarding a second bank. Further, based on the electronically received data the method may further include identifying locations of the first bank, identifying locations of the second bank, comparing the locations of the first bank with the locations of the second bank, determining locations of the second bank that are within a predetermined distance of at least one location of the first bank, determining an amount of funds in a set of deposit accounts in each location of the second bank, and determining if the amount of funds in each location of the second bank is more than a predetermined amount.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for determining a consumer's interest in products and services is disclosed. Once the consumer's interests are determined advertisers can refine their advertisements to meet the consumer's specific needs and demands. A method for providing targeted information begins by receiving data comprising at least one of a consumer's product or service interests. The data is inspected to determine at least one consumer product or service interest. The at least one determined product or service interest is compared with a plurality of providers of products or services. Finally information is conveyed to the consumer from to at least one of the plurality of providers of products or services to the consumer based upon the comparison of the determined at least one product or service interest and the plurality of providers of products or services.

Abstract: Systems and methods for allocating space for advertisements in a network of electronic display devices are provided. Attribute information indicating retailer and categories of products available for purchase in the vicinity of a display device is maintained for each device in a database. Advertisers may upload advertisement messages to a server specifying information such as budget, price per impression, preferred billboards and/or other constraints. One or more keywords or other descriptors are specified for each advertisement message. The system then generates an advertising campaign specifying where the advertisement message is to be output and send the messages to the specified displays. The output may consist of various forms including video, audio, printed incentive, interactive data transfers and/or combinations of these.

Abstract: A system and method to measure power usage within a residence having a plurality of electrical circuits electrically connected to an over-current protection device may include measuring, by a power measurement device electrically connected to one of the electrical circuits by which power loads draw power, an electrical parameter of the electrical circuits. The electrical parameter may be modeled as a lumped complex impedance. Alternatively, the electrical parameter may be a complex impedance of individual appliances. The measurement may be of AC voltages that may be utilized to calculate complex impedance. Alternatively, the measurement may be made using a reflectometer technique used to compute complex impedance. A data value representative of power being drawn by the power loads connected to the electrical circuits using the measured electrical parameter may be computed. An indicia representative of the computed data value representative of the power being drawn on the electrical circuits may be displayed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method implemented via the Internet for coordinating a current or future event between a user of a mobile Internet device and other users communicating through the Internet. The method includes receiving the current or future activity information pertaining to the future event from the user via the mobile Internet device. The current activity pertains to an activity occurring at a current time relative to a time the future activity information is received. The future activity pertains to an activity occurring at a future time relative to a time the future activity information is received. The method further includes transmitting the current or future activity information to a backend database coupled to the Internet, the backend database being remote from the mobile Internet device. The method further includes rendering the current or future activity information accessible to at least one recipient via the Internet.

Abstract: The invention facilitates a loyalty system which is associated with pre-determined geographic locations and/or services and goods offered in a specific geographic area. The system is configured with one product platform with a modularized approach to facilitate the development of market specific rewards and communication materials. The loyalty points may be earned within a specific geographic location, then redeemed in one geographic location, a subset of locations or without restrictions. Similarly, the loyalty points may be earned in one geographic location, a subset of locations or without restrictions, then redeemed only in a specific geographic location. The geographic features of the system may be implemented using existing data that is associated with geographic areas such as, for example, zip codes, retailer identification codes, service establishment codes and/or the like.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an all-inclusive virtual tour website that features virtual tours of real estate properties. The present invention further concerns methods for allowing real estate related businesses to advertise on the website while complying with applicable guidelines. The present invention further allows various product and service vendors to advertise on the website. The present invention also provides information about various neighborhoods, civic, and other important information to potential home buyers. The present invention also contemplates lead generation services, such as generating loan application information, which may then be provided to lending institutions for bidding or sale. The present inventor also concerns related software, business methods, and Internet websites, platforms or other portals.

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 computer based system and method for mobile and online Internet type advertising that includes advertisements in “tag maps”, which are interactive maps with associated text strings. The system allows advertisers to buy, lease or bid in real time for advertising opportunities associated with particular tags (text strings) within such tag maps. This is in the context of Internet web pages. This further allows advertisers to modify the display or content of the associated tag maps and/or advertising units.

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: A method for constructing geo-location service replies (e.g. “You are near Bob's Café”, or “Proceed one block north to Bob's Café”) based on landmark-related relevance factors (e.g. if the user's location is close to a known landmark or sponsored location) to serve to a client terminal (e.g. a user's a mobile telephone, a smart phone, a GPS terminal). The system receives a user's geo-location service request (e.g. “Where am I”), and proceeds to construct one or more response candidates to service the user's geo-location service request. Candidate replies are then scored based on relevance factors (e.g. does the candidate location relate to the user's recent geo-service queries, is there a sponsored landmark in general proximity, etc), and high scoring geo-service replies are sent to the user's client terminal. In some cases, more than one relevance factor is considered (e.g. proximity relevance, visibility relevance, familiarity relevance, etc).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for determining advertising conversion metrics. In some implementations, a method includes receiving spatial information associated with a user in connection with an advertisement presented through a wireless device 102. The advertisement is associated with an offline 110 store having a geographic location. A likelihood of conversion is determined based, at least in part, on the spatial information and the geographic location of the offline store 110.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method, a point-of-sale terminal, and a computer-readable storage medium. The point-of-sale terminal may generate transaction information for a commercial transaction, the transaction information including customer information and purchase information. The point-of-sale terminal may generate nutritional information based on the purchase information. The point-of-sale terminal may send the customer information, the purchase information, and location information identifying a location of the POS terminal to an advertising server, and may receive responsive advertising content from the advertising server. The point-of-sale terminal may print a receipt including the transaction information, the nutritional information, and the advertising content.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for iteratively and interactively searching for information. Embodiments of the invention can provide a user with relevant location-specific information in response to a query from the user. Provided information can also be relevant to a user's predicted future behavior. As context for a user is obtained and/or accumulated, such as, for example, through an interactive query dialogue, the probability of providing relevant information in response to a query from the user increases.

Abstract: A system and method of advertising to telephones may include enabling an advertiser to submit a bid for airtime to present an advertisement to callers who call one or more telephone numbers. A bid may be received from the advertiser to advertise to callers who place calls to the one or more telephone numbers. In response to callers placing telephone calls to the telephone number(s), the advertisement may be presented to the callers. The number of advertisements presented to callers may be counted and used for billing the advertiser.