Abstract: A method for scheduling advertising comprises the steps of: estimating a respective fraction of delivered advertisement impressions that result in a response from a user for each of a plurality of advertising contracts, estimating a value per impression for each of the advertising contracts, and scheduling an advertising line under the contract having the highest value per impression at a next available advertising window.

Abstract: Targeted advertisements with associated dynamic content for response and feedback embedded into the ad's header are delivered to mobile viewing devices. The mobile viewing device records a user's response to advertisements and reports it back to an ad serving platform. The ad serving platform generates user profiles that incorporate the response data. Ads are further targeted to the user according to the user's profile data to maximize the impact of the ads. The user can select the preferred format for providing advertisement feedback.

Abstract: In a message management method of a communication device, a plurality of keywords relating to different commercial activities are preset and stored into a keyword database. Whether a received message of the communication device is an advertisement of a commercial activity is determined by comparing content of the message with each keyword of the keyword database. A starting time of the commercial activity is extracted from the message if the message is an advertisement. An pre-activity alarm time is determined according to the extracted starting time, and an alarm is given to a user when the alarm time is reached.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method and a computer program product for automatically inserting advertisements into a media stream, wherein subscription information which specifies categories of advertisements to be scheduled for insertion is stored and a category of a target advertisement is determined. Based on the result of the determination those advertisements of a stored list of scheduled advertisements, which according to their subscription information are subscribed to the determined category, are triggered and subjected to a predetermined modification processing selected based on the result of the determination.

Abstract: Content providers or media outlets may provide opportunities to place insertion or replacement material, for example, advertisements, into alternate streams or feeds of programming. A clearinghouse of such for various content providers may be automatically maintained and updated. Entities with insertion or replacement material may reserve, bid on or automatically place insertion or replacement material. An insertion system component may automatically insert material in an alternative feed of programming, for example, automatically replacing locally relevant advertisement in a broadcast with more general or even more specific advertisements in a Web feed of the programming. Organization of the insertions or replacement may be automatically determined based on various criteria.

Abstract: Methods and systems to schedule delivery of items of content selectively to online users are described. In various embodiments, a method of scheduling delivery of multiple items of content selectively to a plurality of online users is disclosed. The method includes determining expected values relating to each user being online during a given time period, and generating an ordered list of the multiple items of content to be selectively delivered to each of the plurality of online users based on the expected values. Other methods and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: An advertisement delivery system of the present invention includes a store terminal, a management device connected to the store terminal via a communication network, and a mobile terminal connected to the management device via the communication network. The store terminal transmits a delivery instruction to the management device in response to an operation giving an instruction to deliver advertisement data. When the delivery instruction transmitted from the store terminal is received, the management device push-delivers the advertisement data of the store that has given the delivery instruction to the mobile terminal. Then, when the advertisement data of the store push-delivered from the management device is received, the mobile terminal judges whether or not the distance from the store to its current position is within a predetermined range, and outputs the advertisement data on a condition that the distance is within the predetermined range.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing an advertisement are provided. In one embodiment, an advertisement distribution device comprises a database manager configured to select an advertisement to be retrieved from a database. The advertisement is selected based on at least a time when the advertisement is to be run. The advertisement distribution device further comprises an interface device configured to transmit the advertisement to a ticket printing device.

Abstract: An advertisement creation system and a method are disclosed. The system comprises a processor, a first interface executing on the processor that accepts transactional data, a data compiler executing on the processor that compiles the transactional data and determines an advertisement creation schedule based on the compiled data, an advertisement creator executing on the processor that automatically creates an advertisement based on a set of rules and the compiled transactional data, and an output device to output the advertisement.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating an advertisement strategy or advertisement campaign are provided. Also provided is an advertisement planning device, which comprises an advertisement creating module configured to enable a user to electronically organize elements of an advertisement. The advertisement planning device also comprises a run time module configured to enable the user to enter a time period when the advertisement is to be run and a location selection module configured to enable the user to select one or more predetermined locations where the advertisement is to be run.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining relative business volume for a given time frame between a specific retail establishment and other comparable retail establishments. A database storing retail transactions for multiple retail establishments is accessed for data relating to retail transactions for a specific retail establishment. These transactions are for a specific time period in question. Retail transactions for other retail establishments that are comparable to the specific retail establishment are also retrieved for the same time period. These transactions for the other establishments are then aggregated to render the data anonymous. The aggregated data is then processed on a per-retail establishment basis and compared to the data for the specific retail establishment.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention comprises a method or methods for introducing ad insertion and ad management into operator networks (Core Network or Radio Access Network), thereby improving ad management capabilities and avoiding the need for the operator to share internal network or UE information with third parties. In one or more embodiments, the contemplated method(s) and supporting apparatuses are applicable to scenarios where the network operator and a third-party ad provider have an agreement and where they do not.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, an apparatus, and a computer usable program product for varying the amount of received advertising content. A content editor provides a portion of a plurality of levels of advertising to a user, wherein the portion of the plurality of levels indicates an amount of advertising content to be received by the user. Responsive to receiving a user input selecting the portion of the plurality of levels, the content editor inserts the amount of advertising content into a media content to form a modified media content, wherein the amount of advertising content corresponds to the portion of the plurality of levels selected by the user. The content editor then transmits the modified media content to the user.

Abstract: A system for selling and administering the redemption of travel site access and other privileges to consumers has a computer connected to the Internet that pushes and pulls data to and from a database including site and privilege data, such as, description, cost, purchases, access code, privilege redemption and promotion data. The consumer may purchase access to sites and goods over the Internet and are provided with an access code which can be presented to the consumer in a variety of forms in accordance with the consumer's preference. In one embodiment, the code is sent to a mobile phone or computer. Optionally, the mobile device can communicate with a point of sale device to allow access to a given site. The mobile device may also be used to send promotions, such as discounts, to the consumer, which may be programmatically selected and sent based upon logistical, empirical, timing and marketing criteria.

Abstract: One embodiment comprises a method for conveying information to patrons in an establishment. The method comprises deploying a plurality of caddies at the establishment, wherein each of the plurality of caddies includes an electronic display and at least one compartment for storing items for use by patrons. The method further comprises obtaining, by a content server located remotely from the establishment, content from at least one third party, wherein the content comprises advertisements corresponding to at least one item sold by the establishment. The method further comprises transmitting, by the content server, the content to the plurality of caddies via a network according to at least one predetermined time interval allocated by the content server to the at least one third party.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of advertising an ad including data content or metadata associated with a time in the future to a plurality of users connected via computer network to a server includes the steps of: (a) receiving data including the ad content at a user interface of at least one of the plurality of users from the server via the network; (b) placing the ad content on a timeline of the user interface; and (c) displaying the ad content on the timeline in relation to its associated time and the current time. Moreover, disclosed herein is a computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to perform such a method.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a scheduling order per category is disclosed. A scheduling order can be designated for the delivery and playback of multimedia content (e.g., music, news, other audio, advertising, etc) with respect to particular slots within the scheduling order. The scheduling order can be configured to include a forward order per category or a reverse order per category with respect to the playback of the multimedia content in order to control the scheduling order for the eventual airplay of the multimedia content over a radio station or network of associated radio stations. A reverse scheduling technique provides an ideal rotation of songs when a pre-programmed show interferes with a normal rotation. Any rotational compromises can be buried in off-peak audience listening hours of the programming day using the disclosed reverse scheduling technique.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting advertisement lines to serve advertisement requests on a network. According to some embodiments, a ranking system or methodology is implemented to select advertisement lines in a manner that paces the respective advertisement line for a successful outcome.

Abstract: A trust look-up protocol is described that allows a meta-trusted third party, or trust directory, to mediate between parties of potential business collaborations and trusted third parties that are counted on to authorize or otherwise validate the business collaborations. The trust directory receives a trust request for a collaboration from one or more parties, and, based on the request, determines a specialty of a trusted third party that is suited to the request and the collaboration. The trust directory then obtains interface information for the trusted third party for forwarding to the requesting party. In this way, the trusted third party may make a determination as to whether the requesting party should proceed in the business collaboration. Afterwards, the trust directory may monitor communications that take place as part of the collaboration, for use in evaluating future requests and collaborations.

Abstract: A system that facilitates publishing and consuming information that is of time sensitivity, for example, price information. Methods are employed to achieve completeness and freshness in information for a given domain. A preferred embodiment is a shopping site that is capable of comparing prices, purchasing bundled products and dealing with coupons.

Abstract: A system for managed distribution of business promotional offers, including a business-side interface for enabling each of a plurality of businesses to submit one or more definitions of promotional offers, each definition comprising at least one distribution constraint, and one or more scheduling constraints, a consumer-side interface for enabling each of a plurality of consumers to submit preferences for receiving promotional offers, a scheduler for deriving a schedule for distributing specific promotional offers to specific consumers at specific dates and times, in accordance with the distribution constraints, the scheduling constraints and the consumer preferences, and an event handler for invoking the scheduler in response to submissions by business and by consumers processed respectively by the business-side interface and the consumer-side interface. A method is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for qualifying leads originating from an advertisement published online. The system is configured to track certain events relative to an advertisement. Tracked event data may be recorded to a database.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for publishing certain advertising information on-line. Presence indicators are incorporated into merchant advertisements published online. The presence indicators are preferably active hyper-links that are configured to allow a consumer to send a request to a merchant for initiation of a 2-way real time communications session. The system provides for adding one of a pool of merchant representatives to an opened communications session with the consumer. Advertisements may be selectively published or withheld from publication based upon the availability status of an associated merchant.

Abstract: A method for registering a media for configurable advertising is described herein. Advertising policies from a publisher of the media may be received at a video advertising platform. A request from the publisher to register the media for advertising may be received at a video advertising platform. The request may have media metadata. A media manifest may be generated at the video advertising platform. The media manifest may be based on the media metadata and the advertising policies. The media manifest may be configured to be received by a media player. The media player may play the media with one or more advertisements as specified by the media manifest.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for evaluating candidate orders relative to available inventory, such as evaluating candidate orders of advertising impressions relative to an estimated available inventor of advertising impressions. The evaluation can include matching orders with available inventors based on linear programs that include objective functions and constraints. At least one objective function can include multiple slack variables.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, computer instructions to identify a subscriber leader, identify a plurality of subscriber followers that track activities of the subscriber leader, detect from the activities of the subscriber leader a behavioral pattern that influences a consumption behavior of the subscriber followers, receive a request for media content from at least one of a plurality of devices of the subscriber followers, identify in the media content a substitutable product, select a promotional system to supply a promotional product according to at least one of a winning bid supplied by the promotion system and the behavioral pattern, substitute the substitutable product in the media content with the promotional product to generate updated media content, and transmit the updated media content to the at least one of the plurality of devices of the subscriber followers. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Various aspects include methods and devices for displaying advertisements on a mobile advertising display device (MADD). Advertisements may be selected for display by a device, such as the MADD or an advertising server, based on one or more of the MADD's geographic location, the time of day, or various types of user data from nearby mobile devices. Further aspects include systems and methods of responding to requests from mobile device users and assigning expenses based on user activities.

Abstract: Method and system for enabling advertisers to deliver advertisements to consumers in which a plurality of tiers of available advertisements are defined, each tier containing a number of advertisements, a price for allocation of an advertisement in each tier is set wherein a lowest tier has the lowest price and the price increases to a maximum at a highest tier, and advertisements are allocated to advertisers based on availability starting from a lowest tier with unallocated advertisements and progressing to higher tiers.

Abstract: A system and method for pushing information to a mobile device are disclosed herein. A triggering event is detected, and information relevant to the detected trigger event is determined. The information is located in one of a plurality of memory location channels, wherein the information is stored in the one of the plurality of memory location channels based on a category of the information matching a pre-defined category of the one of the plurality of memory location channels. When the information relevant to the detected triggering event comprises content information, a meta tag is inserted to the content information. The meta tag relates to display of specific one or more advertisements with the content information. The content information that includes the meta tag is transmitted to the mobile device.

Abstract: A method for providing marketing materials from a marketing and information service platform to a vehicle telematics system comprises the steps of receiving route information at an integral telematics system of a vehicle and delivering personalized messages to the telematics system for transmission to a user of the vehicle based on at least one of location and pre-defined preference information corresponding to the route information. A method for providing marketing materials from a marketing and information services platform to a vehicle telematics system comprises the steps of sending route information from the vehicle telematics system integral with a vehicle to the marketing and information service platform remote from the vehicle and receiving personalized messages at the vehicle telematics system from the marketing and information service platform based on at least one of location and pre-defined preference information corresponding to the route information.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, computer-readable medium and a method for delivering advertisements to user devices. The method includes storing first data associated with online and physical activity of plurality of customers, storing second data associated with current status of plurality of advertisers, matching a customer with an advertiser based on analysis of the first data and the second data and delivering an advertisement to a device associated with the matched customers online and physical activity. The on-line and physical activity is captured by a plurality of devices including a mobile device via a plurality of sensors.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for facilitating electronic commerce via a web banner. Entire purchase transactions may be provided via the web banner, where an end user purchases products sold from third parties via the web banner. Entire sale listing transactions may also be provided via the web banner, where an end user lists products for sale via the web banner. Further, users may be identified when they access third party web sites, and customized offers may be generated and communicated to the identified users.

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: Content item presentation slots (e.g., advertisement slots) can be grouped into a slot group so that more than one presenter (e.g., advertiser) can share a corresponding number of slots on the publisher's property over a defined time period. The presenters can be scheduled to the slots within the slot group to maximize a performance measurement (e.g., number of clicks) that each presenter realizes according to budget constraints that are defined by the presenters.

Abstract: Consumer, merchant, and transactional data from a closed loop network and external sources may be leveraged to increase demand of a merchant's inventory during normally low-demand periods. Extensive data mining is used to determine the excess merchant inventory and demand patterns at different times and different locations for merchants and groups of merchants. Similar data mining is used to analyze cardmember demand patterns to identify the cardmember preferences regarding when and where they which to purchase goods and/or services. Cardmembers may also be grouped based on their demand patterns. Using pricing as a lever, cardholders with specific preferences are targeted to shift the demand from peak periods and locations to non-peak periods and locations, and to increase the non-peak demand by location as well as time period. Higher precision may be obtained using product level transaction data from point-of-sale terminals used by merchants wherever applicable.

Abstract: A network device in a customer premises network collects profile data for a client device of multiple client devices in the customer premises network and sends the client profile data to a remote provider network. The network device receives, from the remote provider network, a group of advertisement files for targeted advertising to the client device and stores, in a memory, the group of advertisement files. The network device detects an advertisement insertion cue in linear program content being streamed to the client device, selects an advertisement file from the stored group of advertisement files, and inserts the selected advertisement file into the linear program content being streamed to the client device.

Abstract: A method and system to schedule delivery of items of content selectively to online users are described. Expected values relating to each user being online is determined during a given time period. An ordered list of the items of content to be selectively delivered to the users is generated based on the expected values. The ordered list may be prioritized to meet delivery requirements associated with the items of content.

Abstract: A system and method to optimize the yield of a restaurant having perishable inventory is described. Through a card company, a restaurant can market incentives to make reservations during an off-peak time to enrolled card members. Offer marketing is based on stated customer preferences, and conducted via, for example, a website, email, or text message. Reservations are made, for example, via a centralized booking service. The incentive is fulfilled to the card member in a coupon-less manner. The card company receives a commission from the participating restaurant for every such sale.

Abstract: A management apparatus for managing a content display change time on a display apparatus and content information to be transmitted to a terminal determines the content information to be transmitted to the terminal on the basis of a reception time of a content information request command transmitted from the terminal and the content display change time on the display apparatus.

Abstract: An approach for enabling advertising content to be processed for use in connection with an application based on one or more policies is described. An advertising component determines one or more user interface state changes associated with one or more applications executing at a device. The advertising component then determines one or more policies for presenting advertisement information at the one or more applications, the device, or a combination thereof. Processing of the one or more policies is then performed to determine advertisement information for presentation at the one or more applications, the device, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the one or more user interface state changes.

Abstract: A method and system for storing ad campaign information and allowing ad buyers and ad sellers access to that information the method performed in a computer system having one or more processors executing a unique set of instructions stored in system memory, the method including providing an ad buyer interface to allow an ad buyer to enter ad campaign information and providing an ad seller interface to allow an ad seller to view ad campaign information and to submit a proposal to participate in an ad campaign.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for employing canonical metadata to describe advertisements comprising an advertiser storing an advertisement and arbitrarily complex metadata that is descriptive of the advertisement, which is received at a control center. At the control center, the advertisement is mapped to canonical metadata. The advertisement and canonical metadata are stored at the control center for use in discriminating between advertisements from a plurality of advertisers.

Abstract: Described techniques enable a particular user to automatically share a piece of content with a group of users. To share the content, the particular user navigates to a Website or the like to identify the desired piece of content. The particular user then chooses to share the piece of content by actuating a button, an icon, or the like displayed within the content (e.g., Web content) or displayed within the browser's toolbar. In some embodiments, the users with whom the piece of content is then shared each include the particular user within a contact list. This document also describes techniques capable of enabling the particular user to allow a third party to select and share a piece of content. In some instances, the piece of content comprises an advertisement. This piece of content may be shared with a group of users that include the particular user as a contact.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a first telephone number is associated with a second telephone number, and a web-based advertisement is served for an advertiser that includes the first telephone number. A call placed to the first telephone number is received, and the call is routed to the second telephone number based on the association of the second telephone number with the first telephone number. A determination as to whether a call-through event in response to receiving the call placed to the first telephone number has occurred, and an advertiser associated with the second telephone number is charged a cost-per-call amount if the call-through event is determined to have occurred.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for creating a program for delivery to a client in a video time shifting architecture. The system of the present comprises an advertisement selection system (ADS) operative to select one or more advertisements and transmit one or more identifiers that uniquely identify the selected advertisements and an advertisement management system (AMS) operative to generate a playlist that identifies content. The playlist includes a user requested time shifted program and the one or more selected advertisements. A video server is operative to interpret the playlist and deliver the content to the user.

Abstract: A system and method of delivering an advertisement to a target market, may comprise with at least one computing device, collecting data relating to consumer information gathering (accessing activity); analyzing the data relating to consumer information gathering, to determine a consumer interest trend; utilizing the consumer interest trend to define a target advertising market; and utilizing at least one communications channel delivering a selected advertisement related to the target advertising market to user devices within the target advertising market.

Abstract: A system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for enabling the use of an appointment-based electronic ad that restricts or grants access to electronic advertising content based upon an appointed time frame. Access to the restricted advertised content is restricted based upon whether a user is attempting to access the restricted advertised content via an appropriate appointment-based electronic ad and during the appropriate time frame. Furthermore, the system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium enables the storage, retrieval, sharing, and manipulation of appointment-based electronic ads by an individual user in order to increase the likelihood of their use.

Abstract: An inventory control system for a digital signage network is provided that uses a denormalized relational database to maintain a record of each of a plurality of screen zones for displays of the network. An inventory column in the database may be used to track scheduling assignments for each day of a calendar year. A screen zone may be given a collective duration limit that prevents assignment of media content items to that screen zone if the assignment would cause the limit to be exceeded for any of the days in the scheduling request. A screen zone may also be designated as overbookable to allow a scheduling assignment even if the limit is exceeded, or may be designated as partially bookable to allow the assignment of media content items for only those days specified in the request for which the limit would not be exceeded.

Abstract: Embodiments provide content and advertising material superdistribution. In one embodiment, a method of distributing content and advertising material may be provided. The method may include: registering members who are potential users and distributors of content; receiving, from a first member, an identifier of a second member with whom the first member has a relationship; receiving, from the first member, a selection of content to be distributed to the second member; receiving, from the first member, a selection of advertising material to be associated with the content to be distributed to the second member; and distributing the content and the advertising material to the second member.

Abstract: A radio station transmits its broadcast audio content, including audible advertisements, to listeners over the Internet via an Internet Hosting Service that provides listener access to radio station content. A computing system at the radio station digitizes the audio, and supplies marking information that identifies the beginning and duration of commercials. The digital marking information is supplied with the radio station's audio to the Internet Hosting Service. The Internet Hosting Service maintains a repository of replacement audio commercials along with information about the commercials including duration. Upon receiving the digital marker indicating the presence of a commercial, the Internet Hosting Service selects a replacement commercial of comparable duration from its repository.