Abstract: A device receives, from a user device, a request for qualified offers for a particular customer, and retrieves, based on the request, profile information associated with the particular customer. The device generates a call to a backend database based on the profile information, and receives, from the backend database, offer qualification indicators based on the call. The device determines qualified offers based on the offer qualification indicators, and provides the qualified offers to the user device for display.

Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, a system and related method of determining group preferences from a group of end-users and targeting an advertisement to the end-users based on the group preferences is provided. The method includes electronically collecting information from electronic devices of the end-users; determining an overall preference of the plurality of end-users based on the collected information; and transmitting an advertisement to the electronic devices of the end-users based on the determination of the overall preference.

Abstract: An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity.

Abstract: Described herein are interpersonal electronic advertising systems and methods that compensate a first person who suggests or selects electronic advertisements for another person. The first person selects or suggests an electronic ad for an intended recipient. The interpersonal advertising systems and methods receive the electronic ad input from the suggester, and send an electronic advertisement to the intended recipient. When the recipient activates the advertisement, the interpersonal electronic advertising systems and methods attribute compensation to the suggester.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that facilitate interpersonal electronic advertising. An intended recipient of an electronic advertisement gives consumer information relating to a potential consumer transaction to an electronic advertisement suggester. The suggester then selects or suggests an electronic ad for the intended recipient. The suggester input relates to the consumer information and helps determine the ad. The interpersonal advertising systems and methods receive the electronic ad input from the suggester. The systems and methods then send the electronic ad to the intended recipient. Activating the electronic ad, such as when the recipient purchases a product or service related to the ad, may lead to compensation for the suggester.

Abstract: A system and method to provide financial products throughout the life of a customer. The present invention determines the life status of a customer. The life status is determined by analyzing the customer information from a variety of sources. This information is filtered or inputted into an algorithmic model to identify appropriate financial products to offer to the customer. In addition, the customer's creditworthiness is used to determine or optimize the financial product offered to the customer.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that facilitate interpersonal electronic advertising. An intended recipient of an electronic advertisement gives consumer information relating to a potential consumer transaction to an electronic advertisement suggester. The suggester then selects or suggests an electronic ad for the intended recipient. The suggester input relates to the consumer information and helps determine the ad. The interpersonal advertising systems and methods receive the electronic ad input from the suggester. The systems and methods then send the electronic ad to the intended recipient. Activating the electronic ad, such as when the recipient purchases a product or service related to the ad, may lead to compensation for the suggester.

Abstract: An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity.

Abstract: How can one be sure that marketing ads displayed on a PC are seen by the end user and not blocked by any internet pop-up blocker? How can one distribute prompt messages across an enterprise network without using email or internet explorer pop-ups? The desktop ads and messages display process concerns displaying ads of messages on the end user's desktop, detecting end user activity, and responding the various local events on the PC. The process will allow marketing ads to run on a computer without using internet pop-up windows. It will also allow display ads based on contextual information, like specific time of day or a specific PC end user action.

Abstract: A computing device may be configured to allow a shopper to interact with one or more displays in a retail environment. A perception device may detect human actions in the retail environment and the shopper may be able to use human movements to navigate through retail data and have it displayed on the display device in the retail environment.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that facilitate interpersonal electronic advertising. An intended recipient of an electronic advertisement gives consumer information relating to a potential consumer transaction to an electronic advertisement suggester. The suggester then selects or suggests an electronic ad for the intended recipient. The suggester input relates to the consumer information and helps determine the ad. The interpersonal advertising systems and methods receive the electronic ad input from the suggester. The systems and methods then send the electronic ad to the intended recipient. Activating the electronic ad, such as when the recipient purchases a product or service related to the ad, may lead to compensation for the suggester.

Abstract: A computer system for providing an offer on a web page to a user comprises a memory and a processing circuit. The memory is configured store user registration data and user attribute data for a user registered to use a web site. The processing circuit is configured to receive a request from a client device to access a web page on the web site. The request is received during a session in which the registered user is not logged in to the web site. The processing circuit is configured to receive an anonymous user ID for the user, to match the anonymous ID with the user registration data for the registered user, to select an offer for the user based on user attribute data for the registered user, and to transmit the offer to the client device.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, an implicit social graph may be generated using eye-tracking data. Eye-tracking data associated with a visual component may be received from a user device. One or more attributes may be associated with a user of the user device based on the association between the eye-tracking data and the visual component. Based on these attributes, an implicit social graph may be generated. A suggestion, such as a suggestion of another user, a product, an offer, or a targeted advertisement may be provided to the user.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for providing dedicated television advertisements based on speech recognition of telephone conversations. The home user makes telephone calls using a landline, cellular phone or VoIP phone. The user may also be watching TV. While doing so, the user is able to see advertisements on part or all of his TV screen, based on words and phrases he may have used during his telephone conversation(s). The system and method may be provided by a triple play or quad play service provider which associates its users' telephone calls with TV advertising. Once the user sees the advertisement he can get more information concerning the advertisement by clicking on it with a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or TV remote control, or by using any other navigation method the TV system provides, to see additional details concerning the advertisements.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a dynamic savings allocation account. The dynamic savings allocation account includes customer-defined savings categories within the account that act as sub-accounts. The customer may create savings categories and set parameters such as the goal amount to be reached, the time to reach the goal, how much or what percentage to be allocated to each category per deposit, etc. As the customer deposits funds into the dynamic savings allocation account, the deposit is automatically allocated to each savings category as defined by the customer. As goals are reached, customers may opt to take advantage of group purchasing benefits offered by the financial institution for some in-demand items. Alternatively, the financial institution, in partnering with third-party vendors may perform targeted sales campaigns.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating promotional offers by registering an electronic device with a server, activating a promotional offer stored on the server, receiving location information of the electronic device by the server over a network, determining the electronic device is to receive the promotional offer based upon the received location information, sending the promotional offer from the server to the electronic device over the network, sending a positive response to the promotional offer from the electronic device, over the network, and to the server, and sending a confirmation of the positive response from the server, over the network, and to the electronic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring various physiological and environmental factors, as well as systems and methods for using this information for a plurality of useful purposes, are provided. Real-time, noninvasive health and environmental monitors include a plurality of compact sensors integrated within small, low-profile devices. Physiological and environmental data is collected and wirelessly transmitted into a wireless network, where the data is stored and/or processed. This information is then used to support a variety of useful methods, such as clinical trials, marketing studies, biofeedback, entertainment, and others.

Abstract: The present disclosure selectively blocks advertisements to a user based upon recent purchases of the user. The selectively blocked advertisements may be chosen from a group of advertisements chosen for the user based upon monitored behaviour of the user.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for customizing content for presentation via a social or business networking service. In some examples, a method may involve an automated mechanism for identifying a plurality of members (e.g., member profiles) to indicate a particular skill possessed by the respective members. Next, the method may involve ranking the plurality of tagged members relative to one another based on a calculated skill level of the particular skill using a computer processor and generating customization information based upon member profile information in the member profiles of the plurality of members with the particular skill and the rankings of the members who possess the particular skill and causing the customization information to be delivered to one of the plurality of members with a particular skill.

Abstract: Methods and computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that facilitate classifying user intent with respect to an entity using intent-strength scores. A user query indicating a particular entity is received. The user's intent with respect to the particular entity is determined by assigning an intent-strength score to the user. The user's intent-strength score is determined using intent-strength scores assigned to seed patterns identified for entities in a category, as well as the received user query. In embodiments, a user's intent-strength score may be updated based on a subsequent query, or may be changed according to a function. A list of users having particular intent-strength scores for particular entities may be also be generated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a mobile video blog (vlog) service in a communication network are disclosed. For example, the method captures video content sourced from a mobile device used by a mobile user through a mobile vlog posting service portal, and provides a vlog viewing function accessible to a viewer through a vlog viewing service portal, wherein the vlog viewing function affords viewing of the video content and is provided in accordance with a user profile of the viewer, wherein the user profile comprises a viewing preference of the viewer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method use client information to automatically select products appropriate for the client. According to one aspect of the invention, client information, information about the products, ancillary data, and decision criteria pertaining to selection from among the products are stored in a storage device Decision-making logic circuitry use the stored data to select the products. An output device prepares a client communication identifying the selected products and incorporates a portion of the client information and a portion of the product information into the client communication.

Abstract: In a method for matching a consumer to available benefits, enabling organization information pertaining to an enabling organization to which the consumer is affiliated is received. Consumer information is also received, including consumer identification information for identifying the consumer and consumer interest data for identifying an interest of the consumer. Benefit information is provided pertaining to an offered benefit. In a memory, the consumer information, enabling organization information, and benefit information are stored. The consumer interest data, enabling organization information and benefit information are analyzed automatically to determine whether any enabling organization to which the consumer is affiliated is offering an applicable benefit. A message is displayed to inform the consumer of first and second available benefits. The first and second available benefits are offered by first and second enabling organizations, respectively.

Abstract: The current invention allows the distribution of content material to and from digital tuner. The advertising medium also provides royalty to the content material owners for the users “use” of content.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for direct marketing comprising establishing a first communications link between a prospective customer using a device having a unique identification number and a communications device, automatically transmitting the unique identification number associated with the prospective customer's device to the communications device, establishing a second communications link between the communication device and a computer operably connected to a tangible memory apparatus having a prospective customer database comprising prospective customer information associated with the unique identification number of the prospective customer's device.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product is provided that automatically selects certain user segments for and excludes certain user segments from receiving online advertisements (“ads”) via various publisher Web sites included within an online ad network. By automatically determining which user segments should be targeted for the delivery of online ads on each publisher Web site, an embodiment of the present invention can advantageously increase the performance of the online ad network while reducing the amount of cost, time and potential errors involved in managing the network.

Abstract: A system for automatically preparing customized replies in response to communications from a plurality of clients. To facilitate automation and tracking, each original communication to the client (or each original response from the client) is tagged with a unique label, and replies to client responses are each correspondingly labeled. The system provides individualized replies to each of a variety of response options that a client might exercise in response to a received communication, whether an original communication or a reply to a previous response. The system is applicable to mass marketing communications, and is particularly well suited to the generation of personalized replies to each and every one of a multitude (tens of thousands and up to millions) of communications from clients. The system is also capable of continuing to generate replies to follow-up responses from clients and to thereby maintain an ongoing “conversation” until the client makes a purchase decision, or no longer responds.

Abstract: An email message system with email strategy templates for use on a network is disclosed. A subscriber profile record includes an email address, a demographic, and status information for that subscriber's actions with prior emails or other events. Templates are provided with a predefined segment of the profile data that defines an initial audience for the marketing campaign, a first and second template with default title and content and a sending rule setting a delay between emails based on the first and the second templates. User input, profile data, and templates create a rule for sending messages to subscribers with particular status information for that subscriber's actions with prior emails. An email campaign manager sends a personalized message to at least one selected subscriber over the network based on the rule whereby, the selected subscriber receives the message as a result of having particular status for actions with prior emails.

Abstract: Systems and methods of managing a profile of a user of at least one device having access to electronic content. The systems and methods may involve receiving a user identifier for a user of at least one device configured to access electronic content; storing a profile of the user in a memory, where the profile of the user comprises the user identifier; if a user activity meets at least one event definition, identifying the user activity as an event; receiving data associated with the event; and recording at least a portion of the data associated with the event in the profile of the user.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for archiving and retrieving data related to a users goals are described. Embodiments include receiving information related to the users goal, displaying a visual affirmation of the user's goal, receiving symbolualgraphic data, storing user data that includes the received information, the visual affirmation, and the symbolualgraphic data, for further action, and displaying a resource related to archiving the user's goal.

Abstract: The server of a communication system determines a communication growth level that is the level of growth of communication between one user and another user based on the cumulative count of mail send/receive events, and stores the determined growth level in the communication growth level Data Base. When the server receives a profile view request to view the profile of user A from the terminal of user B, the server determines the range of profile information to be opened for user B out of the profile of user A, based on the communication growth level of the pair of user A and user B stored in the communication growth level Data Base.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically generating event relevant marketing devices whereby events data is obtained from one or more sources that indicates upcoming events of interest to a merchant. Offer data to be associated with a marketing device is obtained from the merchant. The offer data, and/or the merchant submitting the offer data, indicates the merchant, and/or services offered by merchant, and/or products offered by merchant. The offer data is then mapped to one or more event types using a merchant/product/service type-to-event type mapping system and the events data is searched to identify a relevant event represented by the events data that is of the event type mapped to the offer data. The offer data and the portion of the events data representing the identified relevant event is then “matched” and used to automatically generate one or more event relevant marketing devices that include at least part of the matched offer data and at least part of the matched relevant event data.

Abstract: In general, this specification relates to content presentation. The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, methods that include the actions of receiving a group of content items at a user device, the content items configured for presentation to a user in association with other content, each content item of the group of content items including metadata associated with the content item; identifying a request from an application of the user device to present a content item in association with particular content; selecting, using one or more processors, a content item from the group of content items using the metadata for the content items along with local targeting information; and presenting the selected content item.

Abstract: A method and system for streamlining social media marketing continuous activities are provided for finding Potential Friends (PFs) on various social media avenues, gathering information about PFs' interests and activities on an going basis, creating attractive presences (APs) on various social media sites, befriending with PFs to turn them in Actual Friends (AFs), conversing with AFs to foster the relationship with them, creating Social Campaigns (SCs) to promote Desired Items (DIs), running SCs with the help of AFs, and measuring results of SCs and overall progress.

Abstract: The spend capacity of a consumer typically increases as the number of consumers in the household increases, since the consumer can draw on the spending power of other consumers in the household. The size of wallet of the household is thus a better indicator of the consumer's spend capacity than an individual size of wallet. All consumers in a given household can be aggregated based on, for example, their address of record. Duplicate tradelines within each household are removed from consideration in a size of wallet estimate. A spend capacity is then estimated for each tradeline using calculations derived from a consumer behavior model. The spend capacities for all tradelines in the household are combined to determine a household size of wallet.

Abstract: To distribute advertisements to interested audiences, each of a plurality of users is enabled to create a respective personalized attractor. The personalized attractors are used to learn fields of interest of the users, and the advertisements are distributed according to the attractors' fields of interest. The system that does this includes: a storage medium for storing program code for enabling the users to create the personalized attractors, for using the personalized attractors to learn the fields of interest of the users and for distributing advertisements according to the learned fields of interest. The system also includes a processor for executing the program code, and network interfaces for receiving inputs from the users for creating said personalized attractors, for sending the advertisements to the users and for receiving the advertisements from advertisers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a local device with computing services are disclosed. One embodiment includes, identifying one or more file types of files stored on the local device which is not associated with a local application that is installed on the local device and detecting a request to access a file stored on the local device having one of the one or more file types. The remote host can generate an offer to provide access to a remote application which is able to open the file for a fee such that the file is accessible via the local device. A selected service model can determine the fee and whether the remote application is provided for use by the local device when offline.

Abstract: A GPS-based energy management system for a home network is provided that includes a plurality of energy consuming devices. The system comprises a central controller operatively connected to each energy consuming device, and one or more GPS-enabled devices configured to communicate with the central controller. The central controller is programmed to modify the behavior of the energy consuming devices based on the location of at least one member of a home network.

Abstract: Each user of the social network is prompted to list their favorite products (i.e., cell phones, computers, movies, cars, groceries, and others), services (i.e., accounting, carpet cleaning, legal, medical, landscaping, and others), people (i.e., celebrities, executives, consultants, specialist, and other people), and organizations (any business, non-profit organizations, and others). The data is then available for the member and other associated members to view and search. Members are allowed to only list items with positive ratings. Search results are organized based on the Search Criteria specified. The System is also utilizing a generic hardware/software interface that enables communication of the information directly from the place of business (Retail Store Interface).

Abstract: An information publishing method is provided in an embodiment of the present invention, including: receiving a response message that corresponds to a user request message, wherein the response message contains Web page content; obtaining a user behavior feature; determining a publishing position in the Web page content according to the obtained user behavior feature; adding content of information to be published to the publishing position to obtain a modified response message; and sending the modified response message to a terminal for display. In addition, a network device and an information publishing system are provided accordingly in embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for updating records associated with work items within a business process workflow according to embodiments of the invention, includes the steps of processing the work items according to the business process workflow, and updating a record associated with a group of work items as the group of work items transitions from a first state to a second state within the business process workflow.

Abstract: A method and system for managing targeted placement of content on an intranet. An ad server within the intranet collects statistics summarizing anonymized intranet user attributes and securely provides the statistics to a marketplace computer outside the intranet. The marketplace computer receives an ad, parameter values, and a bid from a publisher outside the intranet. The bid is based on the statistics. The ad server receives the ad, parameter values and bid and determines the ad is acceptable for placement on an intranet page. The ad server identifies intranet users to view the ad by matching the parameter values to user attributes retrieved from intranet data repositories that are not accessible to the publisher. The ad is placed on the intranet page displayed to the identified users. Clicks and/or impressions data associated with the ad are recorded and presented to the publisher.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, are described for providing content. A method includes: receiving a request for an advertisement to be displayed in a slot associated with a third-party content site; identifying a relevant advertisement to be provided in the slot; determining information to be included in an annotation associated with the advertisement, the annotation including customized information related to a user or a group associated with the user that is to be presented along with the advertisement; providing the advertisement responsive to the request including providing the annotation along with a control for re-publishing the advertisement along with the relevant advertisement; receiving user input selecting the control and designating the advertisement for re-publishing; and targeting additional content to the user or a group associated with the user based on the received user input.

Abstract: A computing device to provide want advertisements (want ads) to a plurality of want ad responders in an online marketplace comprising a processor to execute instructions and a memory coupled with the processor. The memory stores instructions cause the processor to generate the online marketplace. The online marketplace includes a want ad responder interaction module, a want ad submitter interaction module, and a want tracker module. The want tracker module is configured to match want trackers with want ads based on details in the want ads and details in the want trackers, and automatically rank the matching want trackers. The want tracker module automatically grants marketplace privileges want ad responders having matching want trackers based, at least, on their respective want trackers' rankings, and charges a fee, that is at most an amount associated with each want tracker, to the want ad responders that were granted marketplace privileges.

Abstract: A service providing method is provided. The method for providing a wishlist service of a server includes having a wishlist uploaded by a user and updating a wishlist by communicating with a service provider that provides purchase information regarding at least one item included in the wishlist.

Abstract: A cluster of users that share a common trait may be useful to a social networking system for various purposes, such as targeting advertising. Users of a social networking system are added to a cluster based on information about each user, which may include declared profile information, user history, and/or social information. The system initially adds users to a cluster based on a selected attribute and then verifies the accuracy of the cluster by sending a poll to a subset of the users in the cluster. The poll questions test whether the users are accurately in the cluster. The system may infer a specific life event, such as a recent engagement, from other information indicative of the life event, such as messages from a user's connections related to the engagement. The system then uses the poll to verify whether the inference is accurate.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, are described for providing content to a user. A method comprises: receiving an update for publication to an activity stream associated with the user, the activity stream being produced by a social application executing on one or more server computers and being published for consumption by one or more subscribers to the social application that have been designated by the user as being authorized to receive the update; and targeting additional content to the user based on the received user update.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for real time server side per stream insertion of strategic media and per-stream delivery. In one aspect of the invention the system comprises a media server for modifying a plurality of live media sub-streams based upon the categorizations of a group of connected media clients. In a further aspect of the invention, the live source media sub-streams are modified by overlaying delimited media content segments within the plurality of sub-streams with media assets, inserting media assets into the plurality of sub-streams, removing one or more of the media content segments from the sub-streams, and adjusting encoded markers within the plurality of sub-streams to compensate for the modifications.

Abstract: An authentication apparatus outputs an application form to be used in applying for access authorization, which is printed with an identification image showing information including identification information of terminal equipment. The authentication apparatus scans the application form which is filled out by a user as required, recognizes the abovementioned information from the image data obtained by scanning, and authorizes the terminal equipment that corresponds to the abovementioned recognized information to have access to a specified network.

Abstract: A blood-alcohol content (BAC) tester for use at a facility serving alcohol. The BAC tester includes a breath-sampling unit having an air-chamber unit defining a closed position and an open position. The air-chamber unit has a first air-chamber block and a second air-chamber block, the first air-chamber block and the second air-chamber block defining an air chamber for receiving air exhaled from a user. The breath-sampling unit also includes a drive unit coupled to the second air-chamber block and an alcohol sensor. The BAC tester also includes a sensor circuit communicatively coupled to the drive unit and the alcohol sensor. The sensor circuit is configured to cause the drive unit to move the second-air chamber block relative to the first air-chamber block so as to cause the air-chamber unit to be in the closed or the open position.