Abstract: A method includes: acquiring user characteristic data of a first user and user characteristic data of at least two second users, each of the at least two second users having a social relationship with the first user; clustering the at least two second users to obtain at least two user sets, a similarity between the user characteristic data of any two second users in each user set satisfying a similarity condition; determining first key user characteristic data corresponding to the each user set according to the user characteristic data of the second users in the each user set; and generating a user profile of the first user according to the first key user characteristic data corresponding to the each user set and the user characteristic data of the first user.

Abstract: This disclosure describes methods, non-transitory computer readable storage media, and systems that generate and present tools on an administrator user interface that can initiate a user-interaction evaluation of users' digital media proficiency and can show a snapshot of user interactions with digital content from the evaluation. For instance, the disclosed systems provide, within a graphical user interface, an option to initiate a user-interaction evaluation. Based on a selection of the option, the disclosed systems generate digital content within the social networking platform as part of the evaluation. The disclosed systems subsequently display information for the evaluation and tracking information for user interactions within the graphical user interface. In one or more portions of the graphical user interface, the disclosed systems display an evaluation dashboard including user-interaction evaluation information.

Abstract: A system is configured to receive a product feed including one or more products, receive a plurality of transaction records including one or more transactions, for each transaction, generate an attribution report, wherein the attribution report attributes each transaction to a publisher, associate a publisher with each of the one or more transactions, associate each product of the product feed with the transactions, for each of the one or more products of the product feed, generate a product profile, the product profile including one or more variables, apply a commission rule based on the one or more variables of the product profile and the attribution report, obtain an analytics report including transaction records corresponding to an associated advertisement associated with the advertiser, generate the attribution report based on the analytics report, the attribution report providing an indication associating a publisher with a completed transaction; and validate the analytics report.

Abstract: The non-linear program planner, preparation, and delivery system performs multiplatform planning and scheduling across multiple content delivery platforms. The system coordinates planning to deliver high-quality video content in a very efficient and scalable manner. The system includes automated avails and other processes that increases the accuracy of the information provided to distribution partners. The system checks on content rights and incorporates metadata structures that facilitate delivery of content to a wide range of distribution channels. The invention increases accuracy, timeliness, and efficiency of content delivered to partners and allows providers to generate revenue from online (non-linear) platforms and over the top (OTT) video services.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes using horizontal components and vertical components of a velocity vector associated with movement of an input gesture to determine a user's intended, dominant direction of movement and corresponding control function at various points during the input gesture. Thresholds may be dynamically adjusted to prevent a user from unintentionally changing control functions during the input gesture. By adjusting the sensitivity associated with changes in a direction of movement of a continuous input gesture, it can be made effectively more difficult for the user to unintentionally cause a change in control functions. In example implementations, one or more thresholds associated with changing a control function may be increased or decreased during a continuous input gesture. For example, the thresholds may be increased or decreased in proportion to an increase or decrease in a velocity vector component.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which syndication spaces for a webpage are identified, each syndication space defining a location on the webpage in which one or more content items are displayed at a client device, and each syndication space is associated with one or more attributes. One or more of the attributes are selectively displayed on the webpage at the client device.

Abstract: Performance based delivery of content to an audience member. A network of audience member information collection domains provide information about audience members. A profiled audience member may belong to a network segment. Delivery of an advertisement to the profiled audience member is accommodated based upon membership in the network segment and performance criteria. The performance criteria may be configured to benefit a publisher, such as by maximizing revenue. Allocating revenue based upon the collection of data used to target audience members is also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for interstitial content item revenue sharing. In one aspect, a method includes identifying an interstitial content item that was presented during a particular device session; identifying two or more participating resources that were requested during the particular device session; determining that two or more different participating publishers are associated with the two or more participating resources, each participating publisher being a publisher that has been approved to receive revenue for presentation of interstitial content items; and assigning a revenue share value to each of the two or more participating publishers, each revenue share value specifying a portion of interstitial revenue that the participating publisher is allocated for display of the interstitial content item.

Abstract: Method and server system for providing configurable variable revenue sharing in online commerce are disclosed. The method includes: receiving a revenue sharing configuration for each promoter in a promotion chain; receiving a purchase notification for a sale of a respective merchandise established by a respective one of the promoters in the promotion chain; identifying the respective revenue sharing configurations of the respective one of the promoters and all other promoters above the respective one of the promoters in the promotion chain; and distributing payment received for the sale among the respective one of the promoters and all the other promoters above the respective one of the promoters in the promotion chain.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to provide communication connections for partners based on communication references assigned to entities maintained by the partners. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving from a partner contact information of an entity; providing the partner with a real-time communication reference usable to at least initiate a request for a communication connection; and in response to receiving a request initiated via the real-time communication reference, providing a real-time communication connection between a requester and the entity using the contact information received from the partner.

Abstract: Methods and system for admitting a content provider into a revenue sharing program are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a request from a content provider to participate in the revenue sharing partner program and determining whether to invite the content provider based at least in part on infraction information associated with the content provider.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a personalized meta-search method, which comprises: preestablishing an interest database; searching a keyword; extracting a use log of the keyword from the interest database; preprocessing search results returned from a search engine; calculating, by using the use log, interests of the preprocessed search results and of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) in the interest database corresponding to the searched keyword; ranking, based on calculated results, and displaying the preprocessed search results and the URLs; updating the interest database. An application terminal for personalized meta-search is also disclosed. The method and the application terminal enable users to obtain more targeted and more satisfactory search results, thereof improving user experience.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing distribution and retrieval of data (for example advertising content and viewing statistics) and insertion of control logic (for example display of advertising content) into pre-existing mobile applications. In some arrangements the method includes analyzing the pre-existing application in the context of the target platform and the desired placement of new content, and instrumenting the application to support the addition of the new content. The instrumenting process can include modification of the application to support one or more of features selected from a group comprising user identification, usage tracking, bi-directional communication with an advertising server, and displaying advertising content. The analysis and instrumenting process can be applied in a just-in-time fashion during application download. In some arrangements, a portal application can be provided to reside on the mobile device for managing communications with an advertising server.

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

Abstract: An online social network or webpage that allows users to create accounts with a corresponding user page and compensates the users based upon traffic that views the posted content or referrals from the user page. The amount of compensation a user account receives is displayed on the user page, encouraging other users to maintain their own user pages, constantly strive to discover interesting content, and strive for large number of followers in order to similarly obtain compensation. A trust rating is generated and displayed on each user page to reduce fraudulent links and users with spam or negative intent. A user can upgrade to a premium account, allowing advertisers to bid for advertising space upon their user page. Statistical data is generated for each user page and is available to advertisers for aiding in the selection of user pages of most interest to those advertisers for bidding on advertising space.

Abstract: An intermediary platform and method for connecting community groups with sponsors. Club information and membership information is obtained for a club. That information is analyzed to identify demographic and geographic characteristics of the membership. Those characteristics are matched against a pool of sponsors to identify a subset of possible sponsors. A sponsor website is created that is unique to the particular club including paid advertising from advertisers from the subset that agree to advertise on the club's sponsor site. Revenue from the advertising is shared with the club. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a multi-level marketing program on the Internet are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes associating a merchandiser with the first entity based on received first information, determining a first association chain for the first entity, determining a sales amount for the first entity based on the first association chain, determining a commission payment from the merchandiser to the first entity based on the sales amount, receiving, via the electronic device, second information associated with a second entity from the computer network, and using the second information to form a second association chain between the second entity and the first entity, associating purchases made by the second entity from the merchandiser with the first entity based on the second association chain, and generating, over the computer network, a commission payment to the first entity based on the associated purchases.

Abstract: A profit redistribution device, profit redistribution method, program storage medium, profit redistribution system, content providing device, content providing method, program storage media, and content providing system are disclosed. Profit redistribution processing is performed according to the accumulated points proportionate to the number of times the content with a commercial video is provided to a client PC. Thus, a fair profit redistribution can be easily performed. A preset content with a commercial video is provided to a user when requested from the client PC, and it is possible to provide advertisement information without the user being aware of the commercial.

Abstract: This specification describes technologies relating to selection and delivery of online content. One aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include determining a share fraction based on a received reserve price and based in part on a distribution of past bids for content inventory units in one or more content slots provided by a publisher. The methods may further include determining a second reserve price based in part on the received reserve price and based in part on a distribution of past bids for content inventory units in one or more content slots provided by the publisher. The methods may further include receiving one or more bids for the content inventory unit and allocating the content inventory unit to a buyer based in part on the one or more bids and the second reserve price.

Abstract: An information providing device can provide an arrangement, in addition to conventional affiliate programs, through which affiliators or the like can get rewards. In the information providing device, when a user of a terminal device specifies an advertisement display area, a partial area including a position specified in the advertisement display area is specified such that a reward is paid to the user allocated to the partial area.

Abstract: In a system where e-mail content is monetized based on content, a computer method includes scanning an e-mail for targeted keywords associated with advertiser bids for advertisement and detecting the keywords using an e-mail server, determining at least one advertisement associated with at least one of the detected keyword having a highest advertiser bid, creating an advertisement in the e-mail based on the at least one advertisement, sending the e-mail to a recipient, receiving a payment corresponding to a click on the advertisement, and sending at least part of the payment to a user which sent the e-mail, wherein the created advertisement includes a uniform resource locator, and wherein the payment is split between an operator of the e-mail server and the user which sent the e-mail.

Abstract: A method and system for verifying inventory splits is disclosed. A server retrieves from a memory a first inventory policy provided by a first content provider. The server retrieves from the memory a second inventory policy provided by the second content provider. The server verifies that the first inventory policy and the second inventory policy are in agreement for at least one stipulation pertaining to a percentage of compensation to the first content provider for inventory owned by the first content provider and played by the second content provider. The server transmits the first inventory policy to a placement opportunity information service (POIS) communicatively connected to the second content provider. The server transmits the second inventory policy to a placement opportunity information service (POIS) communicatively connected to the first content provider.

Abstract: System of subsidized phone calls, is essentially a system (S) made possible by means of telecommunication networks in general to be used with great efficiency, using the existent technical resources that, organized of new way, allows the execution of calls with part or all of the chargeable time subsidized by a sponsor through the sending of advertising and/or institutional messages to the calling subscriber.

Abstract: A method for attributing revenue for embedded software. The method includes the first step of determining the presence of more than one type of embedded software on a given client site. Then, the process assigns priority based on the length of time each type has resided on the client system and the source of each type, followed by classifying each software type, based on the history of present and predecessor copies of the software. A distribution factor is applied to each software type, based on priority and classification, partner revenue is distributed based on the distribution factor applied to each software type.

Abstract: Systems and methods for allowing users to create objects for a particular area of interest(s) on a social networking system through one or more web-based templates, and allowing such users to share in profits generated from the creation of such objects. A plurality of resource objects are maintained on a social networking system. One or more web-based templates are provided on a communications device of a host or partner for generation of resource objects. The web-based templates allow customization of real-time interface components displayed to end-users. The social networking system provides access of resource objects to end-users through the one or more real-time interface components. The social networking system determines profits generated for the resource objects, and determines the amount payable to the host creating the resource object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the creation and management of rules for the governance of revenue sharing are disclosed herein. Generally, the system and methods generate, based on a publisher's input, at least one financial term override object. The financial term override object comprises a set of rules that override a default set of rules to govern how revenue is divided between a partner and a publisher when a supplemental content object is displayed by a partner. The financial term override object is stored in a database. After storing the financial term override object, the financial term override object is associated with the publisher and the partner. A revenue shared owed to the partner is then calculated based on the override set of rules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a premium advertising cost-sharing matching method, system, and advertising gift, which provides an advertising gift supplier and the advertisers to choose to share an advertising gift with other advertisers for advertising their own advertisement on said advertising gift and sharing an advertising cost.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which syndication spaces for a webpage are identified, each syndication space defining a location on the webpage in which one or more content items are displayed at a client device, and each content item associated with one or more campaign attributes. Display data is generated that causes each syndication space to selectively display a visual indication of one or more of the campaign attributes on the webpage at the client device.

Abstract: Large groups of Web ads may, at least in part, be approved automatically. A subset of a group of ads is selected, and a manual review process is used to determine which ads in the subset are not acceptable, and perhaps the reasons for the disapprovals. A distrust score may then be determined using the ads in the subset that were disapproved. The distrust score may also use the reasons for disapproval. The distrust score may then be compared with a predetermined threshold. If the distrust score is less than the threshold, the ads in the group may be accepted. If the distrust score is equal to or greater than the threshold, the ad group is not automatically accepted.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods operable by computing device having one or more applications configured to perform functions based on a received verbal input. The method may comprise receiving a verbal input, obtaining one or more textual phrases corresponding to the received verbal input, and providing the one or more textual phrases to an appropriate application on the computing device. The method may further comprise accumulating data on the one or more textual phrases. The data comprises at least a count of a number of times a particular textual phrase is obtained based on a given received verbal input. Based on the count exceeding a threshold, the method may further comprise providing a query corresponding to the textual phrase, where the query is usable to search an advertisement database for one or more advertisements relating to the textual phrase.

Abstract: The invention provides consumers with the services of multiple cards or accounts while allowing consumers to carry a single card, transponder, code and/or other access device. Because the card may access combined services such as financial transaction services and transportation services, the system may facilitate charging the financial account for the transportation services. The system may allow the consumer to use loyalty points or geographic based loyalty points to pay for the transportation services. The system may also limit the use of certain loyalty points based upon the geographic area for certain transportation services in certain geographic areas.

Abstract: For a multi-party online advertising exchange including advertising and publishing entities and one or more third party participants, the disclosed systems and methods enable third party participation in arbitrage opportunities in online advertising transactions. A plurality of underlying transaction details are abstracted and provided to the third party participants without loss of generalization and while preserving relationships in the transaction data, to enable a third party share risk in advertising transactions. Various system refinements are provided and disclosed according to a host of optional embodiments.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes generating content-based keywords based on content generated by users of a social network. The method includes labeling nodes comprising user nodes, which are representations of the users, with advertising labels comprising content-based keywords that coincide with advertiser-selected keywords that are based on one or more terms specified by an advertiser. The method also includes outputting, for each node, weights for the advertising labels based on weights of advertising labels associated with neighboring nodes, which are related to the node by a relationship.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system and program product for the owners (also known as “subscribers”) of communication devices such as smart TVs, computers, notebooks, mobile phones and tablets, to auction, rent or lease parts or all of their device display screens where advertisers can bid to display advertisements directly or through advertising providers. The device display screen auction, rental or lease can be based on timeslot such as a number of seconds, minutes, hours and days. In addition, subscribers may define selection criteria such as countries, languages, categories, personal interests, device locations and other meta-data to filter out advertisements for displays on their devices. The advertisement revenues on device display screens of communication devices are shared among subscribers, advertising providers and related third party partners based on contracts or agreements.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system and method embodiments for streaming media. An embodiment operates by receiving, at at least one computing device, a request for media from a viewer. At least one program is identified in which at least a portion of the media is available. A presentation is generated to identify the at least the portion of the media based on the at least one program and at least one order, wherein the order comprises at least one order component associated with the at least one program. The embodiment further includes dynamically generating an identification of an advertising clip for the presentation and then transmitting the presentation to the viewer.

Abstract: For a multi-party advertising exchange, including publishing entities and advertising entities from disparate advertising networks, which facilitates transactions for publishing inventory, a value add broker is provided to aggregate information from third parties having valuable information for input to the exchange or to perform services that are valuable to transactions in the exchange. The valuable information or services further facilitate the transactions for the publishing inventory automatically generating a benefit for the third parties providing the valuable information or services commensurate with the value added to the transactions.

Abstract: The system and method for streaming media to a viewer and managing the media comprises an enhanced service routing processor (ESRP), a real time switch management system (RTSMS), a name routing processor (NRP), and a managed media switch (MMS). The RTSMS has a reservation system. The ESRP receives media from an owner, manages the media according to media rules and order rules defined by the owner, and distributes the media to one or more switches, such as the MMS, according to the media rules and the order rules. The RTSMS is configured to receive the media rules and to receive a viewer's media request via the reservation server. The reservation system of the RTSMS processes the media request according to the media rules and builds a reservation for the requested media. The RTSMS generates the reservation to the viewer and to the NRP. The NRP receives the reservation data from the viewer and from the RTSMS. The NRP processes the reservation data and locates an MMS that can stream the media to the viewer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to present information to sellers/advertisers/advisors for connections to customers for real time communications. One embodiment includes: responsive to a request from a customer, determining a telephonic reference of the customer; presenting to at least one entity an option to be connected to the customer; responsive to a first entity selecting the option, initiating a telephonic connection to the customer using the determined telephonic reference of the customer to provide a telephonic connection between the customer and the first entity; and charging the first entity a fee for a lead to the customer in response to establishing the telephonic connection between the customer and the first entity.

Abstract: Techniques are described for incorporating advertisements into content in a content retrieval application. Embodiments receive a request to view content retrieved from source content containing one or more advertisements. In response to receiving the request, a timer is initiated. The timer is configured to expire after a period of time has elapsed. Embodiments determining whether to display any of the one or more advertisements, based upon whether the timer has expired.

Abstract: A method of providing advertising from a central database server connected to a global computer network to distributed sites via interactive television. A representative icon is presented to a subscriber on a television screen indicating an advertisement. When a the icon is selected, an advertisement information detail is retrieved from storage in a local memory, or from the central database server and presented to the subscriber on the television screen.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns reward points from a plurality of independent reward points issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned reward points in a user reward point account stored on a multi-function card (such as a frequent flyer account or a credit card loyalty account). The multi-function card is adapted to aggregate some or all of the user's earned reward points from the reward accounts and credit the aggregated points into a single reward exchange account on the multi-function card. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated reward points from the multi-function card. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the reward points from the multi-function card.

Abstract: A method of providing advertising from a central database server connected to a global computer network to distributed sites via interactive television. A representative icon is presented to a subscriber on a television screen indicating an advertisement. When a the icon is selected, an advertisement information detail is retrieved from storage in a local memory, or from the central database server and presented to the subscriber on the television screen.

Abstract: A bid for a content slot from a content provider is received. The bid includes a revenue-sharing bid. It is determined that the bid is a winning bid and content is presented from the content provider in the content slot. Presentation details are logged that include a time when the content was presented. At a later time, an indication is received of an action, the indication including an indication that the action is responsive to the content having been presented previously. Based on the action, the content provider is charged an appropriate amount based on the revenue sharing bid.

Abstract: A system for providing relationship management in an auction environment can include a relationship management system and an auction system. The relationship management system and the auction system are communicatively coupled to one another. The relationship management system is configured to provide a relationship management function in conjunction with access to the auction system.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method for generating revenue utilizing a referendum service provider to provide referendums through interfaces. Each referendum includes two answers, one of which is to be selected by a user. The referendum service provider receives and stores a first token generated as a result of a request for a referendum to be displayed on the interface. The referendum service provider responds to the request by sending a referendum to be displayed on the interface. This is followed by the user selecting one of the two answers presented to the user. A second token generated as a result of the selection of one of the two answers is sent with the answer to the referendum service provider. The second token is then compared to the first token to produce a result, wherein if the result indicates a match, the referendum service provider is compensated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for publishers to barter advertisement space inventory and advertisements with other publishers by transmitting an advertisement from a first publisher for display on available advertisement space inventory of a second publisher, where the advertisement is transmitted to the second publisher in exchange for credits of the first publisher previously earned for displaying other advertisements for other publishers. An advertisement and a bid amount are received from a first publisher, and an identification of an available advertisement space inventory is received from a second publisher. The advertisement is matched with the available inventory. A credit amount for the first publisher is deducted based on monitored performance of the advertisement displayed by the second publisher, and a credit amount for the second publisher is added based on the monitored performance of the advertisement displayed by the second publisher.

Abstract: Techniques are described for incorporating advertisements into content in a content retrieval application. Embodiments receive a request to view content retrieved from source content containing one or more advertisements. In response to receiving the request, a timer is initiated. The timer is configured to expire after a period of time has elapsed. Embodiments determining whether to display any of the one or more advertisements, based upon whether the timer has expired.

Abstract: Content uploaded to a video distribution service is analyzed to determine if a portion matches part of any reference work. If a match is found, treatment of the uploaded content is determined based on stored rule data, and based on one or more factors. These factors can include, e.g., the length of the matching portion, the part of the reference work from which the matching portion was apparently copied, the confidence of the match, the popularity of the uploaded content (or of the reference work), the geography from which the content was uploaded (or the geography to which it is to be downloaded), etc. Further determinations may be made by human evaluators (including crowd-source approaches). A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: An improved processing system for tracking commerce on the Internet provides for subvariable processing and includes web page scanning to discern fraud or improper content to insure proper promotion of select products within the network environment.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of an email service or system that derives revenues from advertisements displayed on the user interface of an email client, wherein at least a portion of any advertising revenues derived from the user's use of the email client are donated to a charity of the user's choice.