Abstract: The present invention provides protocol enhancements and variations to the current state of RTB that provide additional buying methods to address the challenges associated with RTB, such as resource intensiveness for both exchanges and bidders and lack of a truly automated way of guaranteeing the win rates necessary to fulfill guaranteed campaigns with predictable risk. These methods include a) open bids that are automatically entered in future auctions in case of loss, b) buy orders for time-limited, small quantities of impressions specified either with a live auction bid response or via a separate interface, and c) guaranteed buy orders that allow impressions to be secured without a live auction in return for a premium above fair market value.

Abstract: A system for reinforcement learning in a dynamic resource environment includes at least one memory and at least one processor configured to provide an electronic resource environment comprising: a matching engine and the resource generating agent configured for: obtaining from a historical data processing task database a plurality of historical data processing tasks, each historical data processing task including respective task resource requirement data; for a historical data processing task of the plurality of historical data processing tasks, generating layers of data processing tasks wherein a first layer data processing task has an incremental variant in its resource requirement data relative to resource requirement data for a second layer data processing task; and providing the layers of data processing tasks for matching by the machine engine.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for managing resources in virtualization systems, including multi-cloud systems. The use of supply chain economics alone and in combination with other techniques offers a unified platform to integrate, optimize or improve, and automate resource management in a virtualization system. These techniques may be used to monitor and control the delivery of service level agreements and software licenses. They may also be used to monitor and control contention of computing resources in a virtualization system, and to suspend or terminate computing resources.

Abstract: There is provided systems and methods for securing an event ticket. A processing module of a server device may access a first data packet associated with a first account and a second data packet associated with a second account. A status module of the server device may determines from the first data packet a first status of the first account attempting to secure an event ticket. The status module may further determine from the second data packet a second status of the second account attempting to secure the event ticket. A device module of the server device may determine from the first data packet an identification of a client device accessing the first account. A communication module of the server device may transmit the second status of the second account to the client device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for probabilistic item matching and searching. A system including at least one processor may be configured to receive a data point relating to a specific item, generate a database query based on the data point, and receive a response to the database query. The response may include multiple candidate items relating to the specific item. The system may be further configured to receive a first input relating to the specific item and generate a probability score for at least two candidate items of the multiple candidate items in the response, based on at least the second input. The system may be further configured to select a selected item from the candidate items, based on the probability score for the selected item. The system may be further configured to output a reference to, or value representing, the selected item.

Abstract: A system for automatic product enrollment, includes: multiple visual sensors configured to capture images of a product; multiple scales configured to measure weight distribution of the product; and a computing device in communication with the visual sensors and the scales. The computing device is configured to: determine identification of the product and construct a 3D model of the product using the captured images; retrieve warehouse information of the product based on the identification; and enroll the warehouse information, the 3D model, and the weight distribution of the product into a product database. An automatic product enrollment method using the system.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards methods and systems for matching, by a demand side service, an advertisement with an impression from a plurality of impressions available across a plurality of impression opportunity providers. A demand side service executing on one or more servers may receive a request to bid for placement of an advertisement on one or more impression opportunities available across a plurality of impression opportunity providers. The demand side service may further determine an impression opportunity from the plurality of impression opportunities to bid on. In addition, the demand side service may communicate, via a network, one or more bids via an interface to an impression opportunity provider of the plurality of impression opportunity providers. The demand side service may complete a transaction to procure the impression opportunity from the impression opportunity provider responsive to a winning bid from the one or more bids.

Abstract: Techniques for secure and efficient interfacing with a cloud computing service are described. In an embodiment, a cloud computing management service is programmed or configured to communicate with a cloud computing service. The cloud computing management service can be accessed by software engineers that are looking to deploy a software instance to a computing device of the cloud computing service. Thus, the cloud computing management service acts as an intermediary layer in front of the cloud computing service. In an embodiment, the cloud computing management service may store one or more frequently-used system parameters for deployment of software instances. The parameters conform to company's security protocols, compliance protocols, and/or other standards.

Abstract: A method for matching one or more buyers with one or more sellers to facilitate trade in a marketplace provided by a service provider includes the steps of receiving a bid to sell mobile data from one or more sellers, receiving a bid to buy mobile data from one or more buyers, matching at least a portion of the bid of the one or more buyers with at least a portion of the bid of the one or more sellers based on: a revenue maximization function to maximize the service provider's revenue based on a relationship between administration revenue and bid revenue, facilitating a transfer of the mobile data from the one or more seller to the one or more buyer, following the matching of the one or more buyers with the one or more sellers, through the service provider.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are disclosed for regulating access of consumers (e.g., applications, containers, or VMs) to resources and services (e.g., storage). In one embodiment, this regulation occurs through the movement of consumers between different providers of a resource or service, such as a cloud service provider. Moving consumers includes, for example, determining the cost of moving the consumer from a first provider to a second provider. According to various embodiments, the cost of moving the consumer is compared to cost and performance criteria associated with moving the consumer from the first provider to the second provider. Cloud-based services may be priced as templates, reserved instances, or a combination.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to provide a smart lighting infrastructure as a service for at least one of communication or analytics. An example communication node apparatus associated with a light fixture includes a sensor to detect an electronic device in proximity to the communication node apparatus. The example apparatus includes a processor to determine authorization of the electronic device to access a processing infrastructure. The example apparatus includes a communication interface to facilitate access to the infrastructure when the processor determines the electronic device is authorized. In the example apparatus, the processor is to monitor and control access to the infrastructure by the electronic device according to an access condition.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronized video logging and playback of auction activity is disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: establishing, by use of a data processor and a data network, a data connection with at least one auction site; gathering auction data and video streams from the auction site; synchronizing the video streams with corresponding auction data; presenting a user interface to a user, the user interface enabling the user to select a desired portion of the auction data; and rendering the selected portion of the auction data along with a corresponding synchronized video clip from a video stream from the auction site.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for decoupled selection of content for semi-connected electronic devices. In one embodiment, an example method may include determining a set of candidate content for presentation at a semi-connected device, the set of candidate content comprising first content and second content of at least one content campaign, determining that an impression of the first content was served while the semi-connected device was disconnected from a network, determining that the first content and the second content were eligible for presentation at a first timestamp of a first impression interaction for the impression of the first content, determining a first bid amount for the first content and a second bid amount for the second content at a second timestamp of delivery of the first content to the semi-connected device, and determining a winning bid amount for the first impression interaction using the first bid amount and the second bid amount.

Abstract: A method and device for processing a transaction based on user interaction is disclosed. The method includes providing a plurality of article icons associated with a plurality of articles. At least one icon attribute of the plurality of article icons is indicative of real-time quantity associated with the plurality of articles. The method further includes receiving a first user interaction with an article icon and, in response, displaying at least one order icon representing at least one supplier for the article. The method includes receiving a second user interaction with an order icon and, in response, establishing a communication channel between the user and a supplier associated with the order icon in response to the second user interaction with the order icon. The communication channel enables at least one of the user and the supplier to dynamically modify at least one article attribute related to the article.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide a geo-targeted online reservation system that ensures authenticity of customer devices requesting reservations by generating reservations only if threshold authentication conditions are satisfied. For example, a computing device registered with a server system receives inputs for requesting a reservation of a limited release product and for configuring the product. To authenticate the computing device, the server device transmits an electronic message to the computing device requesting the computing device to respond. A response to the message is one threshold authentication condition for generating the reservation. Upon determining that one or more threshold authentication conditions are satisfied, the server device generates a reservation for the product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for managing mobile offer records. The system may receive a query from a user including a shopping list comprising a plurality of items and a maximum price for a set of item descriptions of the shopping list. The system may identify a location of a mobile device. The system may obtain a plurality of offer records based on the location of the mobile device, the shopping list, and the maximum price. The system may normalize the plurality of offer records based on a value of the offer records. The system may rank the plurality of offer records based on the normalization.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for performing a cross platform reward exchange marketplace operation, comprising: creating a cross platform rewards account within a cross platform reward exchange marketplace; transferring a reward from a first entertainment system to the cross platform rewards account; placing the reward up for auction via the cross platform reward exchange marketplace; enabling monitoring of bids relating to the reward up for auction; accepting one of the plurality of bids relating to the reward up for auction; and, performing an exchange transaction via the cross platform reward exchange marketplace, the exchange transaction exchanging the reward up for auction and the one of the plurality of bids.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a method and system to perform product delivery interception. In one implementation, a product delivery interceptor receives, from a purchaser, a request to determine availability of a product. The product delivery interceptor identifies a recipient of the product and transmits a bid for the product for consideration by the recipient. The product delivery interceptor acquires the recipient response to the bid and conveys an instruction to reroute delivery of the product to the purchaser if the recipient response indicates acceptance of the bid.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for implementing a fault-tolerant parallel computation framework are disclosed. Execution of an application comprises execution of a plurality of processes in parallel. Process states for the processes are stored during the execution of the application. The processes use a message passing interface for exchanging messages with one other. The messages are exchanged and the process states are stored at a plurality of checkpoints during execution of the application. A final successful checkpoint is determined after the execution of the application is terminated. The final successful checkpoint represents the most recent checkpoint at which the processes exchanged messages successfully. Execution of the application is resumed from the final successful checkpoint using the process states stored at the final successful checkpoint.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to online task exchange. In one example, information related to a task automatically created based on an intent of a person is received. The task is posted to a plurality of parties that are capable of completing the task. One or more bids are received from at least some of the plurality of parties. At least one winning bid is selected from the one or more bids based on at least one criterion. Information indicative of a status as to completion of the task is received. Resource is allocated to the at least one winning bid based on the status.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for supplementing measurement results of automated analyzers is presented. The method includes obtaining, at a computer device, a result of a measurement performed by an automated analyzer, the computer device and the automated analyzer being located within a privileged computer network, obtaining a context related algorithm associated with the result of the measurement defining one or more triggering conditions and context related information from a computer device residing outside of the privileged computer network at the computer device and processing the result of the measurement by using the context related algorithm to generate a context specific supplement to the result of the measurement at the computer device.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method for top-down pricing of an in-flight deal. The method comprises receiving a first set of information relating to the in-flight deal. The in-flight deal comprises multiple services. The method comprises, for each service of the in-flight deal, selecting a corresponding set of peer deals from historical and market data based on the first set of information, and mining costs for the service from the corresponding set of peer deals. The method further comprises determining a set of price points for the in-flight deal based on each cost mined.

Abstract: Methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and natural language understanding (NLU) service device are disclosed that receive raw requests for price quotes for financial instruments from two or more different types of communication channels and via one or more communication networks. The raw requests are in two or more different formats and comprise unstructured data. The unstructured data of the raw requests is analyzed to identify key value(s) associated with the raw requests. The raw requests are then automatically transformed based on the identified key value(s) into price quote request(s) comprising structured data in particular format(s) required by pricing application(s) hosted by pricing server device(s). The price quote request(s) are output to one or more of the pricing application(s) via another one or more communication networks in order to facilitate automated pricing of the financial instruments.

Abstract: Demographic assessment of information is facilitated using targeted location oversampling. In one example, a device determines mobile devices communicatively coupled to a base station device associated with a first defined region, wherein the first defined region is relative to a defined location of interest. The device can transmit a set of instructions to the mobile devices that instruct the mobile devices to power on respective location information components configured to transmit location information. The respective location information can be configured to transmit respective global positioning system information for the mobile devices. The device can also determine which ones of the mobile devices are within a second defined region based on respective location information received from the mobile devices.

Abstract: A method to avoid margin stacking is provided. The method includes accepting at least one component on consignment from a holding party, integrating the at least one component into the product, and selling the product to the holding party.

Abstract: A bid platform for electronic commerce uses smart contracts and a distributed ledger to manage bids and offers for products. The bid platform receives a bid for a product, generates a bid event on a distributed ledger using the smart contracts, propagates the bid event to merchants using the smart contracts and the distributed ledger, receives one or more offers, generates one or more offer events on the distributed ledger using the smart contracts, propagates the one or more offer events using the smart contracts and the distributed ledger, and receives an accepted offer.

Abstract: A video-based transaction system for facilitating the transfer or provision of a transaction subject in return for payment, comprising a plurality of user devices, a transaction server for managing a transaction opportunity associated with the transaction subject, and a transaction video server adapted to stream live promotional video content to the users devices, the transaction opportunity has an offer value and an offer duration, and the transaction server progressively decrements the offer value until the offer duration expires or a buyer user submits a transaction response via one of the user devices, whereby the transaction server is adapted to refer the buyer user to a payment platform to finalize the transaction.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing feedback in an electronic sourcing system. A system is configured to receive a first optimization model whose solution represents an allocation or award of items being bid upon. The first optimization model comprises a plurality of bids and one or more allocation rules representing one or more constraints on the allocation. Subsequent to determining the optimization model is not feasible, the system is configured to compare the one or more allocation rules to a reference allocation. Subsequent to determining an allocation rule of the one or more allocation rules is in conflict with the reference allocation, system is configured to relax the allocation rule in the first optimization model to create a second optimization model, and solve the second optimization model to generate an allocation compatible with the second optimization model.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that receives at a server a first request to rebroadcast a first sponsored content item that was displayed on the social network to the first user to a second user. A second request to display at least one sponsored content item to the second user when the second user accesses an electronic document associated with the social network is received at the server. The first sponsored content item is retrieved for rebroadcast from one or more sponsored content items indicated for rebroadcast to the second user. The first sponsored content item is output to the second user of the social network in response to the second request to display and without requiring the second user to select the first sponsored content item for display.

Abstract: In an electronic bidding system and method, it is unnecessary to disclose to bidders a list of public keys matched to bid prices, and in which price secrecy may be proved. In a function of encryption of a bidding device 300, a public key is generated using a bid price and an IBE public key, based on an ID-Based Encryption (IBE) system having a bid value as an ID. IBE public key is obtained on combining a plurality of partial public keys matched to partial secret keys generated by a plural number of partial bid opening devices based on a combination condition enabling group decryption. A preset message for bidding is then encrypted. In a function of decryption of a bid opening device 400, a number of partial bid opening devices, which is in keeping with a satisfying number of the group decryption, perform calculations for decryption for winning bid value candidates, beginning from such candidate, the allowable bid value closest to the bid closing condition.

Abstract: A cross-provider health care system is provided to analyze provider health care determinations with respect to a baseline and present interactive controls for modification of the determinations. Interactive maps are provided for presenting and interacting with health care provider characteristics.

Abstract: A sensing and lighting device includes a lighting fixture comprising a light emitting diode (LED) light source. The sensing and lighting device further includes a sensor to sense the air at the sensor, and a power source. The LED light source and the sensor are powered by the power source.

Abstract: Communications are received from a transportation service provider and are parsed for data indicating capacity data. The data is then matched to a stored format for capacity data and the parsed data is extracted from the data matched to the stored format to a preferred data format, and reviewed to determine if the stored data reflects capacity indicated by the received communication. The data is then combined with preference data and performance data concerning the transportation service data and used to automatically match a demand for transportation services with the capacity to provide the transportation services.

Abstract: Provided are computer implemented methods for combining online and offline gaming, advertising, and commerce and providing free games, free products, and free services. The method may commence with receiving a buying request associated with a product from a user. The method may continue with providing an incentive to the user to play a game and receiving an indication that the user intends to play the game. In response to the indication, a payment amount associated with the game may be transferred from a user account. The payment amount associated with the game may constitute a predetermined portion of a payment amount associated with the product. The method may include receiving results of the game played by the user. Based on the results of the game, the user may be selectively provided with a discount for the product. The discount may be equal to the payment amount associated with the game.

Abstract: A method, a device, a client apparatus, and an electronic device for presenting webpages are disclosed. The method comprises: receiving webpage data; obtaining, based on page presentation-related interface information in the webpage data, corresponding interface elements of a local application; and at least partially using the interface elements of the local application to present a webpage of the webpage data. User experience can be improved according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Abstract: A building management system (BMS) including a controller having an adaptive interaction manager and an agent manager. The system further includes one or more input-output (I/O) devices, in communication with the adaptive interaction manager. The controller further including a number of BMS field devices. The I/O devices are configured to receive an input from a user, and further configured to communicate the input to the adaptive interaction manager. The agent manager is configured to determine if one or more existing software agents are capable of performing the desired action, and to automatically transmit the existing software agents to one or more of the BMS field devices based on the agent manager determining the existing software agents are capable of performing the desired action. The software agents are configured to automatically be installed in a processing circuit of the BMS field device to perform the required action.

Abstract: A computer implemented continuous dual auction system consisting of a computer, server, and a process for creating a real-time, or substantially real-time, online marketplace for the sale of goods and services. The system allows a buyer to define parameters of one or more items that the buyer wishes to purchase and place a bid on all of the items that satisfy those parameters. The system automatically takes any fees to be paid by the buyer and the seller into account for a buyer's bid and a seller's offer. The system may be accessed via a web browser or a remote application.

Abstract: A method of managing inventory allocations includes the step of receiving, in a data processing apparatus, data relating to the sale of items of inventory allocated to respective re-sellers. The date is processed to obtain data relating to sales performance of one or more of the respective re-sellers. The method includes adjusting a price for which inventory allocated to that respective re-seller is to be sold by depending on said data relating to the sales performance of the respective re-sellers and/or re-allocation inventory items from that said respective re-seller to other respective re-sellers. The invention extends to a software product and to a system.

Abstract: A computer system for managing an auction system configured to (a) transmit a starting asset price for an auction asset to the plurality of bidder computer devices; (b) monitor the plurality of bidder computer devices to detect a first accept response; (c) if a first accept response is detected, (i) determine which bidder computer device of the plurality of bidder computer devices transmitted the first accept response and set the corresponding bidder as a first bidder; (ii) transmit a reduced asset price for the auction asset to the plurality of bidder computer devices; (iii) monitor the plurality of bidder computer devices to detect a second accept response; and (iv) if a second accept response is detected, set the current reduced asset price as a final asset price.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for capacity reservation for virtualized graphics processing are disclosed. A request is received to attach a virtual GPU to a virtual compute instance. The request comprises one or more constraints. Availability information is retrieved from a data store that indicates virtual GPUs available in a provider network and matching the one or more constraints. A virtual GPU is selected from among the available virtual GPUs in the availability information. The selected virtual GPU is reserved for attachment to the virtual compute instance. The virtual compute instance is implemented using CPU resources and memory resources of a physical compute instance, the virtual GPU is implemented using a physical GPU in the provider network, and the physical GPU is accessible to the physical compute instance over a network.

Abstract: Custom creation of wall decor using a device configured to display an interactive wall art environment. The interactive wall art environment incorporates a user photo of a furnished room, including a background wall and a scaled image of the furniture in the room, and a curated layout of items displayed in proportion to the scaled image of the furniture to simulate the appearance of the wall art in the furnished room. The user can alter the wall art environment as desired, including selecting a custom wall color and a predefined image of furniture to simulate a furnished room instead of using the photo of the furnished room. The display of the interactive wall art environment includes displaying the cost of purchasing the customized items in the curated layout and linking to a shopping interface for transacting the purchase.

Abstract: A crowd pricing system and method having tier-based ratings includes a pricing table hosted on a memory. The pricing table has a plurality of pricing tiers, wherein the pricing table is correlated to at least one downloadable media item. A download popularity value is calculated based on a quantity of downloads of the at least one downloadable media item within an evaluation period, wherein a position of the at least one downloadable media item is movable between the plurality of pricing tiers based on the download popularity value, wherein position movement of the at least one downloadable media item is regulated by at least one control factor. A ratings designation is paired with each of the plurality of pricing tiers, the ratings designation having a cumulative user ratings score calculated by the processor, wherein the cumulative user ratings score provides an indication of cumulative user rating of the at least one downloadable media item.

Abstract: A computerized method comprising using hardware processor(s) for receiving, from a computerized search engine, digital input data comprising a group of relevancy score sets, where each relevancy score set comprises scores associated with computerized search terms and search field pairs found in electronic documents. Two or more statistical values are computed of the relevancy score sets, one or more of the two or more statistical values for each relevancy score set. Based on some of the two or more statistical values, some relevancy scores sets are reduced from the group to create a reduced group. The reduced group is sent to the computerized search engine for presenting a search result to a user on a computer display.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to generate audience measurement data from population sample data having incomplete demographic classifications are disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for requesting commodities/items from a plurality of competing vendors. In various embodiments, vendor information/data indicative of commodities/items offered by each vendor is received and stored, request information/data is received from a consumer indicative of the commodities/items desired, as well as any additional request parameters. The system filters the vendor information/data to identify those vendors who satisfy the request parameters, and displays a graphical user interface identifying these vendors to the consumer. The consumer may then select one or more of the identified vendors, and the system enables access to a bidding tool for each of the selected vendors to submit a detailed bid/response to provide the goods or services to the consumer. The consumer may then select one or more of the bids/responses and confirm the commodities/items requested.

Abstract: There are provided methods and systems to retrieve search result information and digital content. The system receives input information identifying a plurality of data sources from which to retrieve digital content. Next the system retrieves search result information, over the network, from the plurality of data sources based on the input information. Next the system retrieves the digital content, over the network, from at least one of the data sources based on the search result information. Finally, the system communicates digital content to a client machine.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for calculating input-output relationships using, for example, spline functions. In accordance with one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided that includes determining at least one price-volume point comprising a price and associated volume, transforming the price, and using the transformed price to calculate values along a spline function to obtain a price-volume curve weight factor. The method further includes transforming a second price, calculating values along the spline function and the first derivative of the spline function using the transformed second price to obtain a volume estimate and volume rate at the second price, and recalculating the spline function based on the calculated price-volume curve weight factor, volume estimate, volume estimate and volume rate.

Abstract: A single service proxy for requesting services from multiple different service vendors with different communication protocols. In this way, a single communication protocol can be used by a service consuming entity to request various services, through the multiple vendor proxy, from various vendors, with the multiple vendor proxy converting the requests into the communication protocol (for example, syntax) appropriate for the vendor from whom the service is being requested on behalf of the service consuming entity.

Abstract: A searching method and system based on multi-round inputs and a terminal are provided. The method comprises: acquiring search conditions input by a user in multiple searches; determining a multi-round property between at least two searches of the multiple searches; determining a search purpose of one of the search conditions, and determining that the search purpose of the one of the search conditions is a multi-round search purpose; generating search results based on the multi-round search purpose and search conditions input by the user; and ranking the generated search results, and determining and outputting an optimal search result. According to the searching method provided by the present application, a machine can understand a user's purpose under a continuous multi-round interactions by understanding the context, so that the use initiative of the user is improved.

Abstract: A method and system for making electronic payments is disclosed herein. The method for making a payment for items being purchased by a customer at a point of sale comprises acquiring and sending a payment pending notification comprising an account number of the customer and a first terminal identification number to a host system. A payment request comprising a total cost of the items, a second terminal identification number, and a control bank card number is then acquired and sent to the host system. The host system associates the customer's account in the host system with the purchase by correlating the first terminal identification number with the second terminal identification number. A payment decision using information in the customer's account is made with the host system and is sent to the point of sale, where the transaction is closed. A system configured to perform the method is also provided.