Abstract: Methods and apparatus for control of vending machines by a user equipment. The methods and apparatus comprise a user device comprising an identification unit configured to obtain data identifying a vending machine from an identification unit of the vending machine. The user device further comprises a communication unit configured to query a database to obtain data relating to the content of the identified vending machine, and a user interface configured to present the obtained data to a user and to receive a user input relating to the content of the identified vending machine. The communication unit of the user device is configured to transmit to the database updated data based on the user input and relating to the content of the vending machine.

Abstract: Example systems and methods for optimally ordering recommendations or search results are described. In one implementation, a method determines a set of items as search results or candidates for recommendation. Each of the items in the set is associated with a respective first parameter representative of a measure of suitability of the respective item for recommendation. The items in the set are associated with a plurality of second parameters each of which representative of a measure of similarity between a respective one of the items and another respective one of the items. The method also determines an order in which a subset of the items is to be displayed based at least in part on the representative first parameter and the representative set of second parameters associated with the items. The method further displays the subset of the items in the determined order.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with a consumer purchase decision scoring tool are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a target identifier that identifies a target product. The example method also includes calculating a buy score for the target product.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a network device, a search key from a global search initiated at a mobile device, the network device in communication with the mobile device via a proxy operable to retrieve the search key from a packet transmitted from the mobile device, performing a search at the network device for local content associated with the search key, and transmitting the local content from the network device for display on the mobile device. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing sales or customer support using a telephone having a camera to capture at least a partial image of a product or service; wherein the at least partial image is used to select a database updated by one or more knowledgeable persons on the product or service.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining information associated with a product, service, or event. The method also includes scraping data based on the obtained information substantially concurrently from two or more web pages associated with websites that list a same product, service, or event to produce scraped data for the same product, service, or event from each corresponding web page at substantially a same time.

Abstract: An example system includes an information processing apparatus having a communication part for making communication via a network; a selling processing part for performing a process for selling product; a restart judging part for judging whether, after a process using the communication part and being included in the process performed by the selling processing part is interrupted, the interrupted process can be restarted or not; and a restarting part for restarting the process performed by the selling processing part from a predetermined point in the processing stage of the process in the case that the restart judging part judged that the process can be restarted, and a server apparatus having a communication part for making communication with the information processing apparatus via a network and a selling processing part for performing a process for selling product between the information processing apparatus and the server apparatus by using communication via the communication part.

Abstract: Various embodiments enable a computing device to perform tasks such as processing an image to recognize text or an object in an image to identify a particular product or related products associated with the text or object. In response to recognizing the text or the object as being associated with a product available for purchase from an electronic marketplace, one or more advertisements or product listings associated with the product can be displayed to the user. Accordingly, additional information for the associated product can be displayed, enabling the user to learn more about and purchase the product from the electronic marketplace through the portable computing device.

Abstract: Search terms are derived automatically from images captured by a camera equipped cell phone, PDA, or other image capturing device, submitted to a search engine to obtain information of interest, and at least a portion of the resulting information is transmitted back locally to, or nearby, the device that captured the image.

Abstract: The current invention provides systems and methods for requesting all relevant shapefiles or satellite imagery data for a parcel of land from a mobile GIS App and e-commerce web portal. The parcel of land can be designated for request by address, parcel identification, latitude and longitude coordinates, or geolocation data determined by a GPS chip set or other means resident on a handheld mobile device. The system includes a cloud computing environment for processing and storing all requested shapefiles and work flow process shapefiles. The system processing of relevant shapefiles includes rendering the shapefile for portability to multiple smart technology mobile device operating systems. In another aspect, systems and methods are described for creating and delivering concatenated shapefiles from two or more shapefiles to a mobile GIS App and e-commerce web portal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an ESL system using a smart phone and an operating method thereof. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the operating method of an ESL system using a smart phone includes listing purchase target product items and transmitting a product purchase item list through a smart phone of a user, and receiving the product purchase item list through a gateway, searching products of purchase items, and transmitting position information of each product to the smart phone, by an ESL server. The method further includes calculating an optimal path from a current position of the smart phone to a position of each product based on the position information of each product by the smart phone, and transmitting final position information of a corresponding product to the smart phone by the ESL server, when the smart phone approaches the corresponding product of a purchase target depending on a movement of the user based on the optimal path.

Abstract: A method and technology platform for electronic commerce use a software package including an interactive website. An Affiliate may access participating vendors and third-party sources to acquire information of interest, including product data, content, and website design templates.

Abstract: An online trading system for conducting trade of commercial vehicles at a dealership is disclosed. The online trading system comprises an online trading website and a vehicle database built into the website hosted on a server and managed by a commercial vehicle manager at the dealership. The vehicle database is configured to store virtual inventory including a vehicle body data and a vehicle chassis data of vehicles. The website includes an available vehicle combinations list which includes a list of all possible combinations of vehicle by using data about all available chassis types and combining this with available body models that fit each chassis. The vehicle database allows the dealership, at least one dealer, at least one buyer, a body manufacturer or distributor to access the data of the commercial vehicles via a network so as to conduct trade in a simple and efficient manner.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for providing product information to at least one media displaying device (1) having output means and a data reception unit, the at least one media displaying device being located in at least one store (10), each store (10) comprising at least one data emitting device (2), characterized in that it comprises the steps of: (a) generating, at a central back-office server (3) connected to the store data emitting unit (2), an individual glyph corresponding to each different character or symbol of the product information; (b) generating at least a display script comprising reference and position data of said glyphs in the product information; (c) transmitting the display script and the individual glyphs to the store data emitting device (2); (d) transmitting the display script to the media displaying device (1); (e) broadcasting the individual glyphs; (f) selecting and loading in the media displaying device (1) individual glyphs corresponding to the reference data comprised i

Abstract: An apparatus for providing location context data includes a location identification module, an area selection module, a data module, and a display module. The location identification module identifies one or more geographic locations from a software application. The area selection module selects, for each geographic location, a corresponding geographic area having proximity to the geographic location. The data module retrieves a rating and one or more statistics for each corresponding geographic area. The display module formats, for each identified geographic location, the rating and one or more statistics of the corresponding geographic area for display by the software application.

Abstract: A quick response information management system and method is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention provide for associating multiple alphanumeric tags into groups, and editing attributes of the tags on a group basis. Banner advertisements, quick response codes, and contact information are manageable elements that may be associated with a tag. A scheduling feature allows in-advance scheduling of temporary banner advertisements. A print scheduling feature allows convenient printing of a consumer content display corresponding to new inventory items.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically updating searches are described. In one embodiment, a first search result may be compared with a second search result to automatically identify at least one data item within the first search result that is changed relative to the second search result. The at least one data item may comprise a transaction term. A notification of the at least one data item may be transmitted to a user device.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, there is provided a method comprising providing a particular version of a site associated with an electronic marketplace, wherein the electronic marketplace offers a plurality of offerings to a plurality of regions via a plurality of versions of the site; detecting a user access to the particular version of the site; receiving a request from the user and retrieving, based on the request, a region-specific version of an offering available in the region associated with the particular version of the site; and presenting the region-specific version of the offering to the user.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for evaluating correction submissions with supporting evidence may include, subsequent to a submitter being provided with item description information for an item offered for sale, receiving a correction submission specified by the submitter. The correction submission may specify a proposed modification to an attribute(s) in the item description information. Embodiments may include generating a measure of risk associated with performing the proposed modification to the item description information. Embodiments may also include, based on an evaluation of the measure of risk and one or more risk criteria, generating an indication that specifies whether the proposed modification to the item description information is permitted to be performed. Embodiments may also include receiving information for confirming the validity of the correction submission, which may include an image (e.g., a product image), or a network address (e.g.

Abstract: A method for making purchases with a mobile device at a physical location is described. A service provider receives information about an item available for purchase, and this information is projected on a surface. A user in the vicinity of the surface views the projected information and provides input through the user's mobile device. The projected information changes based on the input. The user selects an item for purchase and pays for the selected item through the mobile device.

Abstract: Computer-assisted and location-aware sales and marketing systems help buyers and sellers of vehicles find each other when one has (and the other wants) a particular type of vehicle, and when they are in geographic proximity to each other. Extensions of the system allow agents (friends, acquaintances, employees) of the principals to increase the geographic range over which a sales match may be made. Other operational features and modes are also described and claimed.

Abstract: System, method, and computer program product embodiments for receiving customer requests use a request management system. An embodiment operates by establishing a connection with a customer's mobile device, obtaining information about the location of the customer's mobile device, providing to the customer's mobile device a set of data describing goods or services currently offered by one or more business locations, receiving from the customer's mobile device a request for a good or service offered by a particular business location, and adding the request to a queue associated with one or more groups assigned to fulfill the request based on the request type.

Abstract: Example embodiments may provide a system, apparatus, computer readable media, and/or method configured for processing input representing data associated with a first product, the first product comprising a plurality of components, processing input representing a particular one of the components, processing input representing an attribute of the particular component or of the first product, querying a product memory based on the particular component and the attribute to identify a second product.

Abstract: A buyer-initiated method, system and business model for matching parties interested in conducting an internet initiated transaction is described. Through the use of this method, a request is placed by buyer at a client server system. Sellers can receive a response to a purchaser's request via the client server system by one or more methods such as: 1) Entering a search term of at least one word, or; 2) if a seller has buyer's request, seller automatically receives notification by one or more electronic methods such as an internet communication or a telecommunication text message. Sellers may search client server's database for a buyer's request for a product or service the seller controls or owns. An escrow service is provided by the business model should clients prefer a secure transaction. The system and model of the present invention can generate revenue streams from buyers and sellers for the service provided.

Abstract: A system and method includes a database storing faults, each fault having an indicator corresponding to whether the associated fault is designated for self-maintenance. A monitoring system is in communication with the database and monitors operating parameters of an HVAC system at a customer location, detects or predicts a fault in the HVAC system, determines whether the fault is designated for self-maintenance, and communicates an alert corresponding to the fault to a customer device. When the alert received by the customer device indicates that the fault in the HVAC system is designated for self-maintenance, the customer device displays an identification of a replacement component associated with maintenance for the fault and a first interface to receive at least one of a first selection for a contractor to deliver the replacement component and a second selection for purchasing the replacement component through a commercial retailer.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to providing product information from disparate sources in an electronic product information retrieval environment. An electronic product search request can be received from a user and product specific information returned in response to the search request can be used by exemplary embodiments to programmatically constructs one or more electronic requests for information from one or more disparate data sources to retrieve inventory information, logistic information, and/or product location information corresponding the products identified in the product specific information. A graphical user interface can be generated by exemplary embodiments providing an integrated and formatted view of the product specific information, the inventory information, and the product location information for display.

Abstract: A mobile device such as a tablet computer accesses a server to search a product catalog. The catalog is displayed as a broad classifications of products, which when selected result in the display of sub-classifications within the classification. Levels of searching are provided to the product level, and movement within each level is possible.

Abstract: A method for facilitating a tour of an asset through use of a mobile computing device is provided. A user brings the mobile computing device into geographic proximity of the asset. One or more processors determine a geographic correlation between a location of the mobile computing device and a location of the asset. Based, at least in part, on the determined geographic correlation, a presentation of information relating to the asset is provided on the mobile computing device for use during an in situ tour.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program are provided to allow one or more users to try out one or more products. The method, system and computer program involve providing information on one or more products offered for sale under restricted conditions of time or quantity, obtaining a real image of an object, determining one or more features from the object image, determining a position to overlay a first product image on the object image based on the determined one or more features, overlaying the first product image on the object image based on the determined position to provide an overlaid image, and displaying the overlaid image.

Abstract: Embodiments for obtaining size and brand information for a plurality of descriptors that include item types and that are associated with user profiles. The descriptors, size, and brand information are obtained by crowdsourcing and by data mining transaction data. Low confidence machine learned data may be boosted by crowdsourcing through targeted questions. Co-occurrences among descriptors are determined and categorized. Signal strength and confidence scores are calculated for the co-occurrences. Relationships between sizes and brands for the item types are calculated and confidence factors for the relationships are calculated.

Abstract: A system according to particular embodiments is adapted for identifying a maker's mark on a particular object and to then display information regarding the maker's mark to a user. The system is configured to receive an image of a maker's mark on an object, identify the maker's mark, and then retrieve information relating to the maker's mark. Such information may include information regarding the name of a particular maker associated with the maker's mark, the time period in which the maker produced objects, the geographic area in which the maker worked or works, other types of work with which the maker is associated, valuations of works by the maker, and/or any other information related to the maker or the object.

Abstract: An e-commerce system and method for presenting product information to a viewer, where a video feed and product information associated with a product that relates to the content in the video feed can be displayed or presented to the viewer on one or more remote display devices.

Abstract: A method of presenting content to viewers in a computer network environment which includes scanning a barcode (10) with a mobile device (100), retrieving content (130) directly associated with the barcode (10), and retrieving associated proprietary content (214). The dual content is then separately displayed on said mobile device (100).

Abstract: A computer-enabled transaction system provides a list of items for purchase in response to a user request for an item. The system filters prospective items based on eligibility which includes availability of the item for purchase. Eligible items are ranked based on generated revenue per impressions wherein impressions include previous viewings of the items. The ranked, eligible items are then displayed in a list to the user with preferential displaying of the higher ranked items.

Abstract: Various forms of vehicle driving energy are provided for vehicles, such as gasoline vehicle, hybrid vehicle, ethanol vehicle, electric vehicle and fuel cell vehicle. In such circumstances, an index is desired by vehicle purchasers, which has a viewpoint on the benefit to be obtained by using an electricity storing section of a vehicle for other than running the vehicle, and with which the economic efficiencies of those vehicles can be more clearly compared/examined, in the correlation between the prices of the abovementioned vehicles using various vehicle drive energy modes, and the fuel consumption and the drive energy consumption costs thereof. To display evaluations of vehicles in various drive energy modes, by dividing a fuel efficiency numerical value by a vehicle price. In addition, to achieve a vehicle evaluation/comparison at the time of purchasing a new car, by setting a planned running distance.

Abstract: A cubicle for trying on one or more items of clothing and a method for determining a body shape are described. A cubicle includes a display of an avatar with one or more items of clothing, and an interaction unit for a user to modify the items of clothing. The method includes gathering the spatial coordinates of a plurality of points on the surface of the dressed person and body parameters that at least partly define the body shape to be determined.

Abstract: A noninstrusive system and method of scanning an object having component parts includes a vendor based data repository of component parts and a matching processor to receive a scanned image representative of the assembled object and to provide suggested and/or matched component parts for purchase from the vendor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method capable of effectively searching products in which a desired design is formed on a desired position. The method includes specifying, by a customer client, a product a customer wants to purchase, specifying a region in which a design is being inserted in the specified product and a design pattern to be inserted, displaying the search target product in which the specified design pattern is inserted on the specified design insertion position in the specified product, transmitting, by the customer client, product information of the specified product and design information including the specified design insertion position and a design pattern to the operation server, and transmitting, by the operation server, the production information and the design information to the data server, and receiving search results based on the product information and the design information to transmit the received information to the customer client.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided for assembling, and publishing, a persistent cart of products online. The cart can have products from a single vendor or a variety of different vendors. When the cart is published, various deals, discounts, and incentives can be offered. An individual who created the cart can be rewarded. A computer readable non-transitory storage medium stores instructions of a computer program that when executed facilitates creation of the cart of items to be purchased and selects the individual or group of individuals to whom the cart is published. The purchasing of a cart does not eliminate the availability of the cart for subsequent users.

Abstract: Users may identify on an interactive network merchandise that they desire and merchandise providers may access the identified merchandise from time to time so as to provide merchandise that matches the identified merchandise. In one embodiment, merchandise providers may access merchandise requests from time to time and provide the requested merchandise, even if the merchandise had not been available at the time the request was initially posted. Prior to delivery of the merchandise the parties, if desired, may negotiate when and how delivery will occur, what the cost of the merchandise is and the responsibilities of each of the parties pertaining to the merchandise. The requests may be stored local to the user or at one or more central sites.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment a computer-implemented method includes receiving a digital image of a matrix code. A user identifier associated with the digital image is received. The matrix code is identifying from the digital image. The matrix code can represent a good or a service, a price of the good or the service and/or a merchant identifier selling the good or the service. A fund is caused to be transferred from a user's account to a merchant's account. Optionally, the digital image of the matrix code can be captured by a digital camera in a mobile device of the user. The mobile device can include a user-side application that communicated the digital image and the user identifier. The fund can be obtained with a user's credit card number stored in a database.

Abstract: A supplemental information system is described herein that uses physical references placed throughout a property to provide extended information about the property to a potential buyer or other interested party. A seller or seller's agent describes various items of the property in electronic form. The seller associates each item description with a physical reference, such as a QR code. Next, the seller prints out and affixes the physical reference to the item of interest. Potential buyers or others interested in the property can use a smartphone or similar device with a physical reference reading application to read the physical reference and retrieve the supplemental information. The reference may also change behavior over time or provide different information based on the requesting user. Thus, the system makes it easy for real estate sellers and others to connect extended electronic information with physical real estate items.

Abstract: An update proximity-based device configures a product and/or product package proximity-based device. The product and/or product package proximity-based device is located within a product and/or a product package such that an update is performed upon the product and/or the product package after the update proximity-based device is placed within a proximity to the product and/or product package proximity-based device.

Abstract: Provided herein is a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising software configured to enable instructions to create of a multidimensional value model for an event, such as, a travel event. When executed information related to events from all sources is stored and categorized according to the source, value dimension and value description of the event are established and used to create an initial multidimensional value model. If the event is a travel event, the initial model is updated according to user-selected travel events and a recommendation for travel made to the user based on the updated model. Also provided is a distributed cloud computer system that integrates cloud computing with a Distributed Internet Services system and cloud computing methods, particularly, for improving user experience during e-commerce transactions. A non-transitory storage medium tangibly stores processor-executable instructions to execute the methods.

Abstract: A system and method for providing position information using a three-dimensional based grid is provided. The position information may be relayed to an electronic device by providing location information to a database and receiving location-centric information at the electronic device. The system may include a network for continuously updating the database in real-time.

Abstract: Rating information is maintained that is associated with one or more sources from which a product of interest can be purchased. Search criteria is received from a user that defines a product of interest. A plurality of sources are selected from which the user can transact for a product that satisfies the search criteria based at least in part on the rating information associated with one or more sources in the set. One or more sources can be determined from the rating information that have an acceptable rating value, or alternatively, a higher rating value than other sources in the set. A plurality of links may be displayed that individually locate a corresponding one of the plurality of sources. The plurality of links may be positioned, for example, based on the referral compensation provided by the sources of one or more of the links. The link that identifies the source with the highest or higher rating values may be identified to the user.

Abstract: A system generates a score for a document based on best seller list information relating to the document, circulation information relating to the document, publisher sales information relating to a publisher associated with the document, author sales information relating to an author associated with the document, user behavior information relating to access of the document by users, and/or a link-based score of a web document relating to the document.

Abstract: Paper catalog pages can be optically scanned to produce “fingerprints” identifying those pages. Database records for products featured on those pages can be mapped to the pages' fingerprints. Later, a customer's mobile phone's digital camera can photograph a paper catalog page. A software application can determine a fingerprint for that page based on the photograph. The phone can transmit this fingerprint over networks to a server. The server can match the transmitted fingerprint to a fingerprint stored in the database. The server can transmit, back to the phone, information retrieved from the database records that are mapped to the matching fingerprint. For example, the information can pertain to current prices and inventories of products featured on the page. For another example, the information can pertain to updated models of obsolete products featured on the page. The phone can present this current, catalog-external information to a customer that took the photograph.

Abstract: Systems and methods for self-service recycling are provided. In particular, some embodiments include graphical user interfaces and backend systems that allow users to identify the market for used automotive parts. For example, each car in a self-service automotive recycling (SSAR) facility may be tagged with a bar code or QR code which identifies the vehicle. When the user scans the QR code, a determination is made regarding which parts are currently needed for by register members of the system, recent prices for individual parts, and/or a list of vehicles which can use these parts. This information is presented to the user. Using this information, the user can determine if any of the identified parts remain on the vehicle and may purchase the parts from the SSAR facility for resale. The system then assists the user in creating descriptions for postings on the Internet and/or otherwise connecting the user with potential purchasers.

Abstract: A computer-implemented process can be implemented to provide a customer with nutritional information about an item to be purchased. The process includes monitoring a scan of the item to be purchased within a processor of a portable computerized device. The process further includes automatically referencing a remote database to identify nutritional information for the item to be purchased and displaying the nutritional information to the customer upon a display of the portable computerized device.