Methods and system for processing shopping activity for a retail store are provided. One example method includes associating a plurality of sensor devices to monitor a shelf of the retail store. The shelf having one or more physical items and each of the physical items is capable of being associated with a state change in response to user interaction. The method includes detecting user interaction by a user in the retail store with a physical item of the one or more physical items. The user interaction causes the state change in a sensor device associated with the shelf, and responsive to the state change transmitting a message related to the state change over a network to an end node. The end node is configured to receive the message causing processing of an action based on the message. The one or more physical items are offered for sale in the store and data regarding the user interaction of the physical item is associated to a user account of the user. The user interaction is one of the physical item being touched, being lifted from the shelf, being moved from the shelf, or being released from the shelf of the retail store.

A method for connecting a communication session may include storing first user communication acceptance criteria that is associated with a first user. A method may further include receiving a request from a second user to initiate a communication session with the first user and determining whether the first user permits such communication sessions with the second user based on the first user communication acceptance criteria. A method may include initiating the communication session between the first user and the second user upon determining that the first user permits the communication session to be initiated based on the first user communication acceptance criteria.

A computer-implemented method for controlling content distribution includes forwarding information associated with a user to a device operated by the user, the information being configured for use in selecting content from any of multiple content providers for a content distribution to the user. The method includes receiving, in response to the information, an edit of the information forwarded from the device. The edit identifies a first content provider and including a first modification of the content distribution regarding the first content provider. The method includes storing the edit in association with the information such that the first modification is taken into account in the content distribution. The method can be implemented using a computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium.

A method, system, and computer usable program product to determine a first mood of the user, where the first mood is based on a characteristic of the user at a first time during the providing of an online service and to determine a second mood of the user, where the second mood is based on a characteristic of the user at a second time during the providing of the online service. The first mood of the user and the second mood of the user are compared to determine a delta or change in mood of the user.

Separate user accounts can be linked into a group of linked user accounts so that content items assigned to each of the user accounts can be accessed by each user account in the group. Linking user accounts in this way allows the individual user accounts to share content items while also retaining their individual properties such as username, password, preference data, etc. Linking user accounts allows each user account to retain the content items assigned to the user account when the user account is unlinked from the group. Linking user accounts can be restricted according to linking rules that dictate how many user accounts can be included in a group, when a user account can be added or removed from a group, etc. A master user account can set parameters restricting content items accessible to the user accounts in the group, as well as money spent be each user account.

A method for distributing securities, such as shares or bonds, in particular of companies seeking funding. In the method, a platform is created for distributing the securities of companies seeking investors, the platform establishes groups of securities of one or more companies, each group of securities is presented in the form of a physical element constituting a product capable of being sold in a sales channel for consumer goods, while ensuring the legal arrangements for purchasing securities are observed.

A method or a system, automatically and electronically ensures that customer pays for all goods picked up and the customer takes out of the shop only goods paid for. All this is done without the need of a shop teller and finally without the need of a shop supervisor to periodically crosscheck and ensure that the total amount of money collected by the shop teller (within a period) equals the total value of goods disbursed. The resultant of this system are the shop runs can run a totally cashless shop; reduce human resource by a significant percentage; shop can be opened 24/7; no more queues at shop teller points even during peak periods or major sales.

The present invention is a method and system for a network-based grocery store. The invention provides for network-based order placement, fulfillment, and delivery.

An object is recognized from image data as a target object and linked to a user based on an interaction by the user, information about the target object is obtained and a purchase of the target object is initiated.

A computer-implemented method includes generating on a user terminal a merchant web site associated with a merchant with code for a merchant web page, transmitting a product selection request for the user to a remote open payment system that is separate from the merchant, and displaying purchase information responsive to the product selection request using the code for the merchant web page.