In one implementation a method of transmitting a multimedia file over a data network is provided that involves receiving from a device in a data network a first message in a first protocol that request first data associated with the multimedia file, the first data being useable by the device to establish a streaming session that involves a transmission of the multimedia file. The first message includes identifying data of a referring site. The method also involves transmitting to the device the first data and optionally the identifying data of the referring site and then receiving from the device a second message in a second protocol for the purpose of creating a streaming session associated with the multimedia file. A streaming session is then created for transmitting the multimedia file to the device. In another implementation a method is provided that involves receiving in a computing device from a referring site an identifier of first data associated with a multimedia file and identifying data of the referring site, wherein the first data is useable for establishing a streaming session for downloading the multimedia file. The method further involves transmitting from the computing device a first message in a first protocol that requests the first data associated with the multimedia file and receiving in the computing device the first data. Upon receiving the first data the computing device transmits a second message in a second protocol for the purpose of creating the streaming session associated with the multimedia file, the second message including the first data and the identifying data of the referring site. The computing device then receives via the streaming session, all or a portion of the multimedia file. In some implementations, the first protocol and the second protocol are the same.

Search means (101) of a search system (1) connected to a terminal (30) via a network executes a search based on a search condition input from the terminal (30). Determination means (102) determines, based on stock information on each of a plurality of items included in search results obtained by the search means (101), whether there is a stock of each item. Advertisement acquisition means (104) acquires at least one advertisement of an item that satisfies the search condition and has a stock, based on results of determination by the determination means (102). Display control means (105) displays, on a search result screen, at least one item in stock among the search results and at least one advertisement.

An apparatus and a method for displaying content of a third party to a cellular phone of a patron of premises are shown and described. The premises may be for example a restaurant in which a premises display apparatus which is part of the apparatus system is placed on a table used by the patron. The patron may utilize the premises display apparatus to cause a particular commercial solicitation by the third party to appear on a screen of his or her cellular phone by an initiating action by the patron. The communication may be a commercial transaction completed using the cellular phone. The premises display apparatus selectively enables a generic menu of third party icons, or a home web page of one or more third parties, or another specific web page of any selected third party or via an application to be displayed on the cellular phone.

Methods, devices, and computer-readable mediums for displaying content by a terminal are provided. The control method including: receiving, via a communication device of the terminal, first content data; displaying, in at least a display region of a display of the terminal, first information which is a portion of first content information that is based on the first content data; displaying, in the display region, second content information superimposed on at least a portion of the first information, the second content information at least partially including a transparent region; based on a first input on the display region performed by a user of the terminal, moving, by a controller of the terminal, at least a portion of the transparent region of the second content information in the display region; and based on the first input, moving, by the controller, the first information in the display region.

Systems and methods are presented for providing interactive advertisements. In some embodiments, a method is presented. The method may include receiving, at a first advertising space, an indication that a first mobile device of a user is interacting with the first advertising space, the first advertising space displaying an advertisement. In response to the indication, the method may include transmitting information related to the advertisement from the first advertising space to the first mobile device. The method may also include receiving, at a second advertising space in a location geographically distinct from the first advertising space, the information related to the advertisement from a second mobile device; and displaying the advertisement at the second advertising space based on the information received at the second advertising space about the advertisement.

Advertisements are often presented in the context of a media content viewing experience. Advertisement presentation may be intrusive or subtle. In many instances, users may be interested in particular advertisements but may not want to disrupt a media content viewing experience by launching an advertisement window, opening an advertisement application, or otherwise being redirected to another piece of content. Consequently, mechanisms are provided to allow a user to identify advertisements or save advertisement interests for presentation at a later time. Saved advertisement interests can be used to inform future advertisement and/or content suggestions, and the user can be presented with selected advertisements within an application or through external mechanisms.

An advertising system and its method of use are disclosed. The advertising system includes at least one sensor coupled to a fixed location, where the at least one sensor is configured to generate an impression based on at least one characteristic of a proximate automobile, at least one processor configured to receive the impression, at least one server, having an advertising database and a user database, and at least one delivery mechanism. Preferably, the advertising database contains information relating to at least one advertisement and the user database is configured to check if the at least one characteristic matches an existing entry for a user, and either associate that impression with a user or create a new entry for the impression.

A method including identifying a functionality available during a session between a publishing server and a consumer, wherein the consumer communicates with the publishing server using a client device is provided. The method includes providing multiple digital contents by at least one third party to the client device for display to the consumer within the session, based on a session parameter and providing, to the client device, a plugin script to display a digital content selected by the consumer from the multiple digital contents. The method also includes providing a button in the digital content for selection by the consumer, the button comprising a link to open a new tab in the client device and providing a token to the publishing server when the digital content has been viewed by the consumer in the client device. A system and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions to perform the above method are also provided.

A computer-implemented system and method for contextual advertising and merchandizing based on user configurable preferences is disclosed. The system in an example embodiment includes an advertising (ad) preferences service to obtain user preference information related to advertising, enable user configuration of the user preference information related to advertising, and modify the presentation of advertising to the user based upon the user configured preference information.

A product management system includes a product management apparatus for managing a product, a user communication apparatus carried by a user, and a tool communication apparatus provided on a holding tool for holding the product. The tool communication apparatus transmits first notification information including a tool identifier indicating the holding tool when detecting that the holding tool is taken out from a display zone in which the holding tool is disposed. The user communication apparatus receives the first notification information from the tool communication apparatus, and transmits a user identifier indicating the user or the user communication apparatus and the first notification information to the product management apparatus.