Author: claimsbot

1. A method for producing, storing and displaying red meat and red meat products, the method comprising the steps of:
a) oxygenating selected cuts of raw red meat at a sufficient concentration of oxygen to develop a bright red colour in the meat and to maintain colour stability throughout subsequent storage of the meat;
b) packaging the selected cuts of raw red meat in a suitable pack to provide packaged meat;
c) freezing the meat at a relatively rapid rate to a temperature in the range from 40 C. to 15 C., and maintaining the meat at a temperature in this range during prolonged storage;
d) storing the frozen meat packages in a cabinet in the absence of light; and
e) providing means by which a consumer remotely views at least a representation of the meat contained in the packages and selects one or more of said packages for purchase.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of maintaining the meat at a temperature of approximately 20 C. after the step (c) of freezing the meat at a relatively rapid rate to a temperature in the range 40 C. to 20 C.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step (e) of providing means by which a consumer remotely views at least a representation of the meat further comprises the step of providing means by which a consumer remotely views previously prepared images of the meat contained in the packages.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the meat is subjected to stringent bacteriological controls during handling, preparation, and packaging to achieve uniformly low bacteriological surface counts.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein water vapour content within the cabinet is maintained at a low level.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the representation is viewed by using image information stored in or on the package of each piece of meat and shown to the consumer on a VDU screen or monitor.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the representation is viewed by utilizing a visual scanning system that allows the image of the meat to be viewed remotely on a screen.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the representation is a real-time image captured by a television camera and displayed on a monitor.
9. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the representation is an image stored on a video storage medium and recalled for display on a monitor.
10. A system for storing and displaying red meat for retail sale comprising:
storage means for storing meat packs in the absence of light and including refrigeration means for maintaining the stored meat at a temperature in a pre-determined temperature range; and
viewing means associated with said storage means for remotely viewing at least a representation of the meat stored within the meat packs.
11. A system as claimed in claim 10, in which the viewing means comprises a computer system through which images of the meat held in digital form are viewed.
12. A system as claimed in claim 11, in which an image of the meat stored as part of a bar code on a particular pack is viewed utilizing the computer system.
13. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the viewing means comprises a television camera that transmits pictures of the storage means’ contents illuminated by low levels of light.
14. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the viewing means comprises a camcorder system that transmits pictures of the storage means’ contents previously recorded onto video tape.
15. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein information representing a consignment of meat is stored on a computer-readable medium associated with each consignment of packaged meat.
16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises a CD ROM.
17. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein each consignment of meat includes computer-readable indicia identifying said consignment, and images of the meat packaged therein are accessible from a remote database using the computer-readable indicia.
18. A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the computer-readable indicia comprises a bar code.
19. A system for storing and displaying red neat for retail sale comprising:
storage means for storing meat packs in the absence of light and including refrigeration means for maintaining the stored meat at a temperature in a pre-determined temperature range;
viewing means associated with said cabinet for remotely viewing at least a representation of the meat stored within the meat packs; and
means for selecting one or more of said packs for purchase.
20. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein each consignment of meat includes computer-readable indicia identifying said consignment, and images of the meat packaged therein are accessible from a remote database using the computer-readable indicia.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for displaying a targeted advertisement to a viewer of a display in conjunction with displaying a broadcast stream on the display, the method comprising:
a. selecting a broadcast stream;
b. displaying the selected broadcast stream on the display;
c. receiving a first signal from a viewer control interface indicating a viewer reaction to the selected broadcast stream;
d. defining a viewer profile of the viewer of the display based on the viewer reaction to the selected broadcast stream;
e. selecting a first advertisement from a plurality of stored advertisements based on the viewer profile of the viewer of the display; and
f. displaying the first advertisement on the display.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
g. updating the viewer profile based on a second signal received from the viewer control interface;
h. selecting a second advertisement from plurality of stored advertisements based on the updated viewer profile; and
i. displaying the second advertisement on the display.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting the updated viewer profile to a head end.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein step (g) comprises:
i. receiving a second signal from the viewer control interface indicating a viewer reaction to the first advertisement; and
ii. updating the viewer profile based on the second signal received from the viewer control interface indicating the viewer reaction to the first advertisement.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein step (g) comprises:
i. receiving a second signal from the viewer control interface indicating a viewer purchase of a goodservice; and
ii. updating the viewer profile based on the second signal received from the viewer control interface indicating the viewer purchase of the goodservice.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein step (g) comprises:
i. receiving a second signal from the viewer control interface indicating a viewer reaction to the selected broadcast stream; and
ii. updating the viewer profile based on the second signal received from the viewer control interface indicating the viewer reaction to the selected broadcast stream.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein step (g) comprises:
i. receiving a second signal from the viewer control interface indicating a viewer program search; and
ii. updating the viewer profile based on the second signal received from the viewer control interface indicating the viewer program search.
8. The method of claim 2, wherein steps (h)-(i) are repeated until a third signal received from the viewer control interface indicates a positive viewer reaction or until a predetermined period of time has elapsed.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the viewer profile to a head end.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises:
i. displaying an identification of at least one of the stored advertisements including the first advertisement on the display; and
ii. receiving a second signal from the viewer control interface selecting the first advertisement to be displayed on the display.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein step (e)(i) comprises displaying an identification of at least one of the stored advertisements including the first advertisement via a menu on the display.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein step (e)(i) comprises displaying an identification of at least one of the stored advertisements including the first advertisement via a banner on the display.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein step (e)(i) comprises displaying an identification of at least one of the stored advertisements including the first advertisement via an icon on the display.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein step (f) comprises displaying the first advertisement on the display immediately prior to displaying a second broadcast stream on the display.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein step (f) comprises displaying the first advertisement on the display in a time slot adjacent to a time slot for displaying regularly scheduled advertisements within the broadcast stream.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein step (f) comprises displaying the first advertisement instead of displaying a regularly scheduled advertisement within the broadcast stream.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast stream is a television broadcast stream.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast stream is a cable broadcast stream.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast stream is a satellite broadcast stream.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast stream is an Internet broadcast stream.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises defining a viewer profile of a plurality of viewers of the display based on a plurality of signals received by a controller indicating usage of a viewer control interface by the plurality of viewers, and step (e) comprises:
i. determining an individual viewer profile for a viewer viewing the display at a current time; and
ii. selecting the first advertisement from the stored advertisements based on the individual viewer profile of the viewer of the display at the current time.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein in step (e)(ii) comprises selecting the first advertisement from the stored advertisements based on the individual viewer profile of the viewer of the display at the current time and based on content of the selected broadcast stream.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein in step (e) comprises selecting the first advertisement from the stored advertisements based on the viewer profile and based on content of the selected broadcast stream.
24. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the plurality of advertisements on a hard disk drive.
25. A method for displaying a targeted advertisement to a viewer of a display in conjunction with displaying a broadcast stream on the display, the method comprising:
a. selecting a broadcast stream;
b. displaying the selected broadcast stream on the display;
c. displaying at least one advertisement on the display;
d. receiving a first signal from a viewer control interface indicating a viewer reaction to the at least one advertisement;
e. defining a viewer profile of the viewer of the display based on the viewer reaction to the at least one advertisement;
f. selecting a first targeted advertisement from a plurality of stored advertisements based on the viewer profile; and
g. displaying the first targeted advertisement on the display.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:
h. updating the viewer profile based on a second signal received from the viewer control interface;
i. selecting a second advertisement from plurality of stored advertisements based on the updated viewer profile; and
j. displaying the second advertisement on the display.
27. The method of claim 26, further comprising transmitting the updated viewer profile to a head end.
28. The method of claim 26, wherein step (h) comprises:
i. receiving a second signal from the viewer control interface indicating a viewer reaction to the first advertisement; and
ii. updating the viewer profile based on the second signal received from the viewer control interface indicating the viewer reaction to the first advertisement.
29. The method of claim 26, wherein step (h) comprises:
i. receiving a second signal from the viewer control interface indicating a viewer purchase of a goodservice; and
ii. updating the viewer profile based on the second signal received from the viewer control interface indicating the viewer purchase of the goodservice.
30. The method of claim 26, wherein step (h) comprises:
i. receiving a second signal from the viewer control interface indicating a viewer reaction to the selected broadcast stream; and
ii. updating the viewer profile based on the second signal received from the viewer control interface indicating the viewer reaction to the selected broadcast stream.
31. The method of claim 26, wherein step (h) comprises:
i. receiving a second signal from the viewer control interface indicating a viewer program search; and
ii. updating the viewer profile based on the second signal received from the viewer control interface indicating the viewer program search.
32. The method of claim 26, wherein steps (i)-(j) are repeated until a third signal received from the viewer control interface indicates a positive viewer reaction or until a predetermined period of time has elapsed.
33. The method of claim 25, further comprising transmitting the viewer profile to a head end.
34. The method of claim 25, wherein step (f) comprises:
i. displaying an identification of at least one of the stored advertisements including the first advertisement on the display; and
ii. receiving a second signal from the viewer control interface selecting the first advertisement to be displayed on the display.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein step (f)(i) comprises displaying an identification of at least one of the stored advertisements including the first advertisement via a menu on the display.
36. The method of claim 34, wherein step (f)(i) comprises displaying an identification of at least one of the stored advertisements including the first advertisement via a banner on the display.
37. The method of claim 34, wherein step (f)(i) comprises displaying an identification of at least one of the stored advertisements including the first advertisement via an icon on the display.
38. The method of claim 25, wherein step (g) comprises displaying the first advertisement on the display immediately prior to displaying a second broadcast stream on the display.
39. The method of claim 25, wherein step (g) comprises displaying the first advertisement on the display in a time slot adjacent to a time slot for displaying regularly scheduled advertisements within the broadcast stream.
40. The method of claim 25, wherein step (g) comprises displaying the first advertisement instead of displaying a regularly scheduled advertisement within the broadcast stream.
41. The method of claim 25, wherein the broadcast stream is a television broadcast stream.
42. The method of claim 25, wherein the broadcast stream is a cable broadcast stream.
43. The method of claim 25, wherein the broadcast stream is a satellite broadcast stream.
44. The method of claim 25, wherein the broadcast stream is an Internet broadcast stream.
45. The method of claim 25, wherein step (e) comprises defining a viewer profile of a plurality of viewers of the display based on a plurality of signals received by a controller indicating usage of a viewer control interface by the plurality of viewers, and step (f) comprises:
i. determining an individual viewer profile for a viewer viewing the display at a current time; and
ii. selecting the first advertisement from the stored advertisements based on the individual viewer profile of the viewer of the display at the current time.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein in step (f)(ii) comprises selecting the first advertisement from the stored advertisements based on the individual viewer profile of the viewer of the display at the current time and based on content of the selected broadcast stream.
47. The method of claim 25, wherein in step (f) comprises selecting the first advertisement from the stored advertisements based on the viewer profile and based on content of the selected broadcast stream.
48. The method of claim 25, further comprising storing the plurality of advertisements on a hard disk drive.
49. A personal video recorder for sending a targeted advertisement to a display for viewing by a viewer in conjunction with viewing a broadcast stream on the display, the personal video recorder comprising:
a viewer control interface configured to allow the viewer to interact with the broadcast stream being displayed on the display;
a storage device for storing a plurality of advertisements; and
a controller responsive to the viewer control interface and connectable to the display, the controller configured to receive signals indicating a reaction to the broadcast stream from the viewer control interface, to define a viewer profile of the viewer of the display based on the signals received from the viewer control interface, to select a first advertisement from the plurality of stored advertisements based on the viewer profile, and to send the first advertisement to the display.
50. The personal video recorder of claim 49, wherein the storage device is a hard disk drive.
51. The personal video recorder of claim 49, further comprising a remote interface in communication with the controller, the remote interface configured to transmit the viewer profile to a head end.
52. The personal video recorder of claim 49, wherein the controller is further configured to update the viewer profile based on the signals received from the viewer control interface, to select a second advertisement from the plurality of stored advertisements based on the updated viewer profile, and to send the second advertisement to the display.
53. The personal video recorder of claim 49, wherein the controller is further configured to receive signals indicating a viewer reaction to the first advertisement from the viewer control interface, to update the viewer profile based on the signals received from the viewer control interface indicating the viewer reaction to the first advertisement, to select a second advertisement from the plurality of stored advertisements based on the updated viewer profile, and to send the second advertisement to the display.
54. The personal video recorder of claim 49, wherein the controller is further configured to receive signals indicating a viewer purchase of a goodservice from the viewer control interface, to update the viewer profile based on the signals received from the viewer control interface indicating the viewer purchase of the goodservice, to select a second advertisement from the plurality of stored advertisements based on the updated viewer profile, and to send the second advertisement to the display.
55. The personal video recorder of claim 49, wherein the controller is further configured to receive signals indicating a viewer search request from the viewer control interface, to update the viewer profile based on the signals received from the viewer control interface indicating the viewer search request, to select a second advertisement from the plurality of stored advertisements based on the updated viewer profile, and to send the second advertisement to the display.
56. The personal video recorder of claim 49, wherein the controller displays the first advertisement on the display immediately prior to displaying a second broadcast stream on the display.
57. The personal video recorder of claim 49, wherein the controller displays the first advertisement on the display in a time slot adjacent to a time slot for displaying regularly scheduled advertisements within the broadcast stream.
58. The personal video recorder of claim 49, wherein the controller displays the first advertisement instead of displaying a regularly scheduled advertisement within the broadcast stream.
59. The personal video recorder of claim 49, wherein the controller displays the first advertisement upon request by the viewer.
60. The personal video recorder of claim 49, wherein the broadcast stream is a television broadcast stream.
61. The personal video recorder of claim 49, wherein the broadcast stream is a cable broadcast stream.
62. The personal video recorder of claim 49, wherein the broadcast stream is a satellite broadcast stream.
63. The personal video recorder of claim 49, wherein the broadcast stream is an Internet broadcast stream.
64. A personal video recorder for sending a targeted advertisement to a display for viewing by a viewer in conjunction with viewing a broadcast stream on the display, the personal video recorder comprising:
a viewer control interface configured to allow the viewer to interact with the broadcast stream being displayed on the display;
a storage device for storing a plurality of advertisements; and
a controller responsive to the viewer control interface and connectable to the display, the controller configured to receive signals indicating a reaction to at least one advertisement displayed on the display from the viewer control interface, to define a viewer profile of the viewer of the display based on the signals received from the viewer control interface, to select the first targeted advertisement based on the viewer profile, and to send the first targeted advertisement to the display.
65. The personal video recorder of claim 64, wherein the storage device is a hard disk drive.
66. The personal video recorder of claim 64, further comprising a remote interface in communication with the controller, the remote interface configured to transmit the viewer profile to a head end.
67. The personal video recorder of claim 64, wherein the controller is further configured to update the viewer profile based on the signals received from the viewer control interface, to select a second targeted advertisement from the plurality of stored advertisements based on the updated viewer profile, and to send the second targeted advertisement to the display.
68. The personal video recorder of claim 64, wherein the controller is further configured to receive signals indicating a viewer reaction to the first targeted advertisement from the viewer control interface, to update the viewer profile based on the signals received from the viewer control interface indicating the viewer reaction to the first targeted advertisement, to select a second targeted advertisement from the plurality of stored advertisements based on the updated viewer profile, and to send the second targeted advertisement to the display.
69. The personal video recorder of claim 64, wherein the controller is further configured to receive signals indicating a viewer purchase of a goodservice from the viewer control interface, to update the viewer profile based on the signals received from the viewer control interface indicating the viewer purchase of the goodservice, to select a second targeted advertisement from the plurality of stored advertisements based on the updated viewer profile, and to send the second targeted advertisement to the display.
70. The personal video recorder of claim 64, wherein the controller is further configured to receive signals indicating a viewer search request from the viewer control interface, to update the viewer profile based on the signals received from the viewer control interface indicating the viewer search request, to select a second targeted advertisement from the plurality of stored advertisements based on the updated viewer profile, and to send the second targeted advertisement to the display.
71. The personal video recorder of claim 64, wherein the controller displays the first targeted advertisement on the display immediately prior to displaying a second broadcast stream on the display.
72. The personal video recorder of claim 64, wherein the controller displays the first targeted advertisement on the display in a time slot adjacent to a time slot for displaying regularly scheduled advertisements within the broadcast stream.
73. The personal video recorder of claim 64, wherein the controller displays the first targeted advertisement instead of displaying a regularly scheduled advertisement within the broadcast stream.
74. The personal video recorder of claim 64, wherein the controller displays the first targeted advertisement upon request by the viewer.
75. The personal video recorder of claim 64, wherein the broadcast stream is a television broadcast stream.
76. The personal video recorder of claim 64, wherein the broadcast stream is a cable broadcast stream.
77. The personal video recorder of claim 64, wherein the broadcast stream is a satellite broadcast stream.
78. The personal video recorder of claim 64, wherein the broadcast stream is an Internet broadcast stream.

1. A method, comprising:
assigning a real-time communication reference to be included in an advertisement, the real-time communication reference to be used to communicate with an advertiser via a non-web based communication;
monitoring communications to the advertiser via the communication reference; and
billing the advertiser a predetermined fee for the advertisement in response to an initiation of the communication connected to the advertiser via the communication reference.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
providing the advertisement on at least one of: a web-based channel, a telephone-based advertising service, an email channel, an instant message channel, and an online chat channel.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an interface to facilitate creation of the advertisement.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the interface is web-based.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication reference comprises a telephone number; and the billing comprises billing a flat fee to be paid by the advertiser per telephone call connected to the advertiser via the telephone number.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
providing the advertisement on a media channel including an Internet.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference includes a hyper-link to be selected by a user to initiate a communication to the advertiser.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
a first party providing advertisements on a media channel on behalf of multiple advertisers, the advertisements to include at least a reference to a real-time communication connection with the respective advertisers; and
the first party collecting a fee from the respective advertisers in response to a real-time communication connection being established between the respective advertiser and a user.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the real time communication reference includes a reference to be selected by a user to initiate a voice-over IP telephone call to the advertiser.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing the advertisement in response to a search submitted by a user.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
providing the advertisement in response to a search submitted by a user for a subject matter.
12. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
receiving a bid from a first advertiser to place a corresponding advertisement in a prominent location on the media relative to a location without the bid;
comparing the bid from the first advertiser to bids from other advertisers; and
in response to the bid from the first advertiser being higher than the bids from the other advertisers, placing the corresponding advertisement in the prominent location.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications include telephonic communications.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a price bid from the advertiser;
wherein the predetermined fee is associated with the price bid received from the advertiser, wherein the price bid received from the advertiser is not conditioned on receiving a bid on a telephone number.
15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
providing the advertisement on a digital video or audio program.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications comprise at least one of: Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications, VoIP to VoIP, and VoIP to Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time communication reference is a telephonic real-time communication reference.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time communication reference is a reference to establish a communication connection for two way real-time communication.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the two way real-time communication comprises voice communication.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the two way real-time communication comprises one of: instant message and chat.
21. A system, comprising:
a first unit to assign a real-time communication reference to be included in an advertisement, the real-time communication reference to be used to communicate with an advertiser via a non-web based communication;
a third unit to monitor communications to the advertiser via the communication reference; and
a fourth unit to bill the advertiser a predetermined fee for the advertisement in response to an initiation of the communication connected to the advertiser via the communication reference.
22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a unit to allow an advertiser to associate a key word with text of the advertisement.
23. The system of claim 21, further comprising a unit to allow the advertiser to bid for the placement of the advertisement within a results page generated by a search engine.
24. The system of claim 21, further comprising a unit to allow the advertiser to input a geographic location to be associated with the advertisement.
25. The system of claim 21, further comprising a syndication engine to syndicate the advertisement to a channel for presentation.
26. The system of claim 21, wherein the real-time communication reference comprises a telephonic reference; and the first unit comprises telephone number auto generation logic to automatically generate the telephonic reference.
27. The system of claim 21, wherein the first unit is to create a click to call reference which when selected by a user who views the advertisement, causes a communication to a telephonic reference to be initiated.
28. The system of claim 21, wherein the third unit is configured to not bill for repeat telephone calls made from a same telephone to a telephonic reference, within a predefined period.
29. A computer-readable medium, having stored thereon a sequence of instruction, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:
assigning a real-time communication reference to be included in an advertisement, the real-time communication reference to be used to communicate with an advertiser via a non-web based communication;
monitoring communications to the advertiser via the communication reference; and
billing the advertiser a predetermined fee for the advertisement in response to an initiation of the communication connected to the advertiser via the communication reference.
30. A method, comprising:
in response to receiving requests from a set advertisers, assigning the advertisers with separate communication references for their respective advertisements which can be displayed concurrently, the real-time communication references to be used to communicate with an advertisers via a non-web based communications;
monitoring communications to the advertisers via the communication references; and
billing an advertiser a predetermined fee for a corresponding advertisement in response to an initiation of a communication connected to the advertiser via a communication reference.
31. A method, comprising:
assigning a first communication reference to a first advertiser, the first communication reference to be used in a first advertisement and to communicate with the first advertiser via a non-web based communication;
assigning a second communication reference to a second advertiser, the second communication reference to be used in a second advertisement and to communicate with the second advertiser via a non-web based communication, wherein the second and first advertisement can be displayed concurrently;
monitoring communications to the first advertiser via the first communication reference and communications to the second advertiser via the second communication reference;
billing the second advertiser a predetermined fee for the second advertisement in response to an initiation of the communication connected to the second advertiser via the second communication reference.
32. A method, comprising:
assigning a first communication reference to a first advertiser, the first communication reference to be used in a first advertisement and to communicate with the first advertiser via a non-web based communication;
assigning a second communication reference to a second advertiser, the second communication reference to be used in a second advertisement and to communicate with the second advertiser via a non-web based communication, wherein the second and first advertisements can be displayed concurrently;
monitoring communications to the first advertiser via the first communication reference and communications to the second advertiser via the second communication reference;
billing the first advertiser a predetermined fee for the first advertisement per communication connected to the first advertiser via the first communication reference; and
billing the second advertiser a predetermined fee for the second advertisement hi per communication connected to the second advertiser via the second communication reference.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the communications to the first advertiser via the first communication reference comprise telephonic communications.
34. The method of claim 32, wherein the first advertisement and the second advertisement are for a common field of service.
35. A method, comprising:
assigning to an advertiser a placement for an undefined advertisement and a communication reference for the advertisement, the communication reference be used to communicate with the advertiser via a non-web based communication;
monitoring communications to the advertiser via the communication reference; and
billing the advertiser a predetermined fee for the advertisement in response to an initiation of the communication connected to the advertiser via the communication reference.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein the communications to the advertiser via the communication comprise telephonic communications.
37. The method of claim 35, further comprising:
supporting the advertiser to define the advertisement, the advertisement to include the communication reference.
38. A method, comprising:
assigning a communication reference to an advertiser to be included in an advertisement, the communication reference assigned independent of a price to be paid by the advertiser for the advertisement, the communication reference be used to communicate with the advertiser via a non-web based communication;
monitoring communications to the advertiser via the communication reference; and
billing the advertiser a predetermined fee for the advertisement in response to an initiation of the communication connected to the advertiser via the communication reference.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein the communications comprise telephonic communications.
40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:
receiving advertisement information from the advertiser; and
providing an advertisement including the communication reference to identify the advertiser and the advertisement information for the advertiser.
41. The method of claim 39, further comprising:
providing the advertisement on a media channel selected by the advertiser.
42. The method of claim 39, further comprising:
receiving a price bid from the advertiser, the bid to be used to determine a placement for the advertiser’s advertisement relative to other advertisements;
wherein said billing the advertiser comprises billing the advertiser according to the price bid.
43. The method of claim 39, wherein the advertisement to be bid on by the advertiser is exclusive of a communication reference when bid upon by the advertiser.
44. The method of claim 39, wherein the communication reference is unique relative to separate advertisers.
45. The method of claim 39, wherein the communication reference is unique relative to separate advertisements.
46. The method of claim 39, wherein said assigning comprises assigning separate communication references in response to requests from the separate advertisers.
47. The method of claim 39, wherein the communication reference comprises a telephone number, and the method further comprises avoiding billing the advertiser for repeat telephone calls made within a predefined period from a same telephone number.
48. A method, comprising:
providing a communication reference to be included in an advertisement for an advertiser, without the advertiser having to bid to receive the communication reference, the communication reference be used to communicate with the advertiser via a non-web based communication;
monitoring communications to the advertiser via the communication reference; and
billing the advertiser a predetermined fee for the advertisement in response to an initiation of the communication connected to the advertiser via the communication reference.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A sizing processing system for generating a sizing figure by applying sizing processing to a source figure, comprising:
offset processing means for creating an offset point set by offsetting respective sides of said source figure by a distance equal to a prescribed sizing amount, and for generating an offset figure based on said offset point set; and
inside-out side detecting means for detecting the occurrence of an inside-out side on said offset figure, and wherein:
said offset processing means generates an offset figure that does not entail the generation of an inside-out side for a portion of said source figure that corresponds to said detected inside-out side.
2. A sizing processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein when two adjacent offset locus line segments, each joining a vertex of said source figure to an offset point on said offset figure, intersect each other, said inside-out side detecting means determines that said offset figure contains an inside-out side associated with said line segments.
3. A sizing processing system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said offset processing means translates two sides of said source figure intersecting at a vertex thereof associated with said inside-out side by a distance equal to said prescribed sizing amount, takes respective end points of said translated sides corresponding to said vertex as offset points, adds said offset points to said offset point set, and thereby generates an offset figure that does not entail the generation of an inside-out side.
4. A sizing processing system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said offset processing means includes edge cut processing means for inserting an edge cut in said offset figure, and
said edge cut processing means obtains an intersection point at which an edge cut line intersects said offset figure, and adds said intersection point as an offset point to said offset point set.
5. A program for causing a computer to carry out sizing processing for generating a sizing figure by applying sizing processing to a source figure, comprising:
an offset processing step for creating an offset point set by offsetting respective sides of said source figure by a distance equal to a prescribed sizing amount, and for generating an offset figure based on said offset point set; and
an inside-out side detecting step for detecting the occurrence of an inside-out side on said offset figure, and wherein:
in said offset processing step, an offset figure that does not entail the generation of an inside-out side is generated for a portion of said source figure that corresponds to said detected inside-out side.
6. A program for causing a computer to carry out sizing processing as claimed in claim 5 wherein, when two adjacent offset locus line segments, each joining a vertex of said source figure to an offset point on said offset figure, intersect each other, said inside-out side detecting step determines that said offset figure contains an inside-out side associated with said line segments.
7. A program for causing a computer to carry out sizing processing as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein said offset processing step translates two sides of said source figure intersecting at a vertex thereof associated with said inside-out side by a distance equal to said prescribed sizing amount, takes respective end points of said translated sides corresponding to said vertex as offset points, adds said offset points to said offset point set, and thereby generates an offset figure that does not entail the generation of an inside-out side.
8. A program for causing a computer to carry out sizing processing as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein said offset processing step includes an edge cut processing step for inserting an edge cut in said offset figure, and
said edge cut processing step obtains an intersection point at which an edge cut line intersects said offset figure, and adds said intersection point as an offset point to said offset point set.