Patents Examined by Christopher C Busch
  • Patent number: 10977969
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an interactive advertising system and method of using the system. A plurality of removable RFID devices are disposed on a panel which is separate from an advertising graphic that is supported in an illuminated frame. Activation of one of the RFID devices illuminates a portion of the advertising graphic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services, LLC
    Inventors: Ian J. Forster, David A. Welch, Haochuan Wang
  • Patent number: 10943262
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of augmenting a telecommunications call, the method comprising detecting a telecommunications call event at a user telecommunications device 10; selecting an item of media content 101, the item of media content 101 being associated with a uniform resource identifier or URI; augmenting the call with the item of media content 101; detecting a user interaction with the item of media content 101; and on termination of the call, performing an action in dependence on the resource identified by the URI. The invention extends to a corresponding system and apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Incall Limited
    Inventors: Chaim Aaron James Green, Joshua Nyman
  • Patent number: 10943241
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system method and computer program product for selecting an advertisement and presenting it to a user are described. Products and services offered by various merchants are read using a merchant specific catalog and stored in a common format. Categories for such products and services are normalized and virtual categories are created using various product attributes. Visual creatives, termed as ad-templates are created to control the visual and interactive aspects of the ad, including ad-size, color, as well as product attributes that are displayed in the ad. Ad-templates may be constrained to specific products or product categories. A learning algorithm uses an adaptive sampling process to sample various products, product categories and ad-templates independently for different learning units such as individual users, groups of users determined by some demographics, individual web pages and groups of web pages grouped using various similarity criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Vikas Jha, Vassilis Argyrus Papavassiliou, Rajeev Bector, Vishal Goenka, Sailendra Padala
  • Patent number: 10929890
    Abstract: Personalized electronic content is generated for display on a user computer. The content is generated by first matching a targeted user online identifier to one of a plurality of user online identifiers associated with a master ID in a database. Using online user behavior associated with the user online identifiers of the master ID, a preliminary set of personalized electronic content is generated. A set of content usage parameters is applied to the preliminary set of personalized electronic content to define the personalized electronic content, which is then transmitted and displayed on a user computer. The personalized electronic content may comprise targeted advertisement utilized to populate a webpage or an email template defined by an online marketing campaign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Overstock.com, Inc.
    Inventors: J P Knab, Bradford Johnson, Cathy Diaz, Dustin Spangler, Kenneth Lines
  • Patent number: 10929870
    Abstract: Advertising impressions are collected and a block in a block chain is created for each impression or a set of impressions. Each block includes a hash of a preceding block in the block chain. The block chain may be traversed to analyze advertising impressions and determine their effectiveness. Advertising content may include embedded code that invokes transmission of a notification to a server. The server creates a block in response to the notification that includes data such as the advertising content (or a reference to it), attributes of a target consumer, information regarding an advertising campaign, and/or other data describing the advertising impression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: REFLEKTION, INC.
    Inventors: Amar Chokhawala, Vivek Gupta
  • Patent number: 10929888
    Abstract: Systems and methods for applying a promotion to a payment transaction originating at a point of sale system of a merchant are described. Transactional information is provided to an acquirer computing system of the merchant. Based on identifying indicia associated with the transactional information, the acquirer computing system determines whether to modify the payment transaction messaging before communicating it along to an issuer computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: WORLDPAY, LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Matthew Sterling, Brent Alan Badger
  • Patent number: 10891648
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for tracking the flow of user information over a network may include (i) recording user information transmitted from a user's computing device, (ii) identifying at least one third-party communication that utilizes at least a portion of the user information, (iii) deriving communication metadata from the third-party communication, (iv) generating, based on the communication metadata and the recorded user information, an information flow report that describes (A) the user information that was transmitted over the network connection, (B) at least one third-party communication that utilized elements of the user information, and (C) at least one element of user information utilized by the third-party communication, and (v) providing the information flow report to the user via a graphical user interface (GUI). Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: NORTONLIFELOCK, INC.
    Inventor: Spencer Smith
  • Patent number: 10872350
    Abstract: A method for optimizing target content on a search results webpage includes receiving source code defining the webpage from a search engine server. The method further includes processing the source code to identify a target source code block in the source code, the target source code block defining, at least partially, the target content. The method further includes processing the target source code block to determine a relative metric for the target content with respect to a layout of the search results webpage. Thereafter, the relative metric may be utilized to optimize advertising expenditures in order to improve a relative position of the target content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Overstock.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Yugang Hu, Seth Moore, Jp Knab, Amit Goyal
  • Patent number: 10861046
    Abstract: A device may broadcast content (e.g., using Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS), evolved MBMS (eMBMS), or Cell Broadcast Service (CBS)); determine that a user device has received the content; determine analytics information regarding the user device; identify, based on the analytics information, personalized content for the user device; and output, to the user device, the personalized content. The user device may receive the broadcasted content; present the broadcasted content; output an indication that the broadcasted content is being presented; receive the personalized content that was generated based on the outputted indication; and present the personalized content in conjunction with the broadcasted content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignees: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc., Cellco Partnership
    Inventors: Lalit R. Kotecha, Sagiv Draznin, Jude M. Munn
  • Patent number: 10861034
    Abstract: When a user moves into a geographical region around a location, a notification is sent to the user computing device regarding gameplay and an associated incentive related to a merchant location. The user enters the merchant location and a game server generates augmented reality (AR) data for the computing device to use in playing a game at the merchant location. The camera of the computing device captures interior views of the merchant location and a game instance on the computing device uses those images in generation of an AR game at the user computing device related to the merchant. Upon successful completion of the game play, the user receives an incentive or award. The merchant may use an application program interface (API) hosted by the game server to allow specifying game conditions and related awards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventor: Madhavan Seshadri
  • Patent number: 10861043
    Abstract: A media content processing method comprises submission of a broadcast to the computer or server of a receiving entity, which is coded in a neutral manner such that the creator and related identifying information is not identifiable for several purposes. The material is reviewed based on qualitative evaluation thereof by a plurality of independent reviewers who do not have access to the identifying information, and some of the material is selected based on the qualitative evaluation of the reviewers. The selected material is broadcast according to a predetermined schedule, and may also be placed in a content library for viewer access. Advertising is associated with the material selected during the broadcast thereof to generate revenue. The creator of the work is paid based on the revenues generated by the advertising associated with the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventor: Scott Bradley Baker
  • Patent number: 10810610
    Abstract: Technologies for providing consumer loyalty to merchants are provided. Payment transactions are monitored based on communications received from point of sale systems of merchants. Based on loyalty-based rules for the merchant, the purchase transaction can be modified to provide a stored benefit to the consumer. Tracking loyalty-based activity based on payment transactions can reduce the necessity for consumer involvement or registration with a merchant's loyalty program while increasing a merchant's ability to provide the consumer in meaningful marketing engagements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Worldpay, LLC
    Inventors: Brent Alan Badger, Jacob Matthew Sterling
  • Patent number: 10776819
    Abstract: A method includes monitoring electronic network advertisements for policed advertising content via a fraud monitor, retrieving a pay-per-call advertisement of an advertiser via the fraud monitor based on the monitoring, analyzing the pay-per-call advertisement via the fraud monitor to confirm it as a suspect pay-per-call advertisement, establishing a fraud-detection telephone call via an advertisement telephone number of the suspect pay-per-call advertisement from a control telephone number of the fraud monitor and in response thereto connecting the fraud-detection telephone call to a target telephone number of the advertiser via a connection provider, and tracking and storing fraud-detection telephone call information, including the advertisement telephone number, the control telephone number, a publisher reference associated with the suspect pay-per-call advertisement, and the target telephone number, via the fraud monitor, of a telephone connection between the control telephone number and the target teleph
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Inventors: David E. Stafford, Jr., Kai Rossbach
  • Patent number: 10776802
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an account holder with an incentive-consent matrix at a point-of-sale device of a merchant. The account holder can provide consent to store transaction related data and obtain an incentive in exchange. The incentive can be a coupon or other offering associated with the merchant. Varying levels of consent can be offered, with each level associated with an incentive having a different relative value. The transaction data can subsequently be provided to a recipient in accordance with the consent received from the account holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Worldpay, LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Matthew Sterling, Scott Wayne DeAngelo, Dennis A. Kettler, Balaji Janakiraman Iyer, Trevor Alan Bass
  • Patent number: 10769660
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining advertisement content based on cluster density analysis of advertisement targets within a dynamic visibility fence are disclosed. A computer-implemented method includes determining, by an advertisement determination device, a dynamic visibility fence for a time, the dynamic visibility fence defining a first set of advertisement targets, determining, by the advertisement determination device, an advertisement to display based on cluster analysis of the first set of advertisement targets, and displaying, by the advertisement determination device, the determined advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Siddique M. Adoni, Gregory J. Boss, Norbert Herman, Shubhadip Ray, Dhandapani Shanmugam
  • Patent number: 10733637
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for dynamic advertisement placement in an application of an electronic device, under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions, includes obtaining coordinate information for a touch location that corresponds to a place where a user touches a display area of an application to provide input to the application. The method also includes receiving one or more advertisements that is contextually relevant to the application. The method includes determining a size and a position of the preview window based at least in part on the coordinate information of the touch location and an amount of available area within the display area of the application surrounding the touch location. The method also includes providing for display the preview window in the determined size at a location corresponding to the determined position around the touch location with the preview window containing the one or more advertisements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Prashant Bhushan Singh
  • Patent number: 10713741
    Abstract: A method and system for negotiating discount offers and generating discount coupons over a network. The method includes establishing an offer channel for secure communication between one or more users and a plurality of businesses over a network. The method also includes permitting the businesses to publish offers. Further, the method includes issuing a private identity and a public identity to the users of the channel, wherein the private identity is a unique and secure identifier to the user profile and the public identity is a public locator to the users profile as a short Uniform Resource Locator. Furthermore, the method includes allowing the users to interact and negotiate with the businesses for a suitable coupon offer. Moreover, the method includes transmitting the offer and offer entitlement corresponding to the public identity of the user, redemption center and to the business.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventor: Ashwin Ambekar
  • Patent number: 10699289
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing a recommended payment account includes receiving location information from a mobile device of a user having one or more payment accounts provided by a financial institution computer system, and determining a location of the user relative to a merchant based on the location information. The method also includes, based on the location of the user relative to the merchant, determining that a payment account recommendation should be sent to the user, including a recommended payment account for use in a payment transaction with the merchant and an incentive offer for using the recommended payment account in the payment transaction, determining the recommended payment account based on an expected financial impact to the user, generating the incentive offer, and sending the incentive offer and the recommended payment account to the mobile device of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: Scott T. Dalton, Andrew J. Garner, IV, Ramanathan Ramanathan
  • Patent number: 10685366
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically terminating a logout session for a restricted access system by determining that an authorized user has left the vicinity of the restricted access system. The authorized user preferably carries a wireless transmitter which transmits an authorization signal that is also used for permitting access to the restricted access system. When the authorized user leaves the vicinity of the restricted access system after logging in, the signal is no longer received by a wireless receiver or too weak of a signal, such that an access control system in communication with the wireless receiver automatically causes the restricted access system to initiate a logout action in order to prevent or reduce the chance of an unauthorized user gaining access to the restricted access system. The restricted access system can be a rewards tracking system, such as, but not limited to, a rewards tracking system for a gaming machine or gaming table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: COLLATERAL OPPORTUNITIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Howard Kusens, Michael Kusens
  • Patent number: 10679198
    Abstract: A system receives from a customer having an associated rewards points account a price offer for an item. The system determines if the price offer for the item is below an established threshold price, e.g., a price a retailer would accept for the item. When the price offer for the item is below the established threshold price, the system determines an amount of rewards points to be redeemed by the customer to thereby allow the customer to purchase the item at the price offer for the item as received from the customer. The system then allows the item to be purchased by the customer at the price offer for the item as received from the customer in the event that the customer indicates a willingness to redeem the determined amount of rewards points from their associated rewards points account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: TRANSFORM SR BRANDS LLC
    Inventors: Dana L. Schueller, Marisa Lynne Brillhart, Dan S. Grimm, John Johnson, Shubham Agarwal, Theodore Alexander Rudman