Patents Examined by Courtney Stopp
  • Patent number: 9830636
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed enabling recommendations of content items available in multiple formats based on an expected difficulty of a user in comprehending individual formats of the content item. For example, a user wishing to increase reading fluency may be provided with a recommendation for a multi-format content item including both an e-book and an audiobook. The recommended multi-format content item may be selected such that the e-book is expected to be somewhat difficult for the user to comprehend, and such that the audiobook is expected to be relatively less difficult for the user to comprehend. Thereafter, the user may simultaneously consume multiple formats of the recommended content item (e.g., by listening to the audiobook simultaneously to reading the e-book) in order to increase reading fluency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: AUDIBLE, INC.
    Inventors: Guy Ashley Story, Jr., Steven Charles Dzik
  • Patent number: 9830639
    Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for providing a product order service in an electronic transaction. With the system and method, it is possible to conveniently order an online/offline product through an electronic transaction and also make and distribute a simple app for a small retail shop such as a fried chicken shop, by transmitting purchaser information required for an order to the partner company server in addition to payment-related information about purchase of the specific product or cooperating with a partner-company-related application service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: eBay Korea Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Phil Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 9805409
    Abstract: Techniques for allowing a customer to order goods on-line or remotely and to pick-up the goods at a desired location or store are disclosed. The techniques include receiving a customer order. The customer order includes at least one good. The techniques further include populating a virtual basket with a preset list of goods as a function of reference time data and time data associated with the preset list of goods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: David Jon Carr, Richard Mark Ramsden
  • Patent number: 9805405
    Abstract: A mobile device payment system and method, the method for a mobile device user to purchase goods/services from merchants with financing by a mobile device manufacturer including: providing a mobile device; establishing a user account; establishing merchant accounts; transforming the merchant accounts into a universal merchant account data set; providing the universal merchant account data set to the mobile device user; storing the universal merchant account data set; requesting the mobile device manufacturer to load consumer credit; loading the credit amount; identifying goods/services for purchase; determining a total price for the identified goods/services and a merchant identifier associated with the selected merchant; actuating a purchase button; retrieving merchant bank deposit instructions; retrieving purchase credit; and routing the retrieved credit to the selected merchant in accordance with the retrieved merchant credit deposit instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew A. Boemi, John L. Snyder, Peter C. Vogelberger
  • Patent number: 9754254
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to authenticating online transactions, and more specifically, to method and system for determining a potentially fraudulent online transaction request based on a risk parameter associated with a user in a networking platform such as, a social networking platform. The method comprises receiving an online transaction request from a user. Thereafter, determining the risk parameter of the user based on one or more profile parameters associated with the user or one or more peer users associated with the user in the community. Based on the risk parameter of the user the online transaction request of the user is authenticated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Playspan Inc.
    Inventors: Lex Bayer, Simon Ru, Mark Rose
  • Patent number: 9245293
    Abstract: The goods and services purchase supporting apparatus includes an identification information acquiring unit (30) to acquire an image of a medium on which a marker indicative of identification information of goods or services is presented, the medium being presented to a customer in association with the goods or the services, and acquire the identification information from the marker represented on the acquired image of the medium, a discount information acquiring unit (34) to acquire, from a storing unit (32) to store discount information applicable to the goods or the services in association with the identification information of the goods or the services, the discount information that is associated with the identification information acquired by the identification information acquiring unit, and an arranging unit (36) to arrange display information, which is based on the discount information acquired by the discount information acquiring unit, with the image of the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Rakuten, Inc.
    Inventors: Soh Masuko, Shigaku Iwabuchi, Shinichiro Tosa, Jiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9240022
    Abstract: A system is provided that allows a photographer to take images for a customer and provide those images to order servicing equipment with which the images are placed on-line for the customer to view. The customer may place orders for the images and products and services related to the images. The order servicing equipment may credit the photographer when the customer orders images, products, or services. Images may be manipulated before images, products, or services are ordered. Images may be taken using film-based cameras or digital image acquisition equipment. Image presentation options may be selected. Content may be appended to the images. Web sites and digital albums may be created using the images. The photographer may check the status of assignments that have been submitted to the order servicing equipment and may check on account status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: G. Victor Treyz, Susan M. Treyz
  • Patent number: 9235860
    Abstract: A system and method for guiding consumers through category-based transactions leads consumers through the creation of registries or shopping lists by displaying a group of items in a series of categories, and selecting one or more of the items within the categories. A user's progress in creating the registry may be displayed in a persistent menu bar that remains displayed on an interface as the user advances from one category to another. The systems and methods may be utilized by one or more users to create an electronic baby registry or wedding registry, to prepare for any event, or to enhance any category-based shopping experience at an online marketplace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lisa M. Boucher, Viplav S. Mishra, Sarah M. Richards, Natalie J. Rendon
  • Patent number: 9208485
    Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating online transactions are disclosed. One method includes supplying content for display in a frame of a website, the website hosted by a third-party. The method also includes receiving transaction information from the third-party, and returning a token to the frame, the token including state information based on the transaction information. The method further includes passing the token from the frame to the third-party. The method optionally also includes receiving the token from the third-party and transferring funds from a first account to a second account based on the transaction information and the state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Kerner, Weidong Tang
  • Patent number: 9202191
    Abstract: A system and method for remote acquisition and delivery of goods includes a server in communication with customer computers, such as through a user interface via the internet. The server can store customer information including billing information, and may include a real-time video processor. A mobile delivery system in communication with the server includes an energy efficient vehicle, a real-time video device, a global positioning system, a communication device and a printer. In use, a customer communicates with a mobile delivery agent via the real-time video device and the communication device to remotely acquire a product. Once acquired, the delivery agent delivers the product to a designated delivery location. The real-time video device can be utilized during the entire transaction. The system preferably includes a processor for optimizing system efficiencies, including selecting a delivery agent based on the product, pick-up location and delivery site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Consumeron, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Baron Bowen, Michael Hays
  • Patent number: 9129323
    Abstract: Item identification data indicating a product or service of interest to a first party is obtained and posted to one or more network locations accessible by one or more other parties associated with the first party. Activity on the one or more network locations where the item identification data is posted is then monitored. If data indicating interest in the product or service from one or more other parties is identified that exceeds a threshold level of indicated interest, then at least one provider of the product or service is notified and provided the opportunity to extend a potential group sale related offer to at least one of the individuals indicating interest in the product or service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Gador, Jeremy Vandehey, Mack McConnell
  • Patent number: 9123064
    Abstract: A method and system of using widgets embedded in web pages as virtual storefronts is disclosed. A user of a social networking site may create a merchant account with a transaction service provider. The user embeds a storefront widget provided by the transaction service provider in the user's profile page on the social networking site and the user can use the storefront widget to input information about products that the user is selling. Other users of the social networking site view the user's profile page and the storefront widget will display the products that the user is selling. The other users may interact with the storefront widget to purchase the products that the user is selling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Jason J. Hogg, Cory Moreira, Andrew Peret, Kiran Jagannath
  • Patent number: 9111306
    Abstract: A system and method that combines content with one or more canvas products to provide finished products for dissemination to end customers is provided. More specifically, a system and method are provided to enable a content provider to select one or more canvas products to which content would be applied, whereby the content provider may then provide web links on any of a multitude of locations to redirect an end customer to a canvas product center and/or fulfillment center to acquire finished products having content thereon. The finished product is customizable for and by any one or more content providers for a unique appearance and offering to end customers. Content providers are able to leverage the infrastructure, network and benefits of a third party while enjoying the ease of setup, minimal up-front costs and eliminate the need to invest in or carry an inventory of finished products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM North America Corporation
    Inventor: Seymen Ertas
  • Patent number: 9092784
    Abstract: A method is provided to display on an electronic device, prioritized reviews of content items offered in an online storefront; contact information associated the device includes social affinity information; contacts of the user of the device are matched to reviews of the content item within a content item database associated with the online storefront; social affinity between reviewers, who have a match user contacts, and the user of the device is used to prioritize the reviews; reviews are displayed on the electronic device UI with an indication of their priority based upon social affinity between the reviewer and the user of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Ryan Brock Proudfoot
  • Patent number: 9092792
    Abstract: A system is configured to perform a method of customizing an application. The method includes receiving a connection from a client machine that is executing an application configurable by configuration information. The method also includes determining that the application has not been customized by the configuration information. The method further includes transmitting the configuration information to the client machine in response to the determining that the application has not been customized by the configuration information. In response to the transmitting of the configuration information, the application is configured to include a category structure for the application. In some example embodiments, the configuration information includes a software module upgrade of the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Dean Veres, Ching-Jye Liang
  • Patent number: 9092818
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, with a processing device of a commerce server, a signal from a consumer transmitted through an augmented reality device worn by the consumer. The method also includes the step of confirming, with the processing device, the signal contains a query from the consumer. The method also includes the step of retrieving, with the processing device, a proposed answer to the query. The method also includes the step of transmitting, with the processing device, the proposed answer to the augmented reality device. The method also includes the step of verifying, with the processing device, the proposed answer is accepted by the consumer. The method also includes the step of prompting, with the processing device, the consumer to resubmit the signal if the query is not confirmed in the confirming step or if the proposed answer is not accepted in the verifying step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Stuart Argue, Anthony Emile Marcar
  • Patent number: 9092816
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for identifying relevant browsing and/or purchasing activity associated with one or more contacts of a user having a user account with an electronic commerce system. In one embodiment, a determination is made as to whether each contact is associated with a different user account with the electronic commerce system. If so, network content comprising such relevant browsing and/or purchasing history may be presented to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Siddharth Sriram
  • Patent number: 9087354
    Abstract: A method to order a set of paper checks using a mobile device, including obtaining, using the mobile device, an image of a check, analyzing, using a computer processor of the mobile device and based on a pre-determined check template, the image to generate account information of the check, wherein the account information relates to a checking account of an account holder at a financial institution issuing the check, and wherein the account information comprises a checking account number, a name of the account holder, and an address of the account holder, searching, using the computer processor, a database to identify a check ordering service based on the account number and the address of the account holder, and submitting to the check ordering service, using the mobile device, an order of the set of paper checks for the account holder based on the account information of the account holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventor: Santosh V. Hambir
  • Patent number: 9076179
    Abstract: An interactive system generates personalized item recommendations for users based partly or wholly on ratings assigned by the users to particular items. The system includes an item rating user interface that enables a user to view, prior to rating an item, information regarding the types of items that will be recommended to the user if the user assigns a particular rating or type of rating to the item. The user interface thereby enables users to refrain from performing rating actions that will tend to result in low utility or “poor quality” recommendations from the users' perspectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Xavier, George M. Ionkov, Jeffrey D. Lehman, Japan S. Doshi, Sandy Wenling Qiu, Bobby P. Nath
  • Patent number: 9076181
    Abstract: Vigilance monitoring and a navigation aid are provided to a user in an electronic auction by receiving by a computer a command to watch similar items to a first item in an online or electronic auction; extracting by a computer from the command, from the auction, or from both the command and the auction one or more item descriptive parameters; using by a computer the extracted parameters to query one or more online or electronic sales sources for similar items matching the extracted parameters, the sales sources being electronic sources other than the auction; receiving by a computer at least one price for an available similar item from at least one sales source; and causing prompting by a computer a user of the auction with the similar item price and sales source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kulvir Singh Bhogal, Rick Allen Hamilton, II, James Robert Kozloski, Clifford Alan Pickover