Patents Examined by Rob Pond
  • Patent number: 9911091
    Abstract: A method of managing a supply chain comprises providing at a customer interface module a plurality of order fulfillment options to a customer, and receiving from the customer a selection of a particular order fulfillment option. The method also includes receiving a first order from the customer, and receiving a first inventory status from a first distribution center. A first distribution center sends a first product to the customer in response to determining that the particular order fulfillment option comprises a fill-partial order fulfillment option, and a duration between the time that the first product is directed to be sent and the time when the first product is actually sent is determined. An alert is generated if the duration is greater than a predetermined duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Hari Pothukuchi, Noni Gonzalez, Ernesto Solera
  • Patent number: 9870587
    Abstract: A virtual reality scene corresponding to a physical scene is displayed. The virtual reality scene includes a plurality of objects. The plurality of objects is selectable by a user and is built from a plurality of images representing varied views of the plurality of objects in the physical scene. The user is enabled to navigate within the virtual reality scene to observe the virtual reality scene from at least two perspectives. The user is enabled to rotate at least one of the plurality of objects within the virtual reality scene about at least one axis. A selection received from the user corresponds to at least one of the plurality of objects within the virtual reality scene. In response to the selection, additional information about a selected at least one of the plurality of objects is displayed. The additional information includes at least one of a link to buy and a link to bid on the selected at least one of the plurality of objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Inventor: Catherine G. Lin-Hendel
  • Patent number: 9846898
    Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling access to listing performance data, used in conjunction with a search engine to order search results, are described. Consistent with some embodiments, a listing performance data engine module processes API commands received from client computing systems. The data engine module processes the API commands to identify and communicate relevant listing performance data that is used by a listing performance algorithm to assign a listing performance score to item listings satisfying a search request. The listing performance data provides sellers who have items listed for sale an insight as to how their item listings are performing in comparison to other item listings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Faisal Rehman, Olivier G. Dumon, Ryan McDonald
  • Patent number: 9842364
    Abstract: Determining transaction status information is disclosed, including: sending a transaction status information query request corresponding to a contact person associated with an instant messaging client, wherein the transaction status information query request is associated with a user with respect to the contact person, wherein the user is associated with the instant messaging client; and receiving transaction status information determined based at least in part on the transaction status information query request corresponding to the contact person, wherein the transaction status information describes a current stage in a fulfillment process of an order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Limited
    Inventor: Ke Hu
  • Patent number: 9836780
    Abstract: A method of initiating a consumer transaction using a human interaction device to read voice or human based gesture actions is disclosed. Video data is transmitted from a processing device to a display device. The video is monitoring for event data corresponding to a plurality of consumer products or services, and monitored event data is received in the processing device. A consumer is notified on the display device of an eligible consumer transaction. Voice or human based gesture actions are read with a human interaction device and are analyzed. If the voice or human based gesture actions conform to a predetermined set of requirements, then a consumer transaction for the plurality of consumer products or services is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Alan Cooke, Garry Lyons, Oran Cummins, Stephen Elder
  • Patent number: 9836773
    Abstract: Embodiments for methods, systems and apparatuses of a commerce network for completing a commercial transaction are disclosed. One computer-method includes receiving, by one or more commerce network servers, a buyer-initiated demand for fulfillment of the commercial transaction, identifying suppliers to satisfy the buyer-initiated demand based on buyer policies and supplier characteristics, requesting quotes from the identified suppliers, receiving quotes from the identified suppliers, evaluating and selecting, by the one or more commerce network servers, one or more of the received quotes, wherein evaluating and selecting the one or more of the received quote comprises applying evaluating criteria to the received quotes, wherein the evaluation criteria includes applying a weighted combination of a plurality of evaluating factors, and facilitating presentation of the one or more selected quotes to the buyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ariba, Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhir Bhojwani, Kshitij Dayal, Sanish Mondkar
  • Patent number: 9830649
    Abstract: An on-line savings page for managing a savings account includes a list of items the user is saving for, where each item has a specified priority. A savings rate for each item is determined by the savings account based on the priority and total savings rate. The user is notified of any changes in the savings account, such as price changes, inventory changes, etc., as well as relevant information related to the item, such as sales, offers, recalls, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Watson
  • Patent number: 9818145
    Abstract: Recommendations of items may be provided to a customer who purchases items from an online marketplace on behalf of a user account based on the interactions of the customer with the marketplace or with one or more external resources, such as a social network account affiliated with the customer. For example, systems and methods may utilize such interactions to determine which of the purchases of items on behalf of the user account are affiliated with the customer, and which may be affiliated with one or more other individuals. Similarly, the systems and methods may also identify recommendations for customers who have purchased items for delivery to a destination based on other items that have been delivered to the destination, and may further determine when a customer has purchased an item for a recipient who has already received the item from another customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam James Finkelstein, Adam Edward Shirey, Phivos Costas Avistides
  • Patent number: 9811849
    Abstract: An enterprise geospatial intelligence service oriented architecture (EGI-SOA) provides a consumer with one or more tailored products in response to either a dynamic request or a standing request by the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Great-Circle Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent Bursey
  • Patent number: 9805406
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed by which a first computer system that is associated with a first organization provides a software component to a second computer system that is associated with a second organization, where the software component, when embedded and executed within a user interface provided by the second organization, includes in the user interface a first link to a first media content item and a second link to a second media content item. In one implementation, the first media content item and the second media content item reside in a data store associated with the first organization, and the first media content item and the second media content item are selected from a plurality of media content items based on content in the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventor: Shiva Jaini
  • Patent number: 9792583
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed that provide a comprehensive and integrated professional education and training platform, especially in the areas of tax, financial auditing and reporting, and planning and risk assessment. The systems and techniques allow an administrator to identify a subset of learning courses from a set of available learning courses for association with an educational product, and to assign individuals to each of the subset of learning courses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Thomson Reuters Global Resources Unlimited Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen G. Perreault, Stephanie J. Black, Todd R. Denlinger, Kenneth A. Koskay, Gregory J. Poirier
  • Patent number: 9779386
    Abstract: The present invention relates to software and a method of use for implementing workflows and managing engagements and staff. More particularly, the present invention relates to a software module tracking data of staff, engagements and workflows and a method of using such data in the management of staff and assignment of tasks. Information concerning employees is input into a database by the manager and the employees, and is tracked therein. The information concerning an employee includes an employee's availability, ability and experience. Workflow/Task information is input into the database when either a client makes a request for service of the business, or a workflow/task internal to the business is needed to be performed. Task information includes the nature of the work and deadlines. Task information is compared to the employee information. A list is automatically generated naming the employees best suited to the mandate of the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Thomson Reuters Global Resources
    Inventors: N. Frank Swierz, III, Jon Baron, Brian Vroom, Mark Powell, Randall Loughridge, Stephen Perreault, Stephanie Black, Todd Denlinger, Kenneth Koskay, Greg Poirier
  • Patent number: 9779160
    Abstract: System and computer-implemented method of analyzing tags associated with a sequence of images presented to a user to present a current interest of the user is disclosed. An image from among a plurality of images is presented on an electronic display. The image is associated with a set of tags. An input is received indicating a user's preference for the image. A plurality of tags is processed based on the preference and the set of tags to determine a next set of tags from the plurality of tags. A next image is determined from the plurality of images based on the next set of tags. The next image represents a physical object, different from a physical object represented by the previous image. A sequence of images is generated by repeating the above process with the next image in place of the previous image for present a user's current interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Inventors: Sydney Nicole Epstein, Paul Lawrence Epstein
  • Patent number: 9773245
    Abstract: Described herein are techniques for initiating item fulfillment at least partly in response to the users performing gestures on touchscreens of client devices. For instance, a user may operate a client device that renders content associated with an item offered by an offering service. The user may thereafter request to acquire the item by performing a gesture on a touchscreen of the client device. The offering service may receive the request and a representation of the gesture and, in response, may determine whether or not to initiate fulfillment of the item at least partly with reference to the received representation of the gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Imran S. Patel, Umesh Kumar, Gabriel E. Yeung, Craig R. Brookes, Tamal Saha
  • Patent number: 9773269
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which thematic image selection challenges including images of items available in an electronic catalog are presented to users. Unclassified items in the electronic catalog may be identified, and the unclassified items may be presented in a thematic image selection challenges to assist in classifying the unclassified items. Classified items may also be presented in the thematic image selection challenge in order to assess the reliability of user input. If a user expresses interest in an item in the thematic image selection challenge, the user may be presented with more information about the item and may also be presented with an option to purchase the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred Jerome Lazarus
  • Patent number: 9760936
    Abstract: A method of and system for purchasing an item using contributions from multiple people enables multiple users to contribute towards a gift. Typically the gift is one that each user would not purchase individually, but as a group, each user is able to contribute a portion of the total payment. Preferably, a gift host selects the gift, provides desired information and invited contributors are informed of the gift by email. The invited contributors then provide the necessary information to contribute before a deadline is reached. If the contributions are enough to purchase the gift, the gift is purchased and is given to a gift receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Inventors: Kenneth Shaw, Kavin Asavanant
  • Patent number: 9754305
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for managing the display of product module descriptors within a user interface. Product module data, along with historical visit and product module purchase data, is processed to generate a Config Score numeric value, which in turn is processed to generate a ConfigRank numeric value for each of a plurality of product modules. In turn, the ConfigRank numeric values are then used to determine the placement of each product module's associated product module descriptor within a user interface window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventor: Kiran Rama
  • Patent number: 9734489
    Abstract: A transaction fee imposed by a payment provider may be allocated between the parties to an on-line transaction in any way and at any time. This adds flexibility to the transaction and allows the parties to allocate the transaction fee on a per transaction basis that best suits the parties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Srinivas Vadhri, Jennifer Ceran
  • Patent number: 9733271
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an enhanced user experience at an event or venue are provided. The systems and methods provided herein provide venue-specific location-based services to the user through the user's mobile device. Such services include allowing a user to order merchandise and concessions from their seat using their mobile device and delivering the ordered items to their seat. Such services also include determining a user's seat location from a scanned code on the user's ticket and providing a map to and from their seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: EBAY INC.
    Inventors: Marc Hosein, Steve Yankovich, Nate Lyman, Selina Lam
  • Patent number: 9721277
    Abstract: A system and method for providing financial account messages to customers while accessing web sites is disclosed. Methods, systems and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention enable a financial account issuer to provide an application to customer's computer system over a network. The application may be configured to provide various messages associated with the customer's financial account provided by the financial account issuer while the customer browses web sites. The financial account messages may be configured to provide interactive and dynamically changing account status information based on attempted purchases of goods and/or services by the customer at merchants' web sites. The application may also be configured to provide rating information associated with web sites accessed by the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Capital One Financial Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Turner, Arthur Koeppel