Patents Examined by Rob Pond
  • Patent number: 9709410
    Abstract: A computer implemented method includes accessing a list containing one or more items for purchase. The method further includes receiving a vehicle location. The method also includes searching for one or more stores within a predefined distance of the vehicle location, which sell at least one item from the list, and the prices those stores offer. Additionally, the method includes recommending a stop at at least one of the one or more stores, and providing directions to a store for which a stop was recommended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Perry Robinson MacNeille, Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin, Yimin Liu, Mark Schunder
  • Patent number: 9710835
    Abstract: The present invention provides, for example, a terminal device which allows users to easily check whether or not predetermined conditions such as free shipping conditions are met in, for example, a net supermarket site, and prevents display of a shopping cart from preventing product information from being enlarged and displayed or a great number of pieces of product information from being displayed. Display control is performed such that, while a shopping cart is displayed in the first display area until predetermined conditions are met, the shopping cart is displayed in the second display area below the first display area after the predetermined conditions are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Rakuten, Inc.
    Inventor: Yukiko Ochiai
  • Patent number: 9704193
    Abstract: A system and method for virtually displaying on-line a gallery, a showroom, a store, a mall or any other room or space and the objects contained in said room or space, wherein the data displayed is comprised of a virtual reality data packet. The system displays still photographs of virtual reality shots and textual materials, and plays virtual reality video clips and audio stores about the room and/or the objects contained therein. Links are associated with each object and are stored external to the virtual reality data packet can be retrieved on demand from an external database for presentation of the viewer. The system also provides on-line controls that enable the viewer to move around the space, and a feature that enables a viewer to view an object from 360° around the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventor: Catherine G. Lin-Hendel
  • Patent number: 9704129
    Abstract: The present invention provides a computer-implemented integrated professional services research, resource, and education delivery and management system. The invention integrates the professional services delivery aspect with the professional education, training and requirements aspect associated with professional services firms and concerns. The invention provides electronic filing and reporting of requirements related documents to maintain state certifications. By providing a more efficient learning environment that is more fully integrated in the practice of a given profession, the present invention promotes an environment that more quickly advances and cultivates the skills of professionals, especially those with little experience, and more closely relates such development with the particular areas in which the individual is engaged in the practice and delivery of professional services, thereby enhancing value delivered to the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Thomson Reuters Global Resources
    Inventors: Kenneth Koskay, Stephen Perreault, Stephanie Jeanne Black, Todd Denlinger, Greg Poirier
  • Patent number: 9697552
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for social shopping on a network-based marketplace. The method receives, over a network at a social shopping platform, a request from a user in a first community of users. The social shopping platform includes multiple network-based marketplaces respectively associated with communities that include the first community of users that is associated with a first network-based marketplace. The method identifies the first network-based marketplace from the network-based marketplaces based on the request. The request is for an activity associated with the first network-based marketplace. The first network-based marketplace is used by the first community of users to transact items of a single domain that is of interest to the first community of users. The method updates a listing reputation score based on the activity associated with the first network-based marketplace and a user reputation score based on the listing reputation score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventor: Neelakantan Sundaresan
  • Patent number: 9684653
    Abstract: Product information may be utilized to create a translation dictionary. The translation dictionary may then be utilized to translate search queries from a foreign language to the primary language that is utilized to provide an online e-commerce marketplace. The translated search queries may then be utilized to perform a search of a product catalog maintained by the online e-commerce marketplace. The translation dictionary created with the product information might also be utilized to translate resources, such as Web site resources, to verify the translation of the resources, and to perform other functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Rahul H. Bhagat
  • Patent number: 9672533
    Abstract: An electronic service provides an electronic catalog to a user. The electronic catalog can include a plurality of descriptions of items. The electronic catalog can also include a plurality of prompts which allow the user to acquire the items described in the electronic catalog. The items in the electronic catalog can be determined by static and/or dynamic considerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John Lattyak
  • Patent number: 9665900
    Abstract: Systems and methods herein can generate sales rankings for parts based on one or more metrics, such as geographic location of purchasers of the parts or based on items owned by users that function in conjunction with the parts. The systems can present the sales rankings to a user based on another item owned by the user. For example, sales rankings of memory can be presented to a user based on a laptop model owned by the user. Thus, users can determine how popular a part is among particular segments of the population, such as among users living in a certain geographic region, or among users who own a particular item designed to operate with the part. Moreover, the sales rankings can be used to generate recommendations of parts based on a corresponding item owned by the user that is configured to function with the part type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Todd Claeson, Darshan Dev Bildikar, Christopher Warren Bryant, Edward Charles Grenier, Samuel Stevens Heyworth, Sachin Midha, Balu Ramu, Ambareesha Raghothaman, Andrew Robert Toner
  • Patent number: 9659310
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for consumption based subscription frequency recommendations. A system configured to practice the example method first evaluates purchase statistics for an item to determine a consumption frequency. The system receives from a user a request for the item, and presents to the user a subscription recommendation based on the consumption frequency. The system can also provide recommendations for accessories by evaluating purchase statistics for an item to determine an accessory for the item, wherein a number of times the accessory is purchased with the item exceeds a threshold, receiving from a user a request for a subscription for recurring purchases of the item, and presenting to the user a recommendation to include the accessory as part of the subscription.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Gregory Allen, Jason E. Dishlip, Steven F. Toth, Ming-Hsiu Wang, Michael J. Beenen, Laura E. Ford, Kevin Alexander Lee
  • Patent number: 9652288
    Abstract: A method for adaptively allocating resources to a plurality of jobs. The method comprises selecting a first policy from a plurality of policies for a first job in the plurality of jobs by using a policy selection mechanism, allocating at least one resource to the first job in accordance with the first policy, and in response to completion of the first job, updating the policy selection mechanism to obtain an updated policy selection mechanism by using at least one processor. Updating the policy selection mechanism comprises evaluating the performance of the first policy with respect to the first job by calculating a value of a metric of utility for the first policy based on conditions associated with execution of the first job and updating the policy selection mechanism based on the calculated value and a delay of execution of the first job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Navendu Jain, Ishai Menache, Ohad Shamir
  • Patent number: 9639664
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for executing transactions between parties seeking services and parties offering services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Integrated Claims Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew L. DiRienzo
  • Patent number: 9626632
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for logically packaging and delivering a service offering. A set of service implementation artifacts, a service ordering process, and a service provisioning process are selected and configured to implement a service offering. A requirements specification for the set of service implementation artifacts is defined. Logical associations between parameters are defined such that a change of a parameter for a first component triggers a change for a parameter of a second component. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method accelerates the self-service ordering and deployment of service offerings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sandra Sheu Chang, Dikran S. Meliksetian, Peng Ye
  • Patent number: 9619832
    Abstract: A server receives an electronic shopping cart from a client device. The electronic shopping cart describes an item for purchase from a merchant. The server comparison-shops to determine a different merchant offering the same or comparable item for sale. The server sends a notification to the client device describing a lower price offered by the different merchant. The server may then receive an approval to replace the item selected for purchase from the merchant with the item offered by the different merchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Barrett M. Kreiner, Ronald Perrella
  • Patent number: 9613375
    Abstract: In some example embodiments, a system and method are illustrated as including generating an item page that includes widget code and details related to an item for sale. Some example embodiments may include making the widget code available for retrieval from the item page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Chang, Robert Chatwani, Daniel Burkhart
  • Patent number: 9595064
    Abstract: Multiple simultaneous auctions can be monitored and participated in using a single bidding device operated by a single remote bidder. A multi-windowed environment allows for the display of active bidding windows and docked bidding windows. The active bidding windows are fully functional bidding windows and include auction status, product information and the like. The docked bidding windows provide a subset of the information but, nonetheless provide real-time auction status information and allows for bidders to enter bids into the auctioning process without having to move the bidding window into an active status. A customer-identifier selector of identifier allows the remote bidder to associate a customer with a particular bidding window. The customer-identifier advantageously helps the remote bidder to track who purchased items are associated with, as well as providing control structure over the bidding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: XCIRA, INC
    Inventors: Nancy J Rabenold, James A Simmons
  • Patent number: 9576260
    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: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Hari Pothukuchi, Noni Gonzalez, Ernesto Solera
  • Patent number: 9568324
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for collecting and using user-contributed map data. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided for collecting maneuver-specific annotations. According to the method, a user is presented with a set of computer-generated driving directions comprising a plurality of maneuvers. In association with presenting to the user the set of driving directions, the method presents to the user an option to submit an annotation for one of the plurality of maneuvers. In response to presenting the option to the user, the annotation is received from the user and stored in association with an identification of the one of the plurality of maneuvers. The stored annotation may be incorporated in the set of computer-generated driving directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: MapQuest, Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua J. Babetski
  • Patent number: 9558514
    Abstract: One aspect relates to managing deliveries of at least one goods, items, and/or services that could be received by at least one customer, at least partially by recognizing an exemplar as corresponding to the at least one goods, items, and/or services. Another aspect relates to considering selling goods, items, and/or services from an exemplar merchant and/or store at least partially utilizing an exemplar item information as derived from a customer's previous history, wherein at least some of the exemplar item information as derived from the customer's previous history could be stored in certain embodiments of at least a portion of a shopping control mechanism. Yet another aspect relates to receiving an exemplar item information that can be used to recognize an exemplar as corresponding to an at least one goods, items, and/or services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Edward K. Y. Jung, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9536233
    Abstract: A system facilitates a first user providing a second user with a gift through a service provider network. A first user may provide an asset such as a ring tone for use on the second user's mobile device. Alternatively, the first user may provide a monetary credit to the second user. Embodied systems are enabled for charging or billing an account associated with the first user and notifying the first user of a successful transaction including receipt or use of the gift. In some embodiments, a service delivery platform communicates with a unified storefront and a payment module for receiving and processing gift requests and payments. Gifts may be requested through an interface associated with the first user's IPTV set-top box. In addition, gifts may be presented to the second user by an interface associated with the second user's set-top box. The unified storefront allows access to gifting through mobile devices and other networked data processing systems in addition to set-top boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: David Piepenbrink, Lee M. Chow, Sudha Gopal
  • Patent number: 9466079
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments may generally be directed to, among other things, a platform for providing information to one or more consumers to facilitate the purchase of one or more vehicles. In one embodiment, the platform may provide information associated with one or more OEMs and their vehicle product lines. In another embodiment, the platform may facilitate selecting, building, modifying, comparing, and/or purchasing one or more vehicles. In yet another embodiment, the platform may determine inventory data corresponding to actual available inventory at one or more dealerships.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Cox Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Melanie Allgood Hygema, Brett Michael Kelly, Brian Cameron Zavitz, Pamela Ann Russek, Jose Ignacio Puente, Nicholas James Park