Patents Examined by Vincent M Cao
  • Patent number: 11132718
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selecting content items for presentation along with publisher resources. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request for a content item for presentation at a user device with a publisher resource; receiving, from a content item provider a first selection value for each of a plurality of content items provided by the content item provider; determining, for each of the content items and using accessed distribution parameters, a second selection value distinct from the first selection value; and determining, for each of the content items and independent of a bid corresponding to the content item, a combined selection value based on the first selection value for the content item and the second selection value for the content item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Gang Wang
  • Patent number: 11127031
    Abstract: Systems and related methods of providing promotional offers to consumers are discussed herein. Some embodiments may provide for an apparatus including circuitry configured to provide promotional offers to consumers based on dimensions representing criteria by which promotions may be deemed relevant to a consumer. Some examples of dimensions may include location, time, environment, price, and/or consumer preference. Based on receiving signals from the consumer device, among other sources, indicating associated times, locations, and other characteristics of consumer activity, the apparatus may recognize patterns or trends in consumer behavior, and use such information to predict or influence future consumer behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Groupon, Inc.
    Inventors: Sridatta Viswanath, Amber Roy Chowdhury, Roger Henry Castillo, Sri Subramaniam, Lawrence Lee Wai, Bhupesh Bansal, Vijay Kumar
  • Patent number: 11074622
    Abstract: In general, embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and computer readable media configured to use a per-set level optimization of the rank order of promotions to be recommended to a consumer. In some embodiments, machine learning is used offline to generate a predictive diversity model that receives one or more similarity rank features associated with a promotion (e.g., category, price band) as input, and produces an output multiplier to be applied to the promotion's respective associated relevance score (e.g., a relevance score representing a prediction of the promotion's conversion rate without diversity features). At run time, per-set optimization of the ordering of a set of promotions is implemented by adjusting the respective associated relevance scores of the promotions using the diversity model and then re-ordering the set of promotions based on their respective adjusted relevance scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Groupon, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Lee Wai
  • Patent number: 11074625
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a method for providing content. A linking is provided of identifiers for users or devices known to a content delivery service. Each identifier is associated with the user or device in a specific context. The linking includes first and second identifiers. A request for content is received that includes either the first or second identifier. Bidders in an exchange are identified that have expressed an interest in bidding on a content delivery opportunity associated with the user or the device. For each bidder, a relative value is determined for a respective bidder for the opportunity to present content to the user or device in association with each identifier known to the bidder. For each bidder, a real-time bid request is generated in the exchange that includes the highest value identifier for submission to a respective bidder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Gang Wang
  • Patent number: 11030648
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for providing diversified promotions are discussed herein. Some embodiments may include a system including circuitry configured to provide diversified promotions within an impression or other communication including multiple promotions. For example, promotions may be associated with diversity characteristics to determine the diversity of promotional offerings within an impression and/or within a series of impressions over a period of time sent to a targeted consumer. When an impression is determined to lack diversity based on the diversity characteristics of the promotions, the system may be configured to take corrective action such as by replacing at least one promotion with a replacement promotion that provides greater diversity to the impression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Groupon, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahim Daya, Michalis Potamias
  • Patent number: 10977694
    Abstract: In general, embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and computer readable media for ranking promotions selected for recommendation to consumers based on predictions of promotion performance and consumer behavior. In embodiments, a set of promotions to be recommended to a consumer can be sorted and/or ranked according to respective relevance scores representing a probability that the consumer's behavior in response to the promotion will match a ranking target. In embodiments, calculating scores is based on a relevance model (a predictive function) derived from one or more contextual data sources representing attributes of promotions and consumer behavior. In embodiments, an absolute relevance score represents an absolute prediction of a ranking target variable. In embodiments, absolute relevance may be used to determine personalized local merchant discovery frontiers; featured result set thresholding for impressions; and/or promotion notification triggers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Groupon, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Lee Wai
  • Patent number: 10963913
    Abstract: Techniques for automatically generating targeting templates are provided. In one technique, multiple sets of targeting criteria provided by different content providers are identified. Based on the multiple sets of targeting criteria, multiple clusters of sets of targeting criteria are created. For each cluster, a targeting template is generated based on a set of targeting criteria that belong to that cluster. In another technique, multiple users are identified and for each user, a set of attribute-value pairs of that user is identified and added to a plurality of attribute-value pairs. Based on the plurality of attribute-value pairs, a targeting template that specifies targeting criteria is generated and presented for selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Bita Gorjiara, Zhanwei Sun, Luke Kopakowski
  • Patent number: 10949880
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a computer-implemented method of analyzing video interactions on internet-supported computer platforms, such as online social media platforms, to extract video intelligence, i.e. unique insights and recommendations for audience engagement optimization, network growth, advertising, and marketing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: ICX Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Jyotika Singh, Rebecca Bilbro, Michael Avon, Scott Bowen, Dan Jolicoeur, Serge Matta
  • Patent number: 10949894
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems, methods and computer readable media for facilitating pricing. An example method may include determining a price adjustable promotion from a plurality of promotions, the price adjustable promotion having a first promotional price, a forecasted demand that provides an indication of a promotion inventory exhaustion period and a plurality of redemption parameters that comprise at least a promotional period, a promotional value and a redemption expiration and causing the price adjustable promotion to be offered at the second promotional price while at least one of the plurality of redemption parameters for the price adjustable promotion remain constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Groupon, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Bansal, Rahim Daya, Vyomkesh Tripathi, Francisco Larrain, Kamson Lai, Hernan Arroyo, Gaston L'Huillier, Ricardo Zilleruelo, Latife Genc-Kaya, Shi Zhao
  • Patent number: 10943245
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for providing promotion sharing between consumers are discussed herein. Some embodiments may include a system including circuitry configured to generate an incentive token for a promotion of a merchant. The incentive token may be associated with a first consumer account and provided to a first consumer device associated with the first consumer account for sharing with other consumers. Upon receiving the incentive token form a second consumer device associated with a second consumer account, the circuitry may be configured to enable the second consumer account to receive an incentive value of the incentive token if various conditions are satisfied. For example, the second consumer may be asked to purchase the promotion, create a new consumer account, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Groupon, Inc.
    Inventors: Injae Lee, Selvam Velmurugan, Vinayak Hegde
  • Patent number: 10929895
    Abstract: Systems and related methods providing for dynamic message creation are discussed herein. Circuitry may be configured receive generic configuration data that references work chunks for message generation and time data indicating a message send time. The work chunks may include references to message data, but not the actual message data. Based on the time data, the work chunks may be placed in a message queue. Circuitry may also be configured to retrieve a work chunk from the message queue and to generate one or more messages based on the retrieved work chunk. The references to message data in the work chunk may be used to retrieve the message data at the time of message generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: GROUPON, INC.
    Inventors: Geetha Kakarlapudi, Kannan Nitin Sharma, Mohit Gupta, Avik Sinharoy, Christopher S. Trimble, Vinesh Gudla, Ryan Duane Boyd
  • Patent number: 10922369
    Abstract: A system and method operates on a client device and acquires a suspect list of user products based on information derived from the client device. The system normalizes the list, and the user confirms the accuracy of the product list. The user product list is sent to a server where the user product list is compared to other lists using collaborative filtering techniques. The collaborative filtering techniques determine products of interest for the use and the level of interest of the user. The system computes a similarity measure bused upon the number of similar products that match the user's product list and rankings provided by the user and others. Demographic and behavioral data may also be used in performing the comparison and the similarity measure. The system acquires editorial rankings of products from other users and provides a ranked list of recommended products based upon the editorial rankings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: CBS Interactive Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Bedard, Greg Kasavin, Patrick Cashman Andrus
  • Patent number: 10915927
    Abstract: Virtual teleportation systems and methods are disclosed. A remote advertising system includes an identification, location and authentication system associated with a physical venue, including a master sensor node and a plurality of sensors. A cloud-based advertisement service is deployed in the physical venue. An application installed on a mobile device determines a first set of coordinates corresponding to the mobile device location, transmits a first search request for a service, receives and displays a list of services, including the physical venue associated with the master sensor node and the physical venue including a teleportation indicator, and receives an indication that the teleportation indicator is selected. The application determines a second set of coordinates corresponding to the physical venue location, replaces the first set of coordinates with the second set of coordinates, transmits a second search request, and receives and displays a second list based on the second set of coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: CloudTraQ LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Taylor DeWitt, Eugen Munteanu
  • Patent number: 10902477
    Abstract: In general, embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and computer readable media for ranking promotions selected for recommendation to consumers based on predictions of promotion performance and consumer behavior. In embodiments, a set of promotions to be recommended to a consumer can be sorted and/or ranked according to respective relevance scores representing a probability that the consumer's behavior in response to the promotion will match a ranking target. In embodiments, calculating scores is based on a relevance model (a predictive function) derived from one or more contextual data sources representing attributes of promotions and consumer behavior. In embodiments, an absolute relevance score represents an absolute prediction of a ranking target variable. In embodiments, absolute relevance may be used to determine personalized local merchant discovery frontiers; featured result set thresholding for impressions; and/or promotion notification triggers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Groupon, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Lee Wai
  • Patent number: 10902467
    Abstract: The pull-type searching system provides an effective and efficient way to navigate deals and assist the user in identifying a deal for selection. The pull-type searching system further enables identification of one or more alternative deals to present to the user when no deals are identified for the selected search criteria. The pull-type searching system includes a method and apparatus. The method includes communicating ordered selectable search criteria, the search criteria including one or more categories, subcategories and deal types based on a user profile or available deals, or redemption goals. The method further includes receiving a selection from the search criteria and searching a deals database for results associated with the selection. Further, the method includes communicating the results associated with the selection, one or more alternative categories, or one or more alternative deals. A similar apparatus is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Groupon, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Fulghum, Ruslan Gilfanov, Jeffrey Alan Holden, Andrew Mason, Ian Silber, Eric Vadon
  • Patent number: 10902459
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for facilitating smart advertising on curated content-based networking websites in an on-demand services environment in a multi-tenant environment according to one embodiment. In one embodiment and by way of example, a method includes receiving a request for advertisement on a website, where the request may be received from an advertising organization. The method may further include estimating one or more factors relating to the advertisement, computing, based on the estimation, expected revenue relating to the advertisement, and placing the advertisement on the website based on the expected revenue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventor: Gary Flake
  • Patent number: 10891658
    Abstract: In general, embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and computer readable media for ranking promotions selected for recommendation to consumers based on predictions of promotion performance and consumer behavior. In embodiments, a set of promotions to be recommended to a consumer can be sorted and/or ranked according to respective relevance scores representing a probability that the consumer's behavior in response to the promotion will match a ranking target. In embodiments, calculating scores is based on a relevance model (a predictive function) derived from one or more contextual data sources representing attributes of promotions and consumer behavior. In embodiments, an absolute relevance score represents an absolute prediction of a ranking target variable. In embodiments, absolute relevance may be used to determine personalized local merchant discovery frontiers; featured result set thresholding for impressions; and/or promotion notification triggers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Groupon, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Lee Wai
  • Patent number: 10878438
    Abstract: Systems and methods for audio advertising user interaction are disclosed. A voice interactive device causes an advertising audio file to be played for a user. The user can express interest in the advertising content of the advertising audio file by speaking one of a plurality of predetermined intents. Based on expressed user response, one or more results can be provided to the user and/or to a user device. The results relate to advertising content of the advertising audio file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Spotify AB
    Inventors: Edward Yizhi Chen, Kevin Showkat, Sarah Raymond, Brenton Dale Laverty, Michelle Alexander, Lu Han, Colette Kolenda, Doug DeMarco
  • Patent number: 10878394
    Abstract: Techniques for recommending actions for a merchant to perform to encourage a sale of an item based on an expiration associated therewith. A service provider may determine expiration data associated with inventory items offered for sale by the merchant. The expiration data may be based on a recommended date and/or time provided by the manufacturer, a merchant preference and/or a service provider setting. In some examples, the expiration data associated with an item may be determined based on expiration data associated with one or more similar items. The service provider may monitor the expiration data associated with each item of inventory and may determine that an expiration associated with a particular item is within a threshold period of time. Based on the expiration being within the threshold period of time, the service provider may send a recommendation to the merchant to perform an action to encourage the sale of the particular item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels Gjertson, Matthew Capers
  • Patent number: 10853844
    Abstract: Systems and methods to generate purchase suggestions are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: present purchase suggestions, by a user interface to the vehicle occupant; generate output signals conveying a location of the vehicle; receive and determine output signals of external resources conveying interest information of the vehicle occupant; determine, based on the output signals, location of the vehicle; determine, based on the location and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, business information of one or more businesses nearby; build one or more business profiles; build one or more purchase profiles; store the one or more business profiles and/or purchase profiles in electronic storage; determine, based on the one or more business profiles, the driver's purchase profile, and/or the location information, purchase suggestions for the driver; and present, through the user interface, the purchase suggestions for the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Anthony McClung, Wilson-Boon Siang Khoo