Patents Examined by Will Allen
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Patent number: 8438069Abstract: A method and system to facilitate a purchase of an item on a network-based marketplace. The system receives a request from a first user on a network-based social platform. The request identifies a virtual gift. Next, the system associates the virtual gift to an item for sale on the network-based marketplace. Finally, the system communicates interface information that enables the first user to purchase the item on the network-based marketplace.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2008Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: eBay Inc.Inventors: Choon Chong, Trisha Lee Okubo
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Patent number: 8301506Abstract: Managing categories in an electronic commerce system, includes obtaining transaction information pertaining to a set of back-end categories, the transaction information includes user information of users in the system who completed transactions in the set of back-end categories during a preset period, determining, based on the user information, a set of front-end categories that were selected by users in the system during the preset period, determining number of times a front-end category in the set of front-end categories was selected by the users in the system during the preset period, and adjusting the front-end category according to the transaction information and the number of times the front-end category was selected during the preset period.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2009Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding LimitedInventors: Yingliang Tan, Tianbao Lin, Ya Lin, Minxu Liu
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Patent number: 8266003Abstract: This document relates to classification of items included in a data feed. For example, a feed of items is generated for provision to a referral network site. The feed includes some of the items sold through an electronic commerce network site. Item classification information corresponding to an item sold through the electronic commerce network site is identified based upon the taxonomy information of the referral network site and included in the generated feed of items.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jeetendra Mirchandani, Matias H. Ganc, Mohit Gupta, Simon C. Vining
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Patent number: 8260551Abstract: In a method for refining a position estimate of a low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite a first position estimate of a LEO satellite is obtained with a GNSS receiver on-board the LEO satellite. The first position estimate is communicated to a Virtual Reference Station (VRS) processor. VRS corrections are received at the LEO satellite, the VRS corrections having been calculated for the first position estimate by the VRS processor. The VRS corrections are processed on-board the LEO satellite such that a VRS corrected LEO satellite position estimate of the LEO satellite is generated for the first position estimate.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2008Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Trimble Navigation LimitedInventors: James M. Janky, Nicholas C. Talbot, Ulrich Vollath, Bruce D. Riter
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Patent number: 8255286Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a method to facilitate propagating a plurality of transaction listings to a network-based transaction facility. An input interface is presented at a seller application to receive from a user, a plurality of transaction listings, each transaction listing including an associated start time. Also, a data file is composed at the seller application to include the plurality of transaction listings. Moreover, the data file is propagated, using the seller application, from the client computer to the network-based transaction facility.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2011Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: eBay Inc.Inventors: Robert Dean Veres, Ching-Jye Liang
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Patent number: 8255281Abstract: A service management system that enables a subscriber of a mobile telecommunication system to modify aspects of his or her service plan and have the modification to the service plan take effect immediately. The subscriber enters a modification request to an aspect of a service plan. The modification request is verified against a set of rules that defines acceptable changes to the service plan. If the proposed modification to the service plan is a valid change, the change to the service plan is immediately propagated to a billing system and to other systems that implement the service plan. The subscriber is notified when the modification to the service plan is complete, and the subscriber is billed on a going-forward basis in accordance with the rate structure applicable to the plan.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2006Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.Inventors: Dan Benson, Adrian Buzescu, Ray Froelich, Michael Thomas Hendrick, Warren McNeel, Gary Sentman, Karl Warfel
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Patent number: 8244598Abstract: Various computer-implemented services are disclosed for increasing the utility of electronic wish lists, and for assisting users in making gift purchases. One such service automatically notifies a user when an item being accessed in an electronic catalog is on, or is similar to an item on, an electronic wish list of an “affiliated” user. The affiliations may be created explicitly by the users (e.g., by completing an online form), and/or implicitly based on actions performed by the users (e.g., when one user purchases a gift for another user). Another service automatically reminds a first user who is affiliated with a second user when a known or inferred gift-giving event of the second user is approaching. The reminder may include a link to a wish list of the second user, and/or may include or provide a link for viewing personalized gift recommendations for the second user.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Amazon.com, Inc.Inventors: Jennifer A. Jacobi, Michael McDaniel, Ryan J. Snodgrass
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Patent number: 8239276Abstract: Systems and methods for providing shopping-related information to a consumer are provided. Embodiments of the system allow a consumer to create an electronic shopping list by scanning products. In some embodiments, shopping-related information may be obtained for items in the shopping list, such as pricing information, product quality, consumer ratings, and other information that may help a consumer to make an informed purchasing decision. Other embodiments allow a consumer to obtain and compare retail prices offered by several retailers for products in the shopping list. Still other embodiments provide a store-wide network that allows a shopper to scan items in the store, add the scanned items to a shopping list, and then check-out electronically.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2008Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gloria Lin, Amir Mahmood Mikhak
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Patent number: 8234178Abstract: A system and method that includes several automatic purchasing features. The method includes establishing purchasing criteria for items to be purchased, and automatically searching marketplaces for availability of the items to be purchased. The method also includes identifying available items, of the items to be purchased, that meet the established purchasing criteria.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2011Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Nebraska Book Company, Inc.Inventors: Nathan D. Rempe, Barry S. Major
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Patent number: 8234182Abstract: A system and method for providing customized or personalized memorabilia to end users, wherein the system allows the price for the customized or personalized memorabilia to be established by obtaining the lowest production costs from approved vendors, and further allowing such costs to be offset by any sponsorship underwriting of the memorabilia. The system further allows establishment of advertising to target demographic audiences by underwriting customized or personalized memorabilia orders and placing advertising indicia for the sponsor on or with the ordered customized or personalized memorabilia.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Apparel Media Group, Inc.Inventor: Gerry A Hays
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Patent number: 8219464Abstract: Embodiments of sales generation, including sales generation employing reverse lead generation using vehicle data systems and methods, are presented herein. In particular, in certain embodiments a user may utilize the vehicle data system to obtain pricing data corresponding to a desired vehicle configuration. When the user is presented with the pricing data associated with the specified vehicle configuration the user may additionally be presented with an upfront price offered by a dealer, where by providing their personal information the user may obtain the name of the dealer offering the upfront price and may additionally be offered the opportunity to purchase the desired, or similar, vehicle at the upfront price.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2011Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: TrueCar, Inc.Inventors: Philip Inghelbrecht, Scott Painter
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Patent number: 8219460Abstract: A system and method for conducting electronic business between buyers and sellers is provided. The system and method disclose a means for at least one buyer to request and receive online bids from one or more sellers of a particular product according to a price curve or price schedule. A price schedule or curve for a product defining a product's unit price as a function of the volume of product ordered. Upon receipt of a plurality of bids from sellers, a buyer can then select a seller-supplier based at least in part on the price schedule.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2010Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: eWinWin, Inc.Inventor: Gregory J. Mesaros
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Patent number: 8200550Abstract: This invention provides systems and methods for remote ordering where there is a client that is configurable to accept orders; an information processing system, that is in communication with the client and configurable to receive orders from the client; a plurality of wireless modules in disparate physical locations that are in wireless communication with the information processing system and configurable to receive orders from the information processing system; and an order presentation client that is in communication with the wireless module and configurable to present the order. Furthermore, the information processing system is configurable to route the orders to a selected wireless module based on the order.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2007Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Inventor: Steve Aitkins
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Patent number: 8195526Abstract: A mobile device is described for providing a personalized transactional benefit at a point of purchase. The mobile device includes a communications module that is configured to retrieve from a network personalized identification information associated with a consumer based on a personalized identifier uniquely associated with the consumer. The mobile device further includes a reader coupled to the communications module. The reader is configured to capture, at the point of purchase, an image representing a product identification indicia. The communications module accesses the network to identify the captured image and to retrieve from the network information associated with the captured image. Finally, the mobile device includes a visual output device coupled to the communications module.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2007Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Williams Patent Licensing PLC, Limited Liability CompanyInventor: Peter Williams
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Patent number: 8190482Abstract: Enabling a supplier is disclosed. An indication of a transaction associated with a business process between a buyer and a supplier is received. A supplier enablement action is initiated in response to receiving the indication. The supplier enablement action is associated with enabling the supplier to join a supplier network.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2006Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Ariba, Inc.Inventors: Craig Michael Federighi, Steven Carlyle Ihde, Sanish Mondkar, Mohak Shroff
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Patent number: 8190493Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a set of web services is provided that allow a client application to display product information from a site catalog, add/update/delete those products into a shopping cart hosted on the client, and have that shopping cart also maintained at a central hosted site. As such, the user is directed to the central hosted site in order to complete payment and fulfillment of the order. Several companies desire this functionality. As such, a set of shopping cart application programming interface (API) can be built and used to access product information and prices as well as to add or remove products from the shopping cart to which the consumer will be redirected upon finalizing the purchase. These processes are conducted in real time.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Digital River, Inc.Inventors: Mark Saarinen, Amit Bartake, Brad Livingston Armstrong, Deanne John Millington, Eric Gunter Roubal
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Patent number: 8185442Abstract: In a method for extension of an item attribute in a business application data model, a selection is received of an item of the business application data model to which an item attribute is being added. The item attribute is received, including receipt of relationship information which defines a location of the item attribute within a hierarchy of the business application data model. The item attribute is associated with the business application data model such that the item attribute is contextually included within a searchable ontology of the hierarchy in accordance with the relationship information.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2008Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Oracle International CorporationInventor: Venkata Naga Ravi Kiran Vedula
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Patent number: 8185443Abstract: A method of and system for authorizing a transaction remotely is disclosed. A customer uses a computer to browse for a product displayed on the internet. The customer may enter a unique number into the computer. The unique number is authorized and an authorization code is sent to the customer's communication device. The customer enters the authorization code into the computer to complete the transaction.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2009Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: eBay, Inc.Inventor: David A. Marcus
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Patent number: 8180688Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for generating item recommendations based on broadcast media consumed by a user on a client device. An item recommendation application receives a quantity of media information associated with the broadcast media being consumed from the client device. The item recommendation application determines a pattern of media consumption behavior for the user based at least in part on an analysis of the user's consumption history. The item recommendation identifies other consumers of broadcast media that exhibit a substantially similar pattern of media consumption behavior. The item recommendation application then gathers items purchased by the other consumers and provides those items as the item recommendations to the requesting process.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2010Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Piragash Velummylum, John G. Laban, Ethan Z. Evans
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Patent number: 8175934Abstract: A system for automatically preparing customized replies in response to communications from a plurality of clients. To facilitate automation and tracking, each original communication to the client (or each original response from the client) is tagged with a unique label, and replies to client responses are each correspondingly labeled. The system provides individualized replies to each of a variety of response options that a client might exercise in response to a received communication, whether an original communication or a reply to a previous response. The system is applicable to mass marketing communications, and is particularly well suited to the generation of personalized replies to each and every one of a multitude (tens of thousands and up to millions) of communications from clients. The system is also capable of continuing to generate replies to follow-up responses from clients and to thereby maintain an ongoing “conversation” until the client makes a purchase decision, or no longer responds.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2011Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Phoenix Licensing, LLCInventor: Richard Marc Libman