Patents by Inventor Ian McFarland

Ian McFarland has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20160104206
    Abstract: Creating and delivering a wrap package of cards that includes media content, discount coupon(s), voucher(s), promotion(s), and/or loyalty program(s) for the purchase of goods and/or services and application functionality for implementing an e-commerce related transaction related to the goods or services. The individual cards of the wrap package are also threaded together into one or more linear sequences. Thus when consumed, the user experience when browsing the wrap is largely dictated by the author, not the viewer. Wrap packages thus have the unique ability to convey a book-like user experience that unfolds as the cards are sequentially browsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN
  • Publication number: 20160104205
    Abstract: Delivery of a wrap package in response to the selection of an advertisement appearing in a web page, social media feed or in an an email, text or other electronic message. In some embodiments, the advertisement may be a “cover” for the wrap package that contains an identifier associate with the wrap. When the cover is selected, the identifier is used to access and deliver the wrap package to the requesting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN
  • Publication number: 20160104204
    Abstract: A variety of data structures, components, runtime viewers and methods are described for defining, delivering and rendering wrapped packages of cards in a manner that is particularly well suited, but not limited to, display on mobile devices. Each card may selectively include media content, and a palette of application functionality and/or supporting e-commerce related services. The cards of the wrap packages are ideally threaded together into one or more linear sequences, and authored to convey a book-like narrative that unfolds as the cards are sequentially browsed. In addition, the wrap packages are portable objects that are readily distributed, similar to other electronic messages, through e-mail, messaging, social-media, or via a variety of other electronic communication platforms. As a result, wrap packages are consumable, sharable and savable objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, Ian McFARLAND, John M. GARRIS, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN, Matthew J. SANTONE, Jon STEVENS
  • Publication number: 20160103651
    Abstract: Creating and delivering digital music, along with related multimedia content, in the form of a wrapped package of cards. When a particular wrapped package of cards is created, the cards are selectively authored to include the digital music optionally along with a palette of related multimedia content, application functionality and/or e-commerce related services. In addition, the cards are threaded together into one or more linear sequences intended to convey a book-like experience that unfolds as the cards are sequentially browsed. As a result, the recipient has the ability to experience both the music and the related media content, including partaking in the provided application functionality and e-commerce services, as the as the cards of the wrap are browsed in the one or more linear sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN
  • Publication number: 20160105771
    Abstract: A method for defining and delivering wrap packages of cards with custom content to target individuals. The method involves (a) defining a set of cards of a wrap package with one or more variable content container(s), (b) ascertaining if a target recipient of the wrap package has roamed into a range of a beacon, (c) identifying the target recipient in the range of the beacon, (d) associating custom content with the one or more variable content container(s) of the set of cards of the wrap package after the target recipient is identified and (e) distributing the wrap package to the target recipient, the distributed wrap package having the custom content associated with the one or more variable content container(s) of the set of cards of the wrap package respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Kunal K. BHASIN, Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Jared L. FICKLIN, Mark E. ROLSTON
  • Publication number: 20160103926
    Abstract: A variety of data structures, components, runtime viewers and methods are described for defining, delivering and rendering wrapped packages of cards in a manner that is particularly well suited, but not limited to, display on mobile devices. Each card may selectively include media content, and a palette of application functionality and/or supporting e-commerce related services. The cards of the wrap packages are ideally threaded together into one or more linear sequences, and authored to convey a book-like narrative that unfolds as the cards are sequentially browsed. In addition, the wrap packages are portable objects that are readily distributed, similar to other electronic messages, through e-mail, messaging, social-media, or via a variety of other electronic communication platforms. As a result, wrap packages are consumable, sharable and savable objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, Ian McFARLAND, John M. GARRIS, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN, Matthew J. SANTONE, Jon STEVENS
  • Publication number: 20160104210
    Abstract: An authoring tool for authoring wrap packages of cards. The authoring tool includes a set of tools that enable an author to create a new card of a wrap selected from a variety of card templates. In various embodiments, the card templates include textual, video, image/photo, document, gallery, chat, location/GPS, transact, appointment, and end-of-wrap card templates. When a particular card template is selected, the template is then duplicated to create the new card. Thereafter, the author may author the card to include various components, content, attributes, layouts, styles triggers and/or behaviors. As the cards of the wrap are created, the authoring tool provides the author with the ability to order the sequence of the cards. The authoring tool thus enables authors to selectively create wrap packages that include media that conveys a narrative story and application functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Jared L. FICKLIN, Mark E. ROLSTON, Matthew J. SANTONE, Jon Stevens, Eric J. WICKS
  • Publication number: 20160103791
    Abstract: An authoring tool for authoring wrap packages of cards. The authoring tool includes a set of tools that enable an author to create a new card of a wrap selected from a variety of card templates. In various embodiments, the card templates include textual, video, image/photo, document, gallery, chat, location/GPS, transact, appointment, and end-of-wrap card templates. When a particular card template is selected, the template is then duplicated to create the new card. Thereafter, the author may author the card to include various components, content, attributes, layouts, styles triggers and/or behaviors. As the cards of the wrap are created, the authoring tool provides the author with the ability to order the sequence of the cards. The authoring tool thus enables authors to selectively create wrap packages that include media that conveys a narrative story and application functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Jared L. FICKLIN, Mark E. ROLSTON, Matthew J. SANTONE, Jon Stevens, Eric J. WICKS
  • Publication number: 20160103821
    Abstract: An authoring tool for authoring wrap packages of cards. The authoring tool includes a set of tools that enable an author to create a new card of a wrap selected from a variety of card templates. In various embodiments, the card templates include textual, video, image/photo, document, gallery, chat, location/GPS, transact, appointment, and end-of-wrap card templates. When a particular card template is selected, the template is then duplicated to create the new card. Thereafter, the author may author the card to include various components, content, attributes, layouts, styles triggers and/or behaviors. As the cards of the wrap are created, the authoring tool provides the author with the ability to order the sequence of the cards. The authoring tool thus enables authors to selectively create wrap packages that include media that conveys a narrative story and application functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Jared L. FICKLIN, Mark E. ROLSTON, Matthew J. SANTONE, Jon Stevens, Eric J. WICKS
  • Publication number: 20160104079
    Abstract: Creating and delivering a digital travel companion for a traveler that is an adjunct to a ticket for travel, a reservation and/or a hospitality rental. The digital travel companion is electronically delivered to the traveler and/or customer in the form of a wrapped package of cards. The cards in the wrap are selectively authored to include (i) an itinerary card, (ii) media content and (iii) a palette of application functionality and/or e-commerce related services. In addition, the cards are arranged into one or more linear sequences. Thus, as the wrap package is consumed, the user experience is analogous to the turning of the pages of a book. In non-exclusive embodiments, the media content of the cards can further be authored to convey a narrative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN
  • Publication number: 20160104130
    Abstract: A wrap package of cards including an “active receipt” accompanying the sale of a product and/or service. The active receipt wrap package includes a receipt detailing the purchase of a product and/or service, web and/or application like functionality for facilitating e-commerce related to the purchased product and/or service while the wrap package is being consumed and media content related to the purchased product and/or service, the media content conveying a story-book like experience related to the purchased product and/or service that unfolds as the cards are browsed by a viewer in the one or more linear sequences respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, Ian McFARLAND, John M. GARRIS, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN
  • Publication number: 20160103798
    Abstract: Data structures, components, runtime viewers and methods are described for integrating wrapped packages of cards into various social media feeds and for integrating social media feeds into wraps. In some embodiments, a wrap identifier or cover is provided within a social media feed. In response to selection of the wrap identifier a runtime viewer is initiated and a descriptor that defines the selected wrap is obtained. The runtime viewer creates a wrap instance based on the descriptor. The instance may be displayed in-line within the social media feed, in an overlay frame, a new browser tab or using other suitable mechanisms. Preferably, each card in the wrap is rendered at the same portrait aspect ratio. Within each card, the relative positioning of the card content is immutable. In a separate aspect, a wrap package may include a social media card arranged to display a social media feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, Ian McFARLAND
  • Patent number: 9285977
    Abstract: A variety of data structures, components, runtime viewers and methods are described for defining, delivering and rendering wrapped packages of cards in a manner that is particularly well suited, but not limited to, display on mobile devices. Each card may selectively include media content, and a palette of application functionality and/or supporting e-commerce related services. The cards of the wrap packages are ideally threaded together into one or more linear sequences, and authored to convey a book-like narrative that unfolds as the cards are sequentially browsed. In addition, the wrap packages are portable objects that are readily distributed, similar to other electronic messages, through e-mail, messaging, social-media, or via a variety of other electronic communication platforms. As a result, wrap packages are consumable, sharable and savable objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Wrap Media, LLC
    Inventors: Eric H. Greenberg, Ian McFarland, John M. Garris, Mark E. Rolston, Jared L. Ficklin, Matthew J. Santone, Jon Stevens