Patents by Inventor Irvin Henderson

Irvin Henderson 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).

  • Patent number: 8170584
    Abstract: A network device, method, and apparatus are directed towards intercepting a message, such as an SMS, EMS, MMS message, email message, or the like, from a source device directed towards a mobile device. The intercepted message's contents are analyzed. In addition, a mobile user profile is determined from characteristics of the mobile device and tracked usage of a mobile user of the mobile device. An actionable event may then be inserted into the intercepted message based, in part, on the analysis and the mobile user profile. The modified message is then provided to the mobile device, where the mobile user may select the actionable event to receive non-requested content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Kim, Irvin Henderson, Tong Zhu
  • Patent number: 7707292
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are directed to managing automatic sign in to an Instant Messaging (IM) session on mobile device from another computing device, such as a personal computer (PC), over a network. The end-user of the PC may provide an account identifier, password, and the like, and in response, receive a cookie, that may further include the account identifier, encoded string, and the like. The end-user may then request initiation of the IM session using a toolbar selection, a script, applet, form, web page selection, and the like. As part of the request, the cookie may be provided to the server. If the request is authenticated based, in part, on the cookie information, the server uses the account identifier to locate an associated a mobile device identifier. The mobile device identifier is employed to log the end-user automatically into the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Irvin Henderson, Naveen Dasa Sanjeeva, Thyagarajapuram Swaminathan Ramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 7702341
    Abstract: Two-way communication between a general purpose computing device, such as a PC, and a mobile terminal, such as a cell phone. The general device executes a conversation user interface through which a user enters a message. The message is sent to an intermediary communication service, such as a portal server, along with a mobile terminal identifier, such as a phone number. The intermediary service creates a mapping between the mobile identifier, a general device user identifier, and an extension to an intermediary device identifier, such as an extension to an SMS short code. The intermediary service sends the message to the mobile terminal along with the intermediary service identifier and the extension. The mobile device returns a response with the mobile identifier, the intermediary service identifier, and the extension. The intermediary service uses the mobile identifier and the extension to determine the general device user identifier and send the response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Irvin Henderson, Naveen Dasa Sanjeeva, Thyagarajapuram S. Ramakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20090287601
    Abstract: A system and method for transferring funds among registered and unregistered users of a value exchange system comprises a server system for receiving value exchange instructions from a sender, where the value exchange instructions include a recipient who may not be registered with the system. The value exchange instructions initiate a computer-generated sequence for authenticating the identity of the recipient, permitting the recipient to designate a payment method, and transferring funds to properly authenticated recipients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: OBOPAY, INC.
    Inventors: John Tumminaro, John Michael Tumminaro, Christopher A. Paddock, David Schwartz, Irvin Henderson
  • Patent number: 7587482
    Abstract: A system and method are directed towards providing a user interface for controlling a communication mode of a client device. The interface enables a user to set a presence and/or a communications mode, which the client device communicates to other devices directly or via an intermediary server. The presence generally reflects the user's availability, communication capability, desire to communicate, and the like. The presence can be directly or indirectly associated with the communication mode, which can comprise SMS, IM, email voice, and the like. The interface includes a contact list an enables the user to select a mode to communicate with a contact. The communication modes associated with each contact can also be incorporated into and displayed in an email address book. The interface also indicates the communication mode of each incoming and outgoing message in conversations with one or more other client devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Irvin Henderson, Naveen Dasa Sanjeeva, Thyagarajapuram S. Ramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 7506029
    Abstract: A first device running a messaging application, such as an instant messaging (IM) application, engages in messaging communication with a remote device running a browsing application. The remote device user is not associated with the messaging network of the first device. The first device sends an instant message directed to the remote device. The remote device is addressed using a means other than the addressing means used in the IM community associated with the first device, such as the MSISDN number of the remote device. The message is processed so that it may be displayed on the remote device by way of the browsing application. The user of the remote device may reply to the message using the browsing application, in which case the reply message is processed and forwarded to the first device, where it is converted into the IM format for display within the IM application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Naveen Dasa Sanjeeva, Irvin Henderson, Thyagarajapuram S. Ramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 7308261
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method is directed towards managing a quick registration of a mobile device over a network. The quick registration is directed at enabling an end-user to conveniently register a mobile device to be useable for such communications sessions, as an instant messaging (IM) session, and the like. The invention employs a pre-determined extension to a short code that instructs a server to register the mobile device sending the message. The message includes an account identifier along with a password to the account. The message may be a single message line, thereby providing a quick and convenient mechanism for registering the mobile device. The server receives the message along with a mobile device identifier, and stores a mapping relationship between the account identifier and the mobile device identifier after validating the password. In one embodiment, the message includes a command that the mobile device also be logged into an IM session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Irvin Henderson, Naveen D. Sanjeeva, Thyagarajapuram Swaminathan Ramakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20070282954
    Abstract: A network device, method, and apparatus are directed towards intercepting a message, such as an SMS, EMS, MMS message, email message, or the like, from a source device directed towards a mobile device. The intercepted message's contents are analyzed. In addition, a mobile user profile is determined from characteristics of the mobile device and tracked usage of a mobile user of the mobile device. An actionable event may then be inserted into the intercepted message based, in part, on the analysis and the mobile user profile. The modified message is then provided to the mobile device, where the mobile user may select the actionable event to receive non-requested content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Kim, Irvin Henderson, Tong Zhu
  • Patent number: 7245929
    Abstract: Enabling a user of a device, such as a wired or wireless device, that is associated with a telephone number to communicate text messages with another user of another device that is not associated with a telephone number (or the telephone number is unknown to the sender). Although the other user's telephone number is not known or does not exist, the other user is associated with a user identifier for a user community that is assigned a Common Short Code (CSC). The text message includes a source telephone number (sender/user's device telephone number) and a destination number (the CSC for the other user/recipient's user community). The content of the text message includes a user identifier, where the identifier indicates the particular other user within the user community. A server employs the CSC to determine the user community and the identifier to determine the particular user in the determined community that is the intended recipient of the text message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Irvin Henderson, Naveen D. Sanjeeva, Thyagarajapuram S. Ramakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20070077949
    Abstract: Two-way communication between a general purpose computing device, such as a PC, and a mobile terminal, such as a cell phone. The general device executes a conversation user interface through which a user enters a message. The message is sent to an intermediary communication service, such as a portal server, along with a mobile terminal identifier, such as a phone number. The intermediary service creates a mapping between the mobile identifier, a general device user identifier, and an extension to an intermediary device identifier, such as an extension to an SMS short code. The intermediary service sends the message to the mobile terminal along with the intermediary service identifier and the extension. The mobile device returns a response with the mobile identifier, the intermediary service identifier, and the extension. The intermediary service uses the mobile identifier and the extension to determine the general device user identifier and send the response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Irvin Henderson, Naveen Sanjeeva, T. Ramakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20070033255
    Abstract: A first device running a messaging application, such as an instant messaging (IM) application, engages in messaging communication with a remote device running a browsing application. The remote device user is not associated with the messaging network of the first device. The first device sends an instant message directed to the remote device. The remote device is addressed using a means other than the addressing means used in the IM community associated with the first device, such as the MSISDN number of the remote device. The message is processed so that it may be displayed on the remote device by way of the browsing application. The user of the remote device may reply to the message using the browsing application, in which case the reply message is processed and forwarded to the first device, where it is converted into the IM format for display within the IM application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Naveen Sanjeeva, Irvin Henderson, Thyagarajapuram Ramakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20070010265
    Abstract: Enabling a user of a device, such as a wired or wireless device, that is associated with a telephone number to communicate text messages with another user of another device that is not associated with a telephone number (or the telephone number is unknown to the sender). Although the other user's telephone number is not known or does not exist, the other user is associated with a user identifier for a user community that is assigned a Common Short Code (CSC). The text message includes a source telephone number (sender/user's device telephone number) and a destination number (the CSC for the other user/recipient's user community). The content of the text message includes a user identifier, where the identifier indicates the particular other user within the user community. A server employs the CSC to determine the user community and the identifier to determine the particular user in the determined community that is the intended recipient of the text message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Irvin Henderson, Naveen Sanjeeva, T. Ramakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20060252435
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are directed to managing a message communications to a mobile device. The mobile device may include a first application that is unresponsive to a wakeup alert from a server. For example, the first application may be an instant messaging (IM) client that is developed as a mobile java application (MIDlet) that employs a MIDP1.0 specification, and the like. If the first application is determined to be unresponsive to a wakeup alert, the server may reformat a message to another message communication format, such as Short Messaging Service (SMS), for use by a second application that is responsive to the wakeup alert. The server may provide the reformatted message to the second application, which may be employed respond to the message. Alternatively, an end-user of the mobile device may wakeup the first application, for use in responding to the message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Irvin Henderson, Naveen Sanjeeva, Thyagarajapuram Ramakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20060240824
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method is directed towards managing a quick registration of a mobile device over a network. The quick registration is directed at enabling an end-user to conveniently register a mobile device to be useable for such communications sessions, as an instant messaging (IM) session, and the like. The invention employs a pre-determined extension to a short code that instructs a server to register the mobile device sending the message. The message includes an account identifier along with a password to the account. The message may be a single message line, thereby providing a quick and convenient mechanism for registering the mobile device. The server receives the message along with a mobile device identifier, and stores a mapping relationship between the account identifier and the mobile device identifier after validating the password. In one embodiment, the message includes a command that the mobile device also be logged into an IM session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Irvin Henderson, Naveen Sanjeeva, T. Ramakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20060230112
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are directed to managing automatic sign in to an Instant Messaging (IM) session on mobile device from another computing device, such as a personal computer (PC), over a network. The end-user of the PC may provide an account identifier, password, and the like, and in response, receive a cookie, that may further include the account identifier, encoded string, and the like. The end-user may then request initiation of the IM session using a toolbar selection, a script, applet, form, web page selection, and the like. As part of the request, the cookie may be provided to the server. If the request is authenticated based, in part, on the cookie information, the server uses the account identifier to locate an associated a mobile device identifier. The mobile device identifier is employed to log the end-user automatically into the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Irvin Henderson, Naveen Sanjeeva, Thyagarajapuram Ramakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20060053379
    Abstract: A system and method are directed towards providing a user interface for controlling a communication mode of a client device. The interface enables a user to set a presence and/or a communications mode, which the client device communicates to other devices directly or via an intermediary server. The presence generally reflects the user's availability, communication capability, desire to communicate, and the like. The presence can be directly or indirectly associated with the communication mode, which can comprise SMS, IM, email voice, and the like. The interface includes a contact list an enables the user to select a mode to communicate with a contact. The communication modes associated with each contact can also be incorporated into and displayed in an email address book. The interface also indicates the communication mode of each incoming and outgoing message in conversations with one or more other client devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Irvin Henderson, Naveen Sanjeeva, T. Ramakrishnan