Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Bonforte
Jeffrey Bonforte 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).
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Patent number: 8972257Abstract: Systems and methods to process and/or present information relating to voice messages for a user that are received from other persons. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a data processing system includes: receiving first data associated with prior communications or activities for a first user on a mobile device; receiving a voice message for the first user; transcribing the voice message using the first data to provide a transcribed message; and sending the transcribed message to the mobile device for display to the user.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey Bonforte
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Patent number: 8930463Abstract: Techniques are described for generating and displaying “super-emoticons”. Super-emoticons are similar to smileys in that they may be generated in response to a participant in a textual conversation entering a specific sequence of textual characters. However, super-emoticons differ from smileys in that super-emoticons are programmed to demonstrate more sophisticated behaviors, including but not limited to: moving out of the text insertion location, interacting with other display elements, interacting with users, changing appearance based on context, exhibiting randomly selected behaviors, and making use of information from services.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2007Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Bonforte, Christopher T. Szeto, Brian Kobashikawa
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Patent number: 8754848Abstract: Information is presented to a user based on a current state of an end-user device (e.g., a mobile phone). In one embodiment, a method includes: detecting, via a user device, a predefined user motion of a user (e.g., a flick of a trackball or gesture on a touch screen); determining a current state of the user device based on at least one characteristic; and in response to detecting the user motion, presenting, via a display of the user device, information (e.g., a person profile) to the user based on the current state.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.Inventors: Michael Holzer, Jeffrey Bonforte
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Publication number: 20140087687Abstract: Among other disclosures, a method may include collecting historical communication data and personal data relating to a portion of a plurality of communications, a sender of one or more of the communications or one or more recipients of the communications. The method may include depositing the collected data into a repository of historical communication data and personal data. The method may include presenting one or more items in the repository on a mobile device, in response to user behavior.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: YAHOO! INC.Inventors: Matthew Brezina, Adam Smith, Jeffrey Bonforte
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Publication number: 20140081914Abstract: System, methods and computer program products for creating and maintaining an address book are described. The address book may collect or update its existing contact information from sent or received communications. Contact information associated with the existing contacts also may be collected (or updated based on information received) from outside sources (e.g., external to an application hosting or accessing the address book). The address book may intelligently combine profile data from various sources to enrich the existing records associated with the contacts.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: YAHOO! INC.Inventors: Adam Smith, Jeffrey Bonforte
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Patent number: 8661002Abstract: System, methods and computer program products for creating and maintaining an address book are described. The address book may collect or update its existing contact information from sent or received communications. Contact information associated with the existing contacts also may be collected (or updated based on information received) from outside sources (e.g., external to an application hosting or accessing the address book). The address book may intelligently combine profile data from various sources to enrich the existing records associated with the contacts.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2010Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.Inventors: Adam Smith, Jeffrey Bonforte
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Patent number: 8600343Abstract: Among other disclosures, a method may include collecting historical communication data and personal data relating to a portion of a plurality of communications, a sender of one or more of the communications or one or more recipients of the communications. The method may include depositing the collected data into a repository of historical communication data and personal data. The method may include presenting one or more items in the repository on a mobile device, in response to user behavior.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2008Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.Inventors: Matthew Brezina, Adam Smith, Jeffrey Bonforte
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Patent number: 8380512Abstract: A method and apparatus for incorporating voice recognition into a search engine is provided. The phonetic voice recognition system lacking grammar and spell checking is used. The output of the phonetic voice recognition system is forwarded to a search engine. The search engine performs disambiguation and relevancy analysis based on past similar queries. Search engine user behavior is recorded to improve the accuracy. Recorded statistics are used to rank results pages.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2008Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Bonforte, Gary Clayton, Victor Chen
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Publication number: 20120330658Abstract: Systems and methods to process and/or present information relating to voice messages for a user that are received from other persons. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a data processing system includes: receiving first data associated with prior communications or activities for a first user on a mobile device; receiving a voice message for the first user; transcribing the voice message using the first data to provide a transcribed message; and sending the transcribed message to the mobile device for display to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: XOBNI, INC.Inventor: Jeffrey Bonforte
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Publication number: 20120331418Abstract: Systems and methods to present information to a user regarding favorite contacts of the user. In one embodiment, a method includes: storing a plurality of person profiles for persons referenced in communications received by a user of a computing device; selecting, using at least one processor, a set of contacts from the plurality of person profiles based on a relevancy ranking, wherein the set of contacts is selected for display to the user on the computing device; and organizing, using the at least one processor, the set of contacts into at least two time groups, each time group associated with a different time period, wherein contacts will be displayed to the user within each time group based on a relevancy ranking for each contact within the time group.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: XOBNI, INC.Inventor: Jeffrey Bonforte
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Publication number: 20110298701Abstract: Information is presented to a user based on a current state of an end-user device (e.g., a mobile phone). In one embodiment, a method includes: detecting, via a user device, a predefined user motion of a user (e.g., a flick of a trackball or gesture on a touch screen); determining a current state of the user device based on at least one characteristic; and in response to detecting the user motion, presenting, via a display of the user device, information (e.g., a person profile) to the user based on the current state.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2011Publication date: December 8, 2011Applicant: XOBNI, INC.Inventors: Michael Holzer, Jeffrey Bonforte
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Publication number: 20110291933Abstract: A second user interface screen is presented to a user in response to detection of a predefined user motion associated with a first user interface screen. In one embodiment, a method includes: presenting, via a display of an end-user device, a first user interface screen; detecting, via a user input device of the end-user device, a predefined user motion associated with the first screen, wherein the user motion is substantially in a direction of movement in a plane parallel to the display; and in response to detecting the user motion, presenting a second user interface screen via the display, the second screen including information corresponding to the first screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Applicant: XOBNI, INC.Inventors: Michael Holzer, Jeffrey Bonforte
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Publication number: 20100306185Abstract: System, methods and computer program products for creating and maintaining an address book are described. The address book may collect or update its existing contact information from sent or received communications. Contact information associated with the existing contacts also may be collected (or updated based on information received) from outside sources (e.g., external to an application hosting or accessing the address book). The address book may intelligently combine profile data from various sources to enrich the existing records associated with the contacts.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: XOBNI, INC.Inventors: Adam Smith, Jeffrey Bonforte
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Patent number: 7721217Abstract: A method for templates for implementing instant message themes is provided. For example, the user selects between a “to-do” theme, an “invite” theme, a “postcard” theme, a “reminder” theme, etc. If the user selects the “to-do” theme, the to-do template may prompt the user to input a description of the task to be performed and a due date/time. An instant message is sent to a recipient who is to perform the task. The recipient's instant message application displays a to-do in a themed IM window. The themed IM window may have special features that are related to the interactions for the to-do theme. For example, the themed IM window can have a “completed indicator” for the recipient to send a completion notice to the sender. Alternatively, the themed IM window could have a button to perform the task. In response to performing the task, the to-do theme could automatically send a completion notice.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Bonforte, Patrick Jean, Rebecca L. Bochatey, Jeffrey Robert Ettenhofer
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Publication number: 20090228277Abstract: A method and apparatus for incorporating voice recognition into a search engine is provided. The phonetic voice recognition system lacking grammar and spell checking is used. The output of the phonetic voice recognition system is forwarded to a search engine. The search engine performs disambiguation and relevancy analysis based on past similar queries. Search engine user behavior is recorded to improve the accuracy. Recorded statistics are used to rank results pages.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2008Publication date: September 10, 2009Inventors: Jeffrey Bonforte, Gary Clayton, Victor Chen
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Publication number: 20090077472Abstract: Techniques are provided through which users can leave graphical comments on web pages associated with individual members of a social networking site. Users can do so by painting within a region on the web pages or on the web page itself. Different painting tools, such as spray paint cans and traditional paint brushes may be selected to generate different visual content on the path of paint drawn by the user. Access to paint may be restricted to members of the social networking site. Users who leave graphical comments may be charged for the graphical comments. Members may erase graphical comments on associated web pages. Graphical comments may also be generated in a chat window visible to all users engaged in a chat session.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2007Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: YAHOO! INC.Inventor: Jeffrey Bonforte
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Publication number: 20090029674Abstract: Among other disclosures, a method may include collecting historical communication data and personal data relating to a portion of a plurality of communications, a sender of one or more of the communications or one or more recipients of the communications. The method may include depositing the collected data into a repository of historical communication data and personal data. The method may include presenting one or more items in the repository on a mobile device, in response to user behavior.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2008Publication date: January 29, 2009Inventors: Matthew Brezina, Adam Smith, Jeffrey Bonforte
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Publication number: 20090019117Abstract: Techniques are described for generating and displaying “super-emoticons”. Super-emoticons are similar to smileys in that they may be generated in response to a participant in a textual conversation entering a specific sequence of textual characters. However, super-emoticons differ from smileys in that super-emoticons are programmed to demonstrate more sophisticated behaviors, including but not limited to: moving out of the text insertion location, interacting with other display elements, interacting with users, changing appearance based on context, exhibiting randomly selected behaviors, and making use of information from services.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2007Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventors: Jeffrey Bonforte, Christopher T. Szeto, Brian Kobashikawa
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Publication number: 20080189620Abstract: A method for templates for implementing instant message themes is provided. For example, the user selects between a “to-do” theme, an “invite” theme, a “postcard” theme, a “reminder” theme, etc. If the user selects the “to-do” theme, the to-do template may prompt the user to input a description of the task to be performed and a due date/time. An instant message is sent to a recipient who is to perform the task. The recipient's instant message application displays a to-do in a themed IM window. The themed IM window may have special features that are related to the interactions for the to-do theme. For example, the themed IM window can have a “completed indicator” for the recipient to send a completion notice to the sender. Alternatively, the themed IM window could have a button to perform the task. In response to performing the task, the to-do theme could automatically send a completion notice.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2007Publication date: August 7, 2008Inventors: Jeffrey Bonforte, Patrick Jean, Rebecca L. Bochatey, Jeffrey Robert Ettenhofer