Patents by Inventor John Nicholas Gross

John Nicholas Gross 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).

  • Remote monitoring device and process
    Patent number: 8611954
    Abstract: A remote monitoring device is integrated as part of a cell phone or personal digital assistant. By sharing computing resources of a communications transceiver, the cost of a monitoring device can be significantly reduced, while still permitting sufficient functionality to effectively observe an area of interest, such as a child's sleeping area. An alert is generated and transmitted to an observer using a separate transceiver when activity at the monitored area (i.e., sound or video activity) meets a specified threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Prehensible Applications Limited Liability Company
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross
  • Playable media delivery capacity exchange method
    Patent number: 8606717
    Abstract: A network based distribution system and method is disclosed for exchanging capacity between subscribers for distribution of playable media items, such as movies in a digital format. The system allows subscribers to exchange capacity directly between themselves, and/or to have such exchange performed automatically on their behalf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Media Queue, LLC
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross
  • Method of operating integrated circuit embedded with non-volatile programmable memory having variable coupling related application data
    Patent number: 8599612
    Abstract: A programmable non-volatile device is operated with a floating gate that functions as a FET gate that overlaps a portion of a source/drain region and allows for variable coupling through geometry and/or biasing conditions. This allows a programming voltage for the device to be imparted to the floating gate through variable capacitive coupling, thus changing the state of the device. Multi-state embodiments are also possible. The invention can be used in environments such as data encryption, reference trimming, manufacturing ID, security ID, and many other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Invensas Corporation
    Inventors: David K. Y. Liu, John Nicholas Gross
  • Method of making integrated circuit embedded with non-volatile programmable memory having variable coupling
    Patent number: 8580622
    Abstract: A programmable non-volatile device is made with a floating gate that functions as a FET gate that overlaps a portion of a source/drain region and allows for variable coupling through geometry and/or biasing conditions. This allows a programming voltage for the device to be imparted to the floating gate through variable capacitive coupling, thus changing the state of the device. Multi-state embodiments are also possible. The invention can be used in environments such as data encryption, reference trimming, manufacturing ID, security ID, and many other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Invensas Corporation
    Inventors: David Liu, John Nicholas Gross
  • Social Network Site Recommender System and Method
    Publication number: 20130268609
    Abstract: Particular embodiments evaluate a plurality of messages. Each message may be associated with an author. Information may be logged for each message, such as information associated with the author, information associated with one or more designated recipients of the message, and time information. Correlation values may be determined for one or more sets of designated recipients based on at least a portion of the logged information. Particular embodiments may determine an association amongst a plurality of users over time. The determination may be based on the correlation values. At least one of the plurality of users may comprise at least one of the designated recipients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross
  • System & Method of Presenting Content Based Advertising
    Publication number: 20130226690
    Abstract: A system and method searches, identifies, tests and/or evaluates websites and content related ads for suitability. The results can be used to target ads more effectively to users and identify and promote services to prospective advertising affiliates as part of an advertising campaign.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventor: JOHN NICHOLAS GROSS
  • Targeting promotional electronic coupons based on user item sampling ratings
    Patent number: 8521580
    Abstract: Items—including gourmet products—are evaluated and rated by participants in a controlled event, which can be coordinated by software locally or at a dedicated website. Event data, including item scores and participant scores can be shared with vendors, merchants and other commercial entities associated with the products. Promotional incentives from such entities for the products (and related products) can then be directly targeted and provided to participants and other members of the public. The participant's activities can also be collected and disseminated to affiliates/friends of the participants through social networking sites, personalized web pages, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: The John Nicholas and Kristin Gross Trust
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross
  • CAPTCHA using challenges optimized for distinguishing between humans and machines
    Patent number: 8494854
    Abstract: An audible based electronic challenge system is used to control access to a computing resource by using a test to identify an origin of a voice. The test is based on analyzing a spoken utterance using optimized challenge items selected for their discrimination capability to determine if it was articulated by an unauthorized human or a text to speech (TTS) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: John Nicholas and Kristin Gross
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross
  • System and method for verifying origin of input through spoken language analysis
    Patent number: 8489399
    Abstract: An audible based electronic challenge system is used to control access to a computing resource by using a test to identify an origin of a voice. The test is based on analyzing a spoken utterance to determine if it was articulated by an unauthorized human or a text to speech (TTS) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: John Nicholas and Kristin Gross Trust
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross
  • METHOD FOR PREDICTING NEWS CONTENT
    Publication number: 20130159116
    Abstract: A news and/or search engine system predicts events and stories based on existing events, stories, etc., extracted from a knowledge domain. These predictions can be used for a number of different purposes, including locating new content and actual event outcomes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross
  • METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING AND RANKING NEWS SOURCES
    Publication number: 20130159295
    Abstract: A search engine and/or news aggregator considers events and stories described in electronic documents, a location of a searcher/reviewer, and a situs associated with content of the document to determine how/if they should be presented to users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross
  • METHOD FOR PROVIDING SEARCH RESULTS INCLUDING RELEVANT LOCATION BASED CONTENT
    Publication number: 20130159106
    Abstract: A search engine considers events and stories described in electronic documents, a location of a searcher/reviewer, and a situs associated with a query and content of the document to determine how/if they should be presented to users as part of relevant search results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross
  • Social network site recommender system and method
    Patent number: 8458276
    Abstract: Particular embodiments evaluate a plurality of messages. Each message may be associated with an author. Information may be logged for each message, such as information associated with the author, information associated with one or more designated recipients of the message, and time information. Correlation values may be determined for one or more sets of designated recipients based on at least a portion of the logged information. Particular embodiments may determine an association amongst a plurality of users over time. The determination may be based on the correlation values. At least one of the plurality of users may comprise at least one of the designated recipients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross
  • Integrated Gourmet Item Data Collection, Recommender and Vending System and Method
    Publication number: 20130132157
    Abstract: Items—including gourmet products—are evaluated and rated by participants in a controlled event, which can be coordinated by software locally or at a dedicated website. Event data, including item scores and participant scores can be shared with vendors, merchants and other commercial entities associated with the products. Promotional incentives from such entities for the products (and related products) can then be directly targeted and provided to participants and other members of the public. The participant's activities can also be collected and disseminated to affiliates/friends of the participants through social networking sites, personalized web pages, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: John Nicholas and Kristin Gross Trust U/A/D April 13, 2010
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross
  • Temporal document trainer and method
    Patent number: 8442923
    Abstract: An electronic document sorter is trained to classify documents based on their temporal qualities. The invention can be used in environments such as automated news aggregators, search engines and other electronic systems which compile information having temporal qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross
  • Location based news and search engine
    Patent number: 8442969
    Abstract: A search engine and/or news aggregator considers temporal qualities of electronic documents, a location of a searcher/reviewer, and a situs associated with content of the document to determine how/if they should be presented to users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross
  • System and method of evaluating content based advertising
    Patent number: 8417569
    Abstract: A system and method searches, identifies, tests and/or evaluates websites and content related ads for suitability. The results can be used to identify and promote services to prospective advertising affiliates as part of an advertising campaign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: John Nicholas and Kristin Gross Trust
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross
  • Social Network Site Recommender System and Method
    Publication number: 20130080556
    Abstract: Particular embodiments evaluate a plurality of messages. Each message may be associated with an author. Information may be logged for each message, such as information associated with the author, information associated with one or more designated recipients of the message, and time information. Correlation values may be determined for one or more sets of designated recipients based on at least a portion of the logged information. Particular embodiments may determine an association amongst a plurality of users over time. The determination may be based on the correlation values. At least one of the plurality of users may comprise at least one of the designated recipients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross
  • Remote Monitoring Device & Process
    Publication number: 20130065641
    Abstract: A remote monitoring device is integrated as part of a cell phone or personal digital assistant. By sharing computing resources of a communications transceiver, the cost of a monitoring device can be significantly reduced, while still permitting sufficient functionality to effectively observe an area of interest, such as a child's sleeping area. An alert is generated and transmitted to an observer using a separate transceiver when activity at the monitored area (i.e., sound or video activity) meets a specified threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: JOHN NICHOLAS GROSS
  • System and method for generating challenge items for CAPTCHAs
    Patent number: 8380503
    Abstract: Challenge items for an audible based electronic challenge system are generated using a variety of techniques to identify optimal candidates. The challenge items are intended for use in a computing system that discriminates between humans and text to speech (TTS) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: John Nicholas and Kristin Gross Trust
    Inventor: John Nicholas Gross