Patents by Inventor John Ruckart

John Ruckart 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: 10706441
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using wireless communication devices to track the effects of advertising are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes representing the identity of an advertising impression, that is, a specific advertisement, with an impression code. According to exemplary embodiments, the advertising impression is directed to at least one commodity, such as one or more products and services. The method may also further include receiving the impression into a computer-readable memory of a wireless communication device. The method further includes detecting the wireless communication device, and then providing the impression code during the purchase of the commodity. The method continues with obtaining the identity of the advertising impression from the impression code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Craig M. Cavanaugh, John Ruckart
  • Patent number: 10581990
    Abstract: Online activity may be monitored to determine risks to children. For example, Internet postings may reveal an actual and/or a potential contact with a child. A report may be generated and sent to a parent that details to contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Ruckart, Jerome Myers
  • Patent number: 10556149
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products monitor athletic performance. Location information is acquired that indicates a device is in movement. A level of difficulty associated with the location information is retrieved and associated to a distance traversed during the movement. The distance traversed and the level of difficulty are stored in a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Aaron, John Ruckart
  • Patent number: 10489819
    Abstract: Potential click fraud is determined. When a client device activates an Internet advertisement, the location of the client device is determined. Multiple activations of the same advertisement, by the client device, may indicate fraud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Aaron, John Ruckart
  • Patent number: 10044851
    Abstract: A method for managing appointments using a wireless device includes receiving scheduling data for a future appointment including a time associated with the future appointment. A current location of the wireless device is determined, and a reminder for the future appointment is provided at a time prior to the future appointment based on the current location of the wireless device. Fox example, the reminder may be provided at a time that varies based on the current location of the wireless device, a location associated with the future appointment, and an estimated travel time between the current location of the device and the location associated with the future appointment. Related methods, devices, and computer program products are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Aaron, John Ruckart
  • Patent number: 9961502
    Abstract: A method may use location information to transmit alert information to a communications device. Such a method may include receiving location information identifying a physical location of a mobile device; responsive to receiving an indication of communication intended for the mobile device, selecting an alerting tone based on the physical location of the mobile device; and providing instructions to adjust an alerting mechanism of the mobile device based on the selecting of the alerting tone. Other methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property l, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott Frank, Robert Starr, John Ruckart, Steven Tischer, Samuel Zellner
  • Patent number: 9904940
    Abstract: A method of advertising tailored based on usage patterns of a portable electronic device includes determining if a portable electronic device has entered an area associated with a local area network (LAN). A link is established between the portable electronic device and the LAN if it is determined that the portable electronic device has entered the area associated with the LAN. User services are established between the portable electronic device and a remote server using the established link based on a user profile associated with the portable electronic device. Devices associated with the remote server communicatively coupled to the LAN are controlled using the portable electronic device. Actions and/or behaviors of a user are tracked based on use of the portable electronic device. Advertisements are displayed and/or played on at least one of the controlled devices based on the tracked user actions and/or behaviors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Ruckart, Robert Starr
  • Publication number: 20170330223
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using wireless communication devices to track the effects of advertising are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes representing the identity of an advertising impression, that is, a specific advertisement, with an impression code. According to exemplary embodiments, the advertising impression is directed to at least one commodity, such as one or more products and services. The method may also further include receiving the impression into a computer-readable memory of a wireless communication device. The method further includes detecting the wireless communication device, and then providing the impression code during the purchase of the commodity. The method continues with obtaining the identity of the advertising impression from the impression code. The method additionally includes creating a transaction record, wherein transaction record includes the advertising impression identity and an identity of the commodity, and storing the transaction record in a database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Craig M. Cavanaugh, John Ruckart
  • Patent number: 9759566
    Abstract: A first device is operated to obtain a navigation track between a first location and a second location by establishing a peer-to-peer communication connection with a second device and receiving a message that contains information associated with the first location and/or the second location from the second device. The information is associated with a navigation module on the first device. The information associated with the at least one of the first location and the second location is processed using the navigation module to obtain the navigation track between the first location and the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: John Ruckart
  • Patent number: 9754281
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using wireless communication devices to track the effects of advertising are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes representing the identity of an advertising impression, that is, a specific advertisement, with an impression code. According to exemplary embodiments, the advertising impression is directed to at least one commodity, such as one or more products and services. The method may also further include receiving the impression into a computer-readable memory of a wireless communication device. The method further includes detecting the wireless communication device, and then providing the impression code during the purchase of the commodity. The method continues with obtaining the identity of the advertising impression from the impression code. The method additionally includes creating a transaction record, wherein transaction record includes the advertising impression identity and an identity of the commodity, and storing the transaction record in a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Craig M. Cavanaugh, John Ruckart
  • Patent number: 9743276
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present is a method of implementing privacy control of location information. Such a method comprises defining a geographic zone for which pseudo-location information is to be reported as the current location of the user, wherein the pseudo-location information is not the current location of the user; receiving the current location of the user; determining that the current location is in the geographic zone; and reporting the pseudo-location information as the current location of the user when the current location is determined to be in the geographic zone. Other methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott Frank, Robert Starr, John Ruckart, Steven Tischer, Samuel Zellner
  • Publication number: 20160373540
    Abstract: Online activity may be monitored to determine risks to children. For example, Internet postings may reveal an actual and/or a potential contact with a child. A report may be generated and sent to a parent that details to contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Ruckart, Jerome Myers
  • Publication number: 20160371742
    Abstract: A method of advertising tailored based on usage patterns of a portable electronic device includes determining if a portable electronic device has entered an area associated with a local area network (LAN). A link is established between the portable electronic device and the LAN if it is determined that the portable electronic device has entered the area associated with the LAN. User services are established between the portable electronic device and a remote server using the established link based on a user profile associated with the portable electronic device. Devices associated with the remote server communicatively coupled to the LAN are controlled using the portable electronic device. Actions and/or behaviors of a user are tracked based on use of the portable electronic device. Advertisements are displayed and/or played on at least one of the controlled devices based on the tracked user actions and/or behaviors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: John Ruckart, Robert Starr
  • Publication number: 20160358204
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using wireless communication devices to track the effects of advertising are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes representing the identity of an advertising impression, that is, a specific advertisement, with an impression code. According to exemplary embodiments, the advertising impression is directed to at least one commodity, such as one or more products and services. The method may also further include receiving the impression into a computer-readable memory of a wireless communication device. The method further includes detecting the wireless communication device, and then providing the impression code during the purchase of the commodity. The method continues with obtaining the identity of the advertising impression from the impression code. The method additionally includes creating a transaction record, wherein transaction record includes the advertising impression identity and an identity of the commodity, and storing the transaction record in a database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Craig M. Cavanaugh, John Ruckart
  • Publication number: 20160353277
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present is a method of implementing privacy control of location information. Such a method comprises defining a geographic zone for which pseudo-location information is to be reported as the current location of the user, wherein the pseudo-location information is not the current location of the user; receiving the current location of the user; determining that the current location is in the geographic zone; and reporting the pseudo-location information as the current location of the user when the current location is determined to be in the geographic zone. Other methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Scott Frank, Robert Starr, John Ruckart, Steven Tischer, Samuel Zellner
  • Publication number: 20160325142
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products monitor athletic performance. Location information is acquired that indicates a device is in movement. A level of difficulty associated with the location information is retrieved and associated to a distance traversed during the movement. The distance traversed and the level of difficulty are stored in a database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Aaron, John Ruckart
  • Patent number: 9491275
    Abstract: A service provider for a communications system may detect new contact information for a contact in the contact database of a first one of the subscribers. The service provider obtains a confirmation of the new contact information by a party other than the first subscriber to confirm accuracy of the new contact information. Responsive to detection of the confirmation event, the service provider stores the confirmed contact information in an aggregate contact database including contact data from multiple ones of the plurality of subscribers. The new contact information may include a communications identifier, such as a telephone number, physical address or network address. The new contact information may further include personal information for the contact, such as a photograph, a profile, a weblog, a buddy list, a bookmark and/or a tag, or commercial information associated with the contact, such as a user rating, an advertisement and/or a coupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P., by transfer of ownership from AT&T, Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventor: John Ruckart
  • Patent number: 9460454
    Abstract: A method of advertising tailored based on usage patterns of a portable electronic device includes determining if a portable electronic device has entered an area associated with a local area network (LAN). A link is established between the portable electronic device and the LAN if it is determined that the portable electronic device has entered the area associated with the LAN. User services are established between the portable electronic device and a remote server using the established link based on a user profile associated with the portable electronic device. Devices associated with the remote server communicatively coupled to the LAN are controlled using the portable electronic device. Actions and/or behaviors of a user are tracked based on use of the portable electronic device. Advertisements are displayed and/or played on at least one of the controlled devices based on the tracked user actions and/or behaviors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Ruckart, Robert Starr
  • Patent number: 9456386
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer products for pooling of wireless collection bandwidth are provided. Exemplary embodiments include a bandwidth management method, in a wireless device, the method, including querying for additional wireless devices within a communication range of the wireless device, the wireless device and additional wireless devices being in communication with a network having downloadable content, initiating communication between the wireless device and the additional wireless devices, establishing an ad-hoc network among the combination of the wireless device and the additional devices, establishing communication between the combined wireless device and additional devices as the ad-hoc network, and the network having the downloadable content and requesting the downloadable content from the network to the wireless device, wherein the downloadable content is transferred over a bandwidth collectively pooled among individual bandwidths of the wireless device and the additional wireless devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: John Ruckart
  • Patent number: 9454740
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus, method and/or computer program products for monitoring internet activity. In some method embodiments, a network is searched to detect network data indicative of actual and/or potential contact with a child. A report is generated that identifies a source of detected data and the report is sent to a responsible party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: John Ruckart