Patents by Inventor Martin R. Frank

Martin R. Frank 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: 9349095
    Abstract: A system is described which allows a user to define a relational tag. The relational tag describes how a first item is related to a second item within an identified qualifying context. For instance, the relational tag may state that the first item is ranked higher than or lower than the second item. When utilized by many users, the system forms a graph of interconnected items. The system can perform comparative analysis within this graph. For instance, based on the relational tags, the system can determine which item is the top-ranking item or bottom-ranking item within the graph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter M. Tseng, Martin R. Frank, Michel L. Goldstein
  • Patent number: 8402022
    Abstract: Tools and techniques for converging terms within a collaborative tagging environment are described herein. Methods for converging divergent contributions to the collaborative tagging environment may include receiving respective contributions from users within the environment. The methods may identify at least some of the contributions as divergent, and enable the users to converge the divergent contributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventors: Martin R. Frank, Walter Manching Tseng
  • Patent number: 8112324
    Abstract: Collaborative structured tagging enables a community of users to define different types of tags for online content. The diverse tag types provide a non-flat or dimensional tagging data structure that supports navigation and search for content, as well as comparison of the content. In one implementation, the collaborative structured tagging is employed in an item encyclopedia that offers community-authored information on various items in one or more electronic catalogs. In this context, the collaborative structured tagging facilitates comprehensive cross-product comparison and dimensional product navigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin R. Frank, Walter Manching Tseng, Charles E. Groom, Fred Farhad Sadaghiani
  • Patent number: 8103614
    Abstract: A system is described which allows a user to define a relational tag. The relational tag describes how a first item is related to a second item within an identified qualifying context. For instance, the relational tag may state that the first item is ranked higher than or lower than the second item. When utilized by many users, the system forms a graph of interconnected items. The system can perform comparative analysis within this graph. For instance, based on the relational tags, the system can determine which item is the top-ranking item or bottom-ranking item within the graph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter M. Tseng, Martin R. Frank, Michel L. Goldstein
  • Publication number: 20080114644
    Abstract: Tools and techniques for converging terms within a collaborative tagging environment are described herein. Methods for converging divergent contributions to the collaborative tagging environment may include receiving respective contributions from users within the environment. The methods may identify at least some of the contributions as divergent, and enable the users to converge the divergent contributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Martin R. Frank, Walter Manching Tseng
  • Publication number: 20070208679
    Abstract: A system is described which allows a user to define a relational tag. The relational tag describes how a first item is related to a second item within an identified qualifying context. For instance, the relational tag may state that the first item is ranked higher than or lower than the second item. When utilized by many users, the system forms a graph of interconnected items. The system can perform comparative analysis within this graph. For instance, based on the relational tags, the system can determine which item is the top-ranking item or bottom-ranking item within the graph.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventors: Walter M. Tseng, Martin R. Frank, Michel L. Goldstein