Patents by Inventor Peter H. Distler

Peter H. Distler 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: 10410237
    Abstract: Systems and methods for inventory management integrating subscriber and targeting data are provided. The method includes tracking historical inventory during a first time period for each of a plurality of advertising spots, the number of impressions for each spot. Each impression is categorized by segment. The method further includes predicting a future inventory available for a second time period based on the tracked inventory, and subtracting, on a segment-by-segment basis, inventory that is sold from the future inventory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: James D. Barnes, Sanjay K. Sharma, Peter H. Distler
  • Patent number: 10068261
    Abstract: Generally, an illustrative system for optimizing an advertising campaign on a mobile device includes a graphic user interface for accessing by at least one of a carrier and an advertiser, a data store, a campaign delivery engine for delivering advertisements into content provider spots and recording events into the data store, and an optimization engine. The optimization engine can support the graphic user interface and analyze one or more campaign events each linked with corresponding subscriber demographic data obtained from the data store for adjusting the advertising campaign during its run. The illustrative system can also support one or more methods disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: James D. Barnes, Sanjay K. Sharma, Peter H. Distler
  • Patent number: 9299087
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing and tracking virtual coupons. A proxy for a virtual coupon is provided to a mobile device. The virtual coupon is provided to the mobile device based on a set of conditions in response to a request made via the proxy for the virtual coupon, wherein the request comprises context information. The virtual coupon is deleted in response to an event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: James D. Barnes, Peter H. Distler
  • Patent number: 9275390
    Abstract: A method is provided for state based advertisement messaging. The method comprises obtaining state information from a state engine, wherein the state information relates to an advertisement that has been displayed in the mobile device. The method also includes selecting an advertisement from a plurality of advertisements, based at least in part on the state information. The method additionally comprises displaying the selected advertisement in the application, and updating the state information for the selected advertisement when the selected advertisement has been displayed in the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: James D. Barnes, Sanjay K. Sharma, Peter H. Distler
  • Patent number: 8639572
    Abstract: Computer implemented methods and systems are provided for intelligent advertisement selection from multiple sources. A request for a content page is received from a device. An advertisement source is selected from a plurality of advertisement sources based on an advertisement source request from a content provider. The content page is generated based on the selection of the advertisement source. An advertisement is selected from a plurality of advertisements based on an advertisement from the content page. The content page is provided to the device. The advertisement is provided to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: James D. Barnes, Mandar Bhanushali, Peter H. Distler
  • Patent number: 8595070
    Abstract: A method is provided for coupon validation. A coupon is downloaded to a mobile device. The mobile device is used to determine a radio frequency fingerprint comprising cell tower data and cell sector data. The coupon is associated with the radio frequency fingerprint. Whether the radio frequency fingerprint matches a radio frequency fingerprint specified for redemption is determined. Redemption of the coupon is enabled in response to a determination that the radio frequency fingerprint matches the radio frequency fingerprint specified for redemption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: James D. Barnes, Peter H. Distler, Michael P. McMullen
  • Patent number: 8423408
    Abstract: A method of dynamic content distribution and placement of advertising between a mobile device and an advertisement fulfillment system comprising providing a rotation of advertisements stored in the mobile device. Each advertisement comprises substantive content and a value in an impression field. The method further comprises selecting an advertisement from the rotation of advertisements based at least in part on which advertisement in the rotation was last displayed, and displaying the selected advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: James D. Barnes, Sanjay K. Sharma, Peter H. Distler, Robert E. Urbanek
  • Patent number: 8214454
    Abstract: Systems and methods for seamless retrieval of coupons and other non-standard items to a mobile device. Some method embodiments comprise: receiving a communication that specifies a user id and a coupon id, and storing the user id and a location of the coupon in a table in response to said receiving. A response to the communication is sent to the mobile device to invoke an application that accesses the table to determine the coupon location and uses the coupon location to download the content. The communication may be a web page request from a browser on the mobile device, and the application may be a coupon organizer external to the web browser. The communication may further include origination information, so that once the retrieval is complete, the mobile device once again displays the original web page and the user is given the perception that the download was accomplished within the browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: James D. Barnes, Devon L. Biere, Peter H. Distler, Sanjay K. Sharma
  • Patent number: 8160615
    Abstract: A method is provided for generating associations between a user profile and a wireless device. The method comprises storing information about a location of a first wireless device associated with a first user profile and storing information about a location of a second of wireless device associated with a second user profile. The method also comprises determining the second wireless device is substantially collocated with the first wireless device based on the information about location of the first wireless device and the information about the location of the second wireless device. The method also comprises generating an association between the first user profile and the second wireless device based on the determining and displaying on a screen of the second wireless device a content selected based on the first user profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Nextel Communications Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Barnes, Peter H. Distler
  • Patent number: 8010134
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for mobile device advertising. The system includes a mobile device, a content provider, and an advertisement provider. A plurality of location fix technologies is executed to determine a plurality of location fixes for the mobile device, and the plurality of location fixes is stored in the mobile device. A location request is received for the mobile device, the plurality of stored location fixes is retrieved from the mobile device, and the plurality of stored location fixes is sent to the content provider. The content provider receives the plurality of location fixes for the mobile device from the mobile device, forwards the plurality of location fixes to the advertisement provider, and transmits content to the mobile device. The advertisement provider selects an advertisement based on location fixes, and transmits the advertisement to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: James D. Barnes, Peter H. Distler, Michael P. McMullen, Sanjay Kumar Sharma
  • Patent number: 7945271
    Abstract: A method for inferring location of a mobile device is provided. A radio frequency fingerprint is taken for a mobile device, wherein the radio frequency fingerprint includes cell tower data and cell sector data that includes a cell sector through which the mobile device is not communicating. Whether the radio frequency fingerprint matches a previous radio frequency fingerprint associated with a location fix is determined. A location fix technology is executed for the mobile device in response to a determination that the radio frequency fingerprint does not match the previous radio frequency fingerprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: James D. Barnes, Peter H. Distler, Michael P. McMullen
  • Patent number: 7945573
    Abstract: Computer implemented methods and systems are provided for dynamic transcoding to stitch streaming digital content. A selection of a content file is received from a mobile device. An advertisement content file is identified for the selected content file. Attributes of the selected content file are determined. Attributes of the advertisement content file are determined. The advertisement content file and the selected content file are converted so that the attributes of the advertisement content file and the attributes of the selected content file match. The selected content file is stitched with the advertisement content file to produce streaming digital content. The streaming digital content is provided to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: James D. Barnes, Steve Danzo, Peter H. Distler
  • Patent number: 7797441
    Abstract: One illustrative method for concatenating an unselected content stream (such as advertising) with a selected content stream to create a digital content stream includes interactions between a first server and a second server. The first server can receive a selection of the selected content stream from a hand-held device, transmit the selection to a second server, receive a playlist having location identifiers that identify at least the selected content stream and an unselected content stream, and communicate with a plurality of streaming servers collectively having streaming digital content including the selected and unselected content streams. The first server further communicates to the hand-held device a play time of the streaming digital content, concatenates the streaming digital content from the plurality of streaming servers, and provides the concatenated streaming digital content to the hand-held device as a single content stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: James D. Barnes, Sanjay K. Sharma, Peter H Distler
  • Patent number: 7698062
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for finding a most convenient point of interest for a traveler traveling along a route to a destination. The method includes the steps of identifying the location of the traveler, receiving one or more traveler-specified convenience criteria (e.g., maximum distance or time off-route to arrive at the point of interest); receiving a traveler-specified type of point of interest (e.g., hotel, sporting goods store, ice cream parlor) indicating the type of point of interest the traveler wishes to go to while traveling to the destination; searching through a database containing points of interests and their locations for points of interest of the type specified by the traveler meeting the traveler-specified convenience criteria; and providing instructions to the traveler to travel to at least one of the points of interest identified in the searching step if the searching step resulted in finding at least one point of interest meeting the convenience criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Michael P. McMullen, Peter H. Distler
  • Patent number: 7680899
    Abstract: Systems and methods for seamless retrieval of coupons and other non-standard items to a mobile device. Some method embodiments comprise: receiving a communication that specifies a user id and a coupon id, and storing the user id and a location of the coupon in a table in response to said receiving. A response to the communication is sent to the mobile device to invoke an application that accesses the table to determine the coupon location and uses the coupon location to download the content. The communication may be a web page request from a browser on the mobile device, and the application may be a coupon organizer external to the web browser. The communication may further include origination information, so that once the retrieval is complete, the mobile device once again displays the original web page and the user is given the perception that the download was accomplished within the browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: James D. Barnes, Sanjay K. Sharma, Peter H. Distler, Devon L. Biere
  • Patent number: 7653730
    Abstract: A system and method for dynamic provisioning of telecommunication connections in a carrier virtual network is provided. Information regarding the layer one resources available for forming a connection is maintained, and may include connection information and latency information. Using connection information and latency information, possible connections complying with service level latency requirements are identified. One of the possible connections may be provisioned. If a linking provisioned connection becomes impaired, another of the possible connections may be provisioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Bruce Edward Hoffman, Peter H. Distler, Durga Prasad Satapathy
  • Patent number: 7539135
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for establishing layer one telecommunication carrier virtual networks. In accordance with the present invention, at least one portion of layer one resources of at least one telecommunication network is dedicated to at least one carrier virtual network. The at least one portion of layer one resources dedicated to each carrier virtual network may be identified to the one or more telecommunication networks that may access that carrier virtual network. Each telecommunication network that may access a carrier virtual network may then access the portions of layer one resources dedicated to that carrier virtual network for establishing a service, provisioning a service, or otherwise managing those layer one resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Bruce E. Hoffman, Peter H. Distler, Durga Prasad Satapathy
  • Patent number: 7460526
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for establishing an inverse multiplexed connection using layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network. A plurality of links may be identified that when combined will meet the service level requirements for a connection. The plurality of links may be aggregated at their termination point. The plurality of links may be further aggregated by a carrier virtual network manager. Alternative links may be identified and aggregated if any of the plurality of links become impaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Bruce Edward Hoffman, Peter H. Distler, Durga Prasad Satapathy
  • Patent number: 7436840
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method, and system manager for establishing and maintaining layer one telecommunication carrier virtual networks. In accordance with the present invention, portions of layer one resources of telecommunication networks are dedicated to a carrier virtual network that may be accessed by other telecommunication networks. Information identifying the portions of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network is provided to a carrier virtual network system manager by the network system manager of the telecommunication networks dedicating portions of layer one resources to a carrier virtual network. The carrier virtual network system manager identifies the portions of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network to the network system managers of the telecommunication networks that may access a given carrier virtual network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Bruce E. Hoffman, Peter H. Distler, Durga Prasad Satapathy, Mir S. Islam
  • Publication number: 20080227467
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for mobile device advertising. The system includes a mobile device, a content provider, and an advertisement provider. A plurality of location fix technologies is executed to determine a plurality of location fixes for the mobile device, and the plurality of location fixes is stored in the mobile device. A location request is received for the mobile device, the plurality of stored location fixes is retrieved from the mobile device, and the plurality of stored location fixes is sent to the content provider. The content provider receives the plurality of location fixes for the mobile device from the mobile device, forwards the plurality of location fixes to the advertisement provider, and transmits content to the mobile device. The advertisement provider selects an advertisement based on location fixes, and transmits the advertisement to the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
    Inventors: James D. Barnes, Peter H. Distler, Michael P. McMullen, Sanjay Kumar Sharma