Patents Represented by Attorney Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner P.A.
  • Patent number: 8352549
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for creating topic neighborhoods and a visualization for related topic neighborhoods in a networked system are disclosed. The apparatus in an example embodiment includes a neighborhood generator configured to receive an explicit identification of a topic for association with a neighborhood; create a neighborhood in association with the explicitly identified topic; gather neighborhood information related to the neighborhood from sources related to the topic; and provide access to the neighborhood via a neighborhood link on a webpage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Sacco, Ryan Melcher
  • Patent number: 8348767
    Abstract: Example systems and methods related to dynamic generation of in-game assets and in-game obstacles of an online game are presented. In an example, information describing a social network of a first player of an online game is accessed, the information identifying other players of the online game. Game account information of the other players is then accessed. The game account information of the other players identifies in-game assets of the other players. At least one of an in-game asset for the first player and an in-game obstacle to affect the first player in the online game is generated based on a mathematical function that considers the in-game assets of the other player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Amitt Mahajan, Roger F. Dickey, Carl Eric Schiermeyer, Jonathan Chang Tien
  • Patent number: 8348769
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a printed circuit board that is part of a wagering game machine. The printed circuit board includes a processor operable to execute instructions associated with a wagering game. The printed circuit board also includes a hard drive mount that includes an alignment guide and a blind mate connector for electrically coupling a hard drive to a surface mount connection on the printed circuit board. The hard drive is to store wagering game data for the wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob C. Greenberg, Raymond E. Macika, Victor Mercado, Eleobardo Moreno
  • Patent number: 8352873
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a method includes receiving a request to initiate recording of media content of an event. The method also includes controlling capturing of the media content by a capture machine in response to the received request. The method includes opening a chat session among one or more persons that are listeners or viewers of the event being captured, wherein the opening is in response to the request to initiate recording of the media content. The chat session comprises one or more entries that include a chat input from the one or more persons and a timecode of the chat input. The method includes receiving a request to stop recording of the media content of the event. The method also includes combining at least a subset of the one or more entries of the chat session with the media content using the time code of the one or more entries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Craig, Eric M. Circlaeys, Kjell Bronder
  • Patent number: 8348768
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing game-based incentives to users of online games as a reward for performing actions at physical locations are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Kathleen Auterio, Deniz Ersever, Hardik Kheskani, Serena Lam, Christopher Joseph Makarsky, Donald C. Mosites, Benjamin Mullin, Shantanu Talapatra, Justin Waldron, Jackson Wang
  • Patent number: 8352969
    Abstract: Disclosed in one example is a method for interfacing with multiple social networks. The method includes receiving a call from a social networking service agnostic social networking application for one of a plurality of social networking functions in a first format, translating the call in the first format to a call in a second format, the second format being one of a plurality of heterogeneous social networking service application programming interface formats, and passing the call in the second format to a first social networking service by utilizing a first social networking service application programming interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Brown, M. Ian Graham, Shantanu Talapatra, Scott Dale
  • Patent number: 8352968
    Abstract: A server system facilitates an exchange of messages with a remote client application. The server system includes a plurality of application servers hosting a plurality of applications. A plurality of Application Program Interfaces (APIs) provides programmatic access to the plurality of applications, each of the APIs being configured to receive request messages compiled by the remote client application. First and second request messages, respectively addressed to first and second APIs of the plurality of APIs by a remote client application, each comprise at least one common data component. Further, the first request message includes a first payload specific to the first API, and the second request message includes a payload specific to the second API.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Zahid N. Ahmed, Alon Cohen, Daniel Tsun Kao, Ray Tanaka, Gary Yue, Bhaven Avalani
  • Patent number: 8352259
    Abstract: Frequencies from a set of audio source files are extracted and measured across the set to determine a range of each of the frequencies. Stable frequencies of the frequencies are detected based on each range and used to create a stable frequency family. An unknown recording is mapped to the stable frequency family to form an audio fingerprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Vladimir Askold Bogdanov
  • Patent number: 8352970
    Abstract: Disclosed in one example is a method for interfacing with multiple social networks. The method includes receiving a call from a social networking service agnostic social networking application for one of a plurality of social networking functions in a first format, translating the call in the first format to a call in a second format, the second format being one of a plurality of heterogeneous social networking service application programming interface formats, and passing the call in the second format to a first social networking service by utilizing a first social networking service application programming interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Brown, M. Ian Graham, Shantanu Talapatra, Scott Dale
  • Patent number: 8351613
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for determination of gain margin of a hearing assistance device under test. In varying examples, the impulse response for multiple levels can be taken and used to arrive at a gain margin. The method and apparatus, in various examples, process critical portions of the resulting data for efficient processing and to increase accuracy of measurements. The method and apparatus performing a plurality of measurements to determine impulse responses and to derive gain margin as a function of frequency therefrom. The present subject matter includes principles which may are adapted for use within a hearing assistance device using a single white noise stimulus, according to one example. The principles set forth herein can be applied to occluding and non-occluding hearing device embodiments. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Ivo Leon Diane Marie Merks
  • Patent number: 8349289
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for the production of synthesis gas. More particularly, various embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for volatilizing fluid fuel to produce synthesis gas by using a metal catalyst on a solid support matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Lanny D. Schmidt, Paul J. Dauenhauer, Bradon J. Dreyer, James R. Salge
  • Patent number: 8352040
    Abstract: A system for communicating with an implantable medical device via RF telemetry is disclosed which mitigates the effects of nulls caused by, e.g., multi-path distortion. In one embodiment, signals transmitted by the implantable device to an external device are simultaneously received with a pair of separate spaced apart first and second antennas. The antennas may provide spatial and/or polar diversity. The presence of nulls in the implantable device's transmission pattern can be determined by detecting an error rate in the signals received from the implantable device with each antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Von Arx, Prashant Rawat, William R. Mass, Greg Carpenter, Vineel Vallapureddy
  • Patent number: 8352869
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-directional visual browsing on an electronic device are described. In example embodiments, a primary result and a peripheral result associated with a user of a device are determined. A display layout based on attributes associated with the primary result and the peripheral result is generated. The display layout is then rendered and displayed on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Melcher, Dane Howard
  • Patent number: 8350480
    Abstract: A plasma lamp for an electrodeless plasma lamp having a shaped dielectric waveguide body. The shaped body may have a relatively thin region containing a bulb, and a second region thicker than the first region. Microwave probes may be positioned in the second region to provide power to the waveguide body. The body may be shaped to intensify the electric field in the first region adjacent to the bulb to allow operation at a lower frequency than a solid cylindrical or rectangular waveguide body having the same volume and dielectric constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Marc DeVincentis, Yian Chang, Frederick M. Espiau, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8352044
    Abstract: A system for enabling telemetry in implantable medical devices is provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an implantable medical device having radio-frequency telemetry capabilities. The device includes a housing and electronic circuitry contained within the housing. The device also includes an antenna connected to the electronic circuitry, the antenna having a helical portion and a whip portion, the whip portion separate from a feed conductor and adapted to enhance a radiation pattern of the antenna. According to various embodiments, the antenna and circuitry are adapted to facilitate transmission and reception of modulated radio-frequency energy at a specified carrier frequency. At least a portion of the antenna is embedded in a dielectric compartment, according to various embodiments. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Christman, Jason J. Edwardson, Bart A. Carey
  • Patent number: 8352911
    Abstract: Techniques for constructing and using run-time JAVA Archive (JAR) files for JAVA Stored Procedures (JSPs) are provided. JSP methods referenced by an application via a plurality of different JAR files are extracted and packed into a single packed JAR file. When the application tries to execute a JSP, the attempt to process the JSP methods is redirected to a new JSP that calls the single packed JAR file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Teradata US, Inc.
    Inventors: John Douglas Frazier, Like Gao, Yu Long, Michael Leon Reed
  • Patent number: 8350525
    Abstract: Methods and systems for charging vehicles in a parking area are described. In one embodiment, a charge request may be received for a vehicle located in a parking area. The vehicle may have a power connection with a power source. An electric charge is provided through the power connection from the power source to the vehicle based on receiving the charge request. Payment is recorded for providing the electric charge based upon departure of the vehicle from the parking area. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Credit Lock, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley A. Handler
  • Patent number: 8350915
    Abstract: A motion detector camera includes a housing, viewing electronics mounted within the housing, an IR emitter exposed on a surface of the housing, a motion detector exposed on a surface of the housing, and a controller operatively coupled to the viewing electronics, the IR emitter, and the motion detector, wherein the controller is adapted to send an activation signal to the IR emitter and to the viewing electronics when the controller receives a triggering signal from the motion detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: IP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Tim Schnell
  • Patent number: 8349338
    Abstract: The invention refers to a cosmetic gel product containing acrylates and to a method for manufacturing the said product. The gel comprises 0.01-80% by weight of a film-forming agent on the basis of an acrylate copolymer or acrylate derivate which agent is emulsifiable with water, 0.01-90% by weight of an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent or a volatile silicone derivate, both of which are not miscible with water and are emulsifiable with water-based ingredients and/or with ingredients on the basis of organic solvents in the presence of an emulsifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Coty B.V.
    Inventors: Yelena Loginova, Domnica Cernasov, Ralph Macchio
  • Patent number: 8350856
    Abstract: A method to display time-variant information that includes displaying, for example, on a computer-generated user interface, a common baseline value indication (or representation) for multiple data items. The common baseline value indication represents respective baseline values for each of the multiple data items (e.g., stocks) at a first instance in time. The method includes displaying deviation indicators (or representations), relative to the common baseline value indication, for each of the multiple data items. The multiple deviation indicators represent respective deviation values, relative to respective base values, for each of the multiple data items at a second time instance. Each of the deviation indicators may further visually identify a respective deviation value as being positive or negative, relative to a related base value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Atish Nazir, James Mulholland