Patents Assigned to A9.com, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9697234
    Abstract: A computing device can determine visual words for images in a first set of images associated with a description that includes a term. Each visual word can describe pixels in an image. The device can determine visual words for images in a second set of images that are associated with a description that does not include the term. The device can determine a set of visual words that are associated with the term. The device can determine regions in images corresponding to visual words in the set of visual words. The device can associate the respective determined regions for the images with the term in a database. When a search query is received that includes an image that is determined to be associated with the term, the database can be utilized to determine images responsive to the query by identifying images that are also associated with the term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: A9.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua, Himanshu Arora, Sunil Ramesh
  • Patent number: 9691158
    Abstract: Systems and methods track one or more points between images. A point for tracking may be selected, at least in part, on a determination of how discriminable the point is relative to other points in a region containing the point. A point of an image being tracked may be located in another image by matching a patch containing the point with another patch of the other image. A search for a matching patch may be focused in a region that is determined based at least in part on an estimate of movement of the point between images. Points may be tracked across multiple images. If an ability to track one or more points is lost, information about the points being tracked may be used to relocate the points in another image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: A9.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan E. Feldman, Nalin Pradeep Senthamil, Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua, Gurumurthy D. Ramkumar
  • Patent number: 9691152
    Abstract: Approaches provide for minimizing variations in the height of a camera of a computing device when estimating the distance to objects represented in image data captured by the camera. For example, a front-facing camera of a computing device can be used to capture a live camera view of a user. An application can analyze the image data to locate features of the user's face for purposes of aligning the user with the computing device. As the position and/orientation of the device changes with respect to the user, the image data can be analyzed to detect whether a location of a representation of a feature of the user aligns with the alignment element. Once the feature is aligned with the alignment element, a rear-facing camera (or other camera) can capture second image data of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: A9.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Eran Borenstein, Arunkumar Devadoss, Zur Nehushtan
  • Patent number: 9691161
    Abstract: The recognition of objects such as clothing items can be improved by capturing image data that represents the material characteristics and true color of the object. A high resolution image can be captured that shows the individual threads and/or fibers, among other possible pattern or texture characteristics. Various approaches are discussed for determining the scale of these features to more accurately determine the way the material is made. Further, approaches are discussed that enable the true color of the material to be determined, through hardware and/or software, to further improve the accuracy of such a determination. The material and color properties can be combined with a conventional object recognition process to provide accurate object identification and/or authentication results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Ismet Zeki Yalniz, Leo Benedict Baldwin, Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua, Isabella Talley Lewis, Colin Jon Taylor
  • Patent number: 9686350
    Abstract: A reusable distributed computing framework may be established in which contributors of computing resources may participate by using a web browser to visit a web page that incorporates a distributed computing participation component. A distributed computing job provider may submit distributed computing jobs to a web-based distributed computing service. A distributed computing job may include browser-executable code in accordance with a particular distributed computing programmatic interface and data to be processed by the browser-executable code. The web-based distributed computing service may assign independently processable portions of the job data to browsers visiting a donor page for processing with the job code. Results returned by the donor browsers may be indexed and made available in real-time, as may a status of the distributed computing job such as with respect to processing the job data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: A9.COM, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew W. Amacker
  • Patent number: 9686341
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a system. The system comprises a server, a memory accessible to the server, and a review trend generator configured to receive a request for a review trend corresponding to at least one item. The review trend generator is further configured to generate a review trend based at least in part upon a plurality of reviews of an item. The system further comprises a review trend encoder configured to encode the generated review trend for rendering on a network page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventor: Yusuf Moosbhoy Mohsinally
  • Patent number: 9684987
    Abstract: The density of images to display can be increased, and distractions reduced, through intelligent cropping or manipulation of at least some of the images. For objects such as dresses represented in the images, the density can be increased by cropping away regions of background outside the object region(s). Locating regions representing the face and legs of the wearer can enable cropping of the top and/or bottom of the image in order to cause the dress to occupy the majority of the area of the image, and can provide for a level of consistency of the sizes of the objects across the images, regardless of the sources of the images. Representative colors of the objects can also be selected to adjust the background color, in order to provide for easy distinction between the images while not providing contrasting or unappealing colors that take away from the aesthetics of the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: A9.COM, INC.
    Inventor: Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua
  • Patent number: 9681259
    Abstract: A location of a mobile device can be determined. Common search queries can be provided that are associated with the location of the mobile device. Information associated with the common search queries can be transmitted to the mobile device automatically or upon user request. The information associated with the common search queries can include timing information, type of user information, user grouping, search type information, results of the common search queries, advertising relating to the common search queries, or links to additional information based on the current location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruben E. Ortega, Robert Frederick, Barnaby M. Dorfman
  • Patent number: 9672436
    Abstract: Searching for items, such as apparel items, can be performed using a set of category-specific outlines or contours from which a user can select. The outlines enable a user to quickly specify a relevant category, and provide guidance as to how to orient the camera in order to enable an item to be identified in an image without the need for an expensive object identification and segmentation process. The outline can specify a “swatch” region, indicating where the user should position a view of a pattern, texture, or color of the item in which the user is interested. The category selection and swatch region data can be used to determine matching items. If the user wants a different set of search results, the user can select a different outline, causing a new query to be executed with updated category information and swatch data to obtain new search results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua
  • Patent number: 9652536
    Abstract: Techniques are described for using electronic communications to enable users to supply data to an online service, such as a fee-based online search functionality service that provides user-specific data searching capabilities. The electronic communications may, for example, be email communications, and may be used to supply data in various manners, such as based on the communications' body contents and/or file attachments. In addition, users may configure various types of data analysis or manipulation operations to be performed on data supplied via electronic communications. After a user's data has been supplied to and optionally manipulated by the online service in a configured manner, that user (or others to whom that user provides access) may access that data from the online service in various manners, including by using one or more data retrieval access interfaces that are distinct from an electronic communication address used to supply the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: A9.COM, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Stasior, Matthew W. Amacker, Charles B. Pinkerton, Asif Mansoor Ali Makhani
  • Patent number: 9651396
    Abstract: The subject technology provides embodiments for a relevance ranking algorithm of point of interests (POIs). Based on a query request from a user of a mapping application, the relevance ranking orders the matching POIs based on either a reverse logistic distance function or a logarithmic distance function that is used as a multiplier for a baseline score of each of the matching POIs. The multiplier is used to boost or discount the respective relevance of each of the matching POIs, especially with respect to a specified area of interest included in the query request or a location of a user included in the query request. A subset of the ranked POIs may then be selected for display to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Scott Miller
  • Patent number: 9652541
    Abstract: An editable search refinement specification can be displayed with search results for a search query. The search refinement specification can include terms of the search query and any modifiers to the query, such as categories, filters, and other refinements. A user can edit portions of the search refinement specification inline, with other portions of the specification being retained, in order to adjust the search. Using such an approach, a user can adjust a search query without losing any context or refinement from a previous search that the user would like to use for the subsequent search. Various options can be provided with the search refinement specification, such as to edit any portion, delete one or more portions, suggest refinements, go to other specifications, and the like. The search refinement specifications also can be saved for use at a later time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Amacker, William F. Stasior
  • Patent number: 9652838
    Abstract: Various approaches enable a user to capture image information (e.g., still images or video) about an object of interest such as the sole of a shoe or other piece of footwear (e.g., a sandal) and receive information about items that are determined to match footwear based at least in part on the image information. For example, an image analyze service or other similar service can analyze the images to determine a type of shoe included within the images based at least in part on patterns of other distinguishing features of the sole of the shoe. The image analysis service can aggregate the results and can provide information about the results as a set of matches or results to be displayed to a user in response to a visual search query. The information can include, for example, descriptions, contact information, availability, location data, pricing information, and other such information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Raghavan Manmatha, Wei-Hong Chuang
  • Patent number: 9645722
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for previewing content that is located behind the links of a search results webpage without having to click on the links and thereby cause webpage changes. Embodiments provide a webpage that presents a first set of search results in response to a search query submitted by a user. This webpage is displayed in a graphical user interface and the first set of search results comprises one or more links to other search results webpages, which are defined dynamically and cannot be pre-computed. In the event a user mouses over one of the links, embodiments execute the search associated with the moused-over link and then render selected portions of the search results in a preview window that is positioned over a portion the webpage that displays the first set of search results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Stasior, Matthew W. Amacker
  • Patent number: 9646335
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable a computing device to perform tasks such as processing an image to recognize text or an object in an image to identify a particular product or related products associated with the text or object. In response to recognizing the text or the object as being associated with a product available for purchase from an electronic marketplace, one or more advertisements or product listings associated with the product can be displayed to the user. Accordingly, additional information for the associated product can be displayed, enabling the user to learn more about and purchase the product from the electronic marketplace through the portable computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaofan Lin, Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua, Douglas Ryan Gray, Atul Kumar, Yu Lou
  • Patent number: 9639957
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for generating recommendations utilizing visual image analysis. A digital image provided by a client device is analyzed to identify an empty region in a setting embodied in the digital image. A recommended item, available for consumption via an electronic commerce system, may be identified based on characteristics of the setting embodied in the digital image and historical data associated with a user. A modified form of the digital image is generated comprising the recommended item in the empty region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: A9.Com, Inc.
    Inventors: Ismet Zeki Yalniz, Sunil Ramesh
  • Patent number: 9619829
    Abstract: A visual refinement interface enables users to adjust and/or refine search results by selecting results that match a user's interest, and displaying subsequent results that are closer to the selected items. Multiple result sets can be displayed concurrently such that the user can maintain context for the results. Further, the user can quickly go back to modify an earlier selection without having to navigate to a previous page, for example, and a single modification can cause several subsequent result sets to automatically change such that the user can quickly view dozens of new results, for example, simply by selecting at least one different result from a displayed result set. Prior result sets can be modified, such as by reducing the size or adjusting the placement of the sets, such that the user can easily determine the current set and the relatedness to previous results sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Warren Amacker
  • Patent number: 9619713
    Abstract: Techniques for grouping images are disclosed. In some situations, the techniques include identifying at least one event-based image group among a plurality of images based on an event that is associated with each identified image, receiving a selection of one or more objects in a first image of the identified event-based image group, identifying other images in the identified event-based image group that each include at least one of the selected one or more objects, and associating the identified images with the first image. In one instance, the selected objects include individuals captured in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: A9.com, Inc, Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Amacker, Joel D. Tesler, Piragash Velummylum
  • Patent number: 9607010
    Abstract: Techniques for facilitating a shape-based search of content items are disclosed. In some situations, the techniques include receiving a request for search of content that includes an image of an item and a glyph input by the user on the image that indicates a shape of the first item, extracting features associated with the item from an area of the image on which the glyph is input; identifying a shape category of the first item based at least in part on the indicated shape of the glyph; and conducting a search for items having features that match the extracted features of the first item, the search being conducted among a plurality of items associated with the identified shape category. The retrieved search results may be returned to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen S. Tompkins, Leslie K. Wang, Arnab S. Dhua, Catherine L. Wah
  • Patent number: 9594540
    Abstract: Displaying item attributes may include receiving, from a client device, a search query, providing, for display to a user, a network page containing search result items relevant to the received query and selectable facets, where each selectable facet corresponds to an attribute associated with at least one of the search result items, and, in response to a selection of one of the selectable facets, identifying each of the search result items that is associated with the attribute corresponding to the selected facet, and causing the attributes corresponding the selected facet to be exposed for each of the identified search result items. The identified search results are retained with exposed attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Stasior, Matthew W. Amacker, Joel D. Tesler