Patents Assigned to AOL LLC
  • Publication number: 20070282960
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sorting electronic messages using attributes of senders or of sender addresses. An electronic messaging server sorts electronic messages using attributes associated with the senders or sender addresses of the electronic messages. The sender addresses and associated attributes are stored in an accept list. A sorting module uses the accept list to sort the electronic messages into various folders. The sorting module can also access other data sources, such as a contact list, to assist in sorting the electronic messages. The attributes can be determined independently of the user or can be set directly by the user. The attributes can also identify a status of a sender such as whether the sender is authorized, unauthorized, or unconfirmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: AOL LLC
    Inventors: Phillip Goldman, Richard Landsman
  • Publication number: 20070280229
    Abstract: A data transfer method includes receiving terminal server identification data at a host system from a terminal server, querying a database to obtain localized information service data associated with the terminal server identification data, and sending the localized information service data from the host system to the terminal server. A host system providing localized information system data includes a database system, a network interface, and a processor. The database system includes records to associate terminal server identification data with information service data. The interface couples the host system to a communications link over which the host system can exchange data with a terminal server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: AOL LLC
    Inventor: William Kenney
  • Patent number: 7305432
    Abstract: The invention comprises a system and method for management of Web users' privacy preferences. In the distributed system, a Web user has a single set of privacy preferences. The single set of privacy preferences and any of its modifications are propagated among Web browsers and Web services. The user's own privacy preferences are enforced at Web services based on the requester's privacy policies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: AOL LLC
    Inventors: An Feng, Frank Minjarez
  • Patent number: 7305713
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of protecting content includes receiving a request from a user to access the content. The user is enabled to perceive the content based on the request received from the user. The user is prevented from capturing the content when perception of the content is enabled. The method may be performed by a Java applet running in a network environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: AOL LLC
    Inventor: Gary Crance
  • Patent number: 7305350
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for notifying a potential customer of a vendor that is in geographic proximity to the potential customer. The vendor is associated with a vendor and may include available good and/or services. The potential customer may be notified of several vendors associated with different vendors. Each vendor may be assigned at least one primary service and at least one secondary service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: AOL LLC
    Inventor: Carl Bruecken
  • Patent number: 7305470
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for automatically displaying a user's logged-in status across an Internet based network of affiliated Web sites via a visual indicator such as a toolbar to help the user to be certain about his logged-in status when he stays with one or switches from one to another affiliated Web site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: AOL LLC
    Inventors: Allen Lee Tom, Mohan Kumar S. Bethur, Hyun Jong Shin, Jun-Shong Huang
  • Patent number: 7305385
    Abstract: N-grams (i.e., N character sequences) are used to identify documents that potentially satisfy a search query. The documents that potentially satisfy the query are then searched (e.g., using a full text search) to determine which documents actually satisfy the query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: AOL LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Dzikiewicz, Stuart L. Brandt
  • Publication number: 20070274497
    Abstract: Alerting an intended recipient of a phone call includes identifying an account based on a phone call received from a caller and accessing configuration data related to the account. The configuration data is used to identify an identity associated with the account. One or more external online service provider systems are queried across a network to determine whether the identity is available to receive an electronic communication associated with the phone call. The electronic communication associated with the phone call is sent across the network to the one or more external online service provider systems conditioned on whether the identity is determined to be available to receive the electronic communication. The one or more external online service provider systems send the electronic communication to the identity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: AOL LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Murphy, Bradford Spencer
  • Patent number: 7302703
    Abstract: Intelligent hardware token processors (5) are capable of sending and receiving encrypted messages. Generic initialization with non-user-specific certificates comprising public and private keys allows a certificate authority (210) to securely communicate with the hardware token. New users enrolling with the certificate server (210) have their hardware tokens securely reprogrammed with user specific certificates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: AOL, LLC a Delaware limited liability company
    Inventor: William Burns
  • Publication number: 20070271607
    Abstract: Communication applications may include lists of users with which a user of the application communicates. If two users of a communications application each include the other user on their user lists, an implicit trust may be established between the users. For example, if user A includes user B in her list and user B includes user A in his list, then it may be determined that each user knows and/or trusts the other user. As a result, a connection or communications pathway may be automatically created between the client devices of the users to facilitate communications between the users based on the implicit trust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: AOL LLC
    Inventor: James Roskind
  • Patent number: 7299222
    Abstract: A search tool graphical user interface comprises search criteria selected by an operator of the search tool. One or more search results that correspond to the search criteria are displayed on the search tool graphical user interface, and an indication of characteristics is displayed for one or more of the search results. The characteristics displayed may include the availability or maturity of content associated with the search results. The search results may be sorted or filtered based on the characteristics of content associated with the search results. The characteristics may be determined before or after the search results are identified and displayed on the search tool graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: AOL LLC
    Inventors: David Hogan, W. Karl Renner
  • Publication number: 20070266002
    Abstract: A first query and a second query, both of which were submitted by a first user to identify information that satisfies a single information need of the first user, are received. The first query and the second query are stored in association with one another and based on a chronological order in which the first query and the second query were submitted by the first user to generate a first query reformulation path. A query is received from a user and more than one query reformulation path is accessed. The received query is compared with queries included in the accessed query reformulation paths to identify a relationship between the received query and a query included in a relevant query reformulation path. One or more prevalent end points is determined based on the relevant query reformulation path and at least one of the prevalent end points is presented to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: AOL LLC
    Inventors: Abdur Chowdhury, Harmannus Vandermolen, Eric Jensen
  • Publication number: 20070266012
    Abstract: Searching different data stores based on a classification of a search term may include receiving at least one search term and classifying the search term among at least first and second categories. When the search term is classified within the first category, the search term is compared to first electronic information within a first electronic information store to determine whether matches exist. When the search term is classified within the second category, the search term is compared to at least second electronic information within at least a second electronic information store that differs from the first electronic information store to determine whether matches exist. A result is displayed based on the matches that are determined to exist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: AOL LLC
    Inventors: David Kellum, Surendra Goel, Thomas Donaldson
  • Patent number: 7295660
    Abstract: A called party may screen for a telemarketing solicitation made by a calling party by receiving a traditional telephony call from the calling party at a messaging service platform and using the messaging service platform to perform telemarketer-screening operations. These telemarketer-screening operations may use a telemarketer blacklist and an associated whitelist in processing the traditional telephony call. When the traditional telephony call is not processed using the telemarketer blacklist or the associated whitelist, the calling party may be challenged to identify themselves. The called party may react to the traditional telephony call by selecting a call processing option that enables the traditional telephony call to be processed as a nontelemarketing telephony call, processed as a telemarketing telephony call, or added to the associated whitelist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: AOL LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Higginbotham, David W. Trueman
  • Patent number: 7296243
    Abstract: Navigating on a display includes providing a navigation control operable to change a viewable portion of a page of information on a display from a first view to a second view. In response to operation of the navigation control, the display is animated to create an appearance of motion as the viewable portion of the page of information changes from the first view to the second view in response to operation of the navigation control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: AOL LLC
    Inventor: Luigi Lira
  • Patent number: 7292571
    Abstract: Generally, a terminal can access a resource selection device to access a content source, the content source being structured and arranged to respond directly to the terminal. For example, a PC (“personal computer”) may be pointed at a load-balancing switch. The load balancing switch translates the PC's traffic and directs the PC traffic to a server (or switch) providing streaming services. The server responds directly to the terminal, but uses the IP address/identity of the load-balancing switch with which the terminal is communicating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: AOL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
    Inventor: Scott K. Brown
  • Patent number: 7289617
    Abstract: Controlling use of a telephone line includes receiving a specification from a first entity that defines one or more supervisory controls on use of a controlled telephone line by a second entity. The supervisory controls specify people with whom the second entity may or may not communicate over the controlled telephone line, and times at which the second entity may or may not communicate over the controlled telephone line. An indication of desired communications between the second entity and a third entity at a particular time over the controlled telephone line is received. A determination is made as to whether the desired communications are consistent with the specified supervisory controls. The desired communications are controlled when the desired communications are not consistent with the specified supervisory controls. In addition, the supervisory controls enable the first entity to interrupt existing calls over the controlled telephone line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: AOL LLC
    Inventors: Michaela Barnes, Stephen Vaughan Murphy
  • Patent number: 7290278
    Abstract: An identity based service system is provided, in which an identity is created and managed for a user or principal, such that at least a portion of the identity is available to use between one or more system entities. A discovery service enables a system entity to discover a service descriptor, given a service name and a name identifier of the user, whereby system entities can find and invoke the user's other personal web services. The discovery service preferably provides a translation between a plurality of namespaces, to prevent linkable identity information over time between system entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: AOL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
    Inventors: Conor P. Cahill, David Eli Wexelblat, Norihiro Edwin Aoki, Jeromy Carriere, James Roskind, Christopher Newell Toomey
  • Patent number: 7290247
    Abstract: Various disclosed help center features provide help to a user without a staffed help center, provide help to a user before the user recognizes the need, or create targeted commerce opportunities for a provider of goods or services. One help center feature provides a user with help that is specifically related to a component in the user's computer system and that is supplied to the help center feature by the component manufacturer. Another help center feature detects a condition that degrades performance, and hence user satisfaction, and alerts the user. Another help center feature detects an attempt by a computer system to inform the user of degraded performance and offers the user a solution. Another help center feature provides a user with a commerce opportunity specifically related to a component in the user's computer system and/or to the user's geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: AOL, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company
    Inventors: James R. Moran, Gail Haddock
  • Publication number: 20070250622
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a user of a communication system includes enabling a first user to initiate monitoring of a second user, automatically monitoring status of activity by the second user on the communication system, and delivering to the first user, one or more of an indication that the second user has added or changed a profile or away message, received a new or updated profile or away message comment, visited an Internet location, engaged in communication device activity, or has generated audio or visual input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: AOL LLC
    Inventor: Jennifer Granito