Patents Assigned to Blackboard Connect Inc.
  • Patent number: 9129254
    Abstract: A method for sending messages within notifications to a recipient is disclosed. The method includes receiving information related to at least one recipient and receiving a selection of at least two messages from a plurality of messages. The method also includes associating the at least one recipient with the at least two messages, and transmitting at least one notification to the at least one recipient, the at least one notification comprising the at least two messages. A system for sending messages within notifications to a recipient is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.
    Inventors: Martin Lind, Deanna Ellis
  • Patent number: 8812719
    Abstract: A method for distributing notifications to a plurality of recipients is disclosed. The method includes receiving at least one notification for distribution to the recipients, and identifying a distributor configured to transmit the notification to the recipients. The method also includes determining a notification distribution capacity of the distributor, and transmitting the notification to the distributor based on the notification distribution capacity of the distributor. A system for distributing notifications to a plurality of recipients is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Blackboard Connect Inc.
    Inventor: Natasha Conahan
  • Patent number: 8677458
    Abstract: A method for determining access privileges for transmitting mass notifications, is disclosed. The method includes storing information regarding user-level access privileges of a group to transmit a notification. The user group includes a user that inherits the user-level access privileges of the user group. The method also includes storing information regarding administrator-level access privileges of an administrator group, and permitting access to transmit the notification by the user based on the user's access privileges, the at least one notification, and the at least one recipient. The administrator group includes an administrator that inherits the administrator-level access privileges. The administration module is configurable by the administrator based on the administrator's access privileges. A system for determining access privileges for transmitting mass notifications is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Blackboard Connect Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Roth, Bing Chen
  • Patent number: 8612528
    Abstract: Methods for populating a notification template at a time of transmission are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a selection of a notification template, receiving a selection of a parameter associated with the selected notification template, wherein the parameter has associated data, and identifying, at a time of transmission, a subset of the data associated with the selected parameter. The method also includes populating the selected parameter of the selected notification template with the identified subset of the data, and transmitting a notification based on the selected notification template in response to a request to transmit the notification, wherein the notification comprises the parameter populated with the subset of the data. Systems, graphical user interfaces, and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Blackboard Connect Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Ray Rinard, Ilana Ochman, Aram Edward Pendley
  • Patent number: 8533228
    Abstract: Methods for modifying a notification template based on user access levels are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a first request, from a first user having a first level of access, to modify a first parameter from a first state to a second state in a notification template, and receiving a second request, from a second user having a second level of access, to modify a second parameter in the notification template from a first state to a second state. The method also includes storing the modified notification template. When the modified notification template is retrieved from storage, the first parameter is in the second state for both the first user and the second user, and the second parameter is in the first state for the first user and the second state for the second user. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Blackboard Connect Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Ray Rinard, Ilana Ochman, Ramak Aflatooni
  • Publication number: 20130007195
    Abstract: Methods for populating a notification template at a time of transmission are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a selection of a notification template, receiving a selection of a parameter associated with the selected notification template, wherein the parameter has associated data, and identifying, at a time of transmission, a subset of the data associated with the selected parameter. The method also includes populating the selected parameter of the selected notification template with the identified subset of the data, and transmitting a notification based on the selected notification template in response to a request to transmit the notification, wherein the notification comprises the parameter populated with the subset of the data. Systems, graphical user interfaces, and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Ray RINARD, Ilana OCHMAN, Aram Edward PENDLEY
  • Publication number: 20130007143
    Abstract: Methods for modifying a notification template based on user access levels are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a first request, from a first user having a first level of access, to modify a first parameter from a first state to a second state in a notification template, and receiving a second request, from a second user having a second level of access, to modify a second parameter in the notification template from a first state to a second state. The method also includes storing the modified notification template. When the modified notification template is retrieved from storage, the first parameter is in the second state for both the first user and the second user, and the second parameter is in the first state for the first user and the second state for the second user. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Ray RINARD, Ilana Ochman, Ramak Aflatooni
  • Patent number: 8344852
    Abstract: A method for transmitting a plurality of notifications in a notification pool includes determining a first notification batch having the plurality of notifications, and assigning a priority weight to each of the plurality of notifications, at least two of the priority weights being different. The method further includes inserting the first notification batch into the notification pool, and transmitting the plurality of notifications in the notification pool sequentially, based on the priority weights of the plurality of notifications. A system for transmitting a plurality of notifications is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Blackboard Connect Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua Roth
  • Patent number: 8284921
    Abstract: A method for allocating a call batch that includes a plurality of calls, to one out of a possible ā€œnā€ providers for near simultaneous transmission by the one provider to a plurality of recipients, wherein each of the ā€œnā€ providers has an overall capacity and a current level of use. In particular, the method comprises computing the potential free capacity of each provider by subtracting the call batch size from the actual capacity, and dividing the potential free capacity by the overall capacity to determine the proportion potential free capacity; and allocating the call batch to the provider having the largest proportion potential free capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Blackboard Connect Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua Roth
  • Patent number: 8243887
    Abstract: A method for providing identification for voice notifications sent to notification recipients is disclosed. The method includes receiving, from a user, a request for transmitting at least one voice notification to a plurality of notification recipients, and receiving at least one identifier related to the at least one voice notification. The method also includes associating the voice notification with the identifier, and transmitting the voice notification and the identifier. In certain instances, the method further includes transmitting an alert containing the identifier before the voice notification is transmitted. A system for providing identification for voice notifications sent to notification recipients is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Blackboard Connect Inc.
    Inventor: Natasha Conahan
  • Patent number: 8244669
    Abstract: A method for determining membership in a group of notification recipients and issuing a notification to the group of notification recipients, is disclosed. The method includes associating a set of potential recipients of notifications with at least one descriptor and dynamically forming a group of recipients to receive at least one notification based on the descriptors currently associated with the set of potential recipients of notifications. The method also includes issuing the at least one notification to the group of recipients. A system for determining membership in a group of notification recipients and issuing a notification to the group of notification recipients, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Blackboard Connect Inc.
    Inventors: Deanna Ellis, Bing Chen
  • Publication number: 20100306322
    Abstract: A method for distributing notifications to a plurality of recipients is disclosed. The method includes receiving at least one notification for distribution to the recipients, and identifying a distributor configured to transmit the notification to the recipients. The method also includes determining a notification distribution capacity of the distributor, and transmitting the notification to the distributor based on the notification distribution capacity of the distributor. A system for distributing notifications to a plurality of recipients is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.
    Inventor: Natasha CONAHAN
  • Publication number: 20100232581
    Abstract: A method for providing identification for voice notifications sent to notification recipients is disclosed. The method includes receiving, from a user, a request for transmitting at least one voice notification to a plurality of notification recipients, and receiving at least one identifier related to the at least one voice notification. The method also includes associating the voice notification with the identifier, and transmitting the voice notification and the identifier. In certain instances, the method further includes transmitting an alert containing the identifier before the voice notification is transmitted. A system for providing identification for voice notifications sent to notification recipients is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.
    Inventor: Natasha Conahan
  • Publication number: 20100169344
    Abstract: A method for determining membership in a group of notification recipients and issuing a notification to the group of notification recipients, is disclosed. The method includes associating a set of potential recipients of notifications with at least one descriptor and dynamically forming a group of recipients to receive at least one notification based on the descriptors currently associated with the set of potential recipients of notifications. The method also includes issuing the at least one notification to the group of recipients. A system for determining membership in a group of notification recipients and issuing a notification to the group of notification recipients, is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.
    Inventors: Deanna Ellis, Bing Chen
  • Publication number: 20100169434
    Abstract: A method for sending messages within notifications to a recipient is disclosed. The method includes receiving information related to at least one recipient and receiving a selection of at least two messages from a plurality of messages. The method also includes associating the at least one recipient with the at least two messages, and transmitting at least one notification to the at least one recipient, the at least one notification comprising the at least two messages. A system for sending messages within notifications to a recipient is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.
    Inventors: Martin Lind, Deanna Ellis
  • Publication number: 20100156631
    Abstract: A method for transmitting a plurality of notifications in a notification pool includes determining a first notification batch having the plurality of notifications, and assigning a priority weight to each of the plurality of notifications, at least two of the priority weights being different. The method further includes inserting the first notification batch into the notification pool, and transmitting the plurality of notifications in the notification pool sequentially, based on the priority weights of the plurality of notifications. A system for transmitting a plurality of notifications is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.
    Inventor: Joshua ROTH
  • Publication number: 20100162114
    Abstract: A system for displaying at least one notification from at least one source includes a processor configured to access the at least one notification from the at least one source, the at least one notification comprising content and geographical information. The processor is further configured to display the notification on a map based on the geographical information of the notification. A method for displaying at least one notification from at least one source is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.
    Inventor: Joshua ROTH
  • Publication number: 20100162364
    Abstract: A method for determining access privileges for transmitting mass notifications, is disclosed. The method includes storing information regarding user-level access privileges of a group to transmit a notification. The user group includes a user that inherits the user-level access privileges of the user group. The method also includes storing information regarding administrator-level access privileges of an administrator group, and permitting access to transmit the notification by the user based on the user's access privileges, the at least one notification, and the at least one recipient. The administrator group includes an administrator that inherits the administrator-level access privileges. The administration module is configurable by the administrator based on the administrator's access privileges. A system for determining access privileges for transmitting mass notifications is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.
    Inventors: Joshua ROTH, Bing CHEN