Patents Assigned to CBS Interactive, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20110225235
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking a user's lifestyle and activity profile. This profile can be automatically updated in real time. User activity on a site is tracked. User activity from third party feeds is also received. The user activity is then combined to generate the user's total profile. A pulse engine processes the feeds, updates the profiles, creates pulse alerts, routes updates to APIs or user interfaces, and/or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: CBS Interactive Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 8019659
    Abstract: A catalog taxonomy organized in a tree-like configuration including at least one first tier product category having at least one first tier attribute associated with products in the first tier category, and a plurality of second tier product categories branching from the first tier product category and defining subcategories, at least one of the plurality of second tier product categories having a second tier attribute associated with products in a subcategory defined by the plurality of second tier product categories, wherein each of the second tier product categories inherits the first tier attribute of the first tier product category from which the plurality of second tier product categories branches. In addition, a system and method utilizing such catalog taxonomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: CBS Interactive Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Musgrove, Robin Hiroko Walsh
  • Patent number: 8019656
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically generating a self-updating naturally-reading narrative product summary including assertions about a selected product. In one embodiment, the system and method includes evaluating an existing narrative product summary, comparing an existing attribute name, attribute value, attribute unit, and assertion model, respectively, to a current attribute name, attribute value, attribute unit, and assertion model to determine if one of the comparisons shows a change. The system and method further determines a new attribute associated with the selected product, selects an alternative product, retrieves a new assertion model with assertions that describe the selected product and identify an alternative product in a natural manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: CBS Interactive Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Baran, Timothy Allen Musgrove, Robin Hiroko Walsh
  • Publication number: 20110202400
    Abstract: A system and method operates on a client device and acquires a suspect list of user products based on information derived from the client device. The system normalizes the list, and the user confirms the accuracy of the product list. The user product list is sent to a server where the user product list is compared to other lists using collaborative filtering techniques. The collaborative filtering techniques determine products of interest for the use and the level of interest of the user. The system computes a similarity measure based upon the number of similar products that match the user's product list and rankings provided by the user and others. Demographic and behavioral data may also be used in performing the comparison and the similarity measure. The system acquires editorial rankings of products from other users and provides a ranked list of recommended products based upon the editorial rankings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: CBS Interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Bedard, Greg Kasavin, Patrick Cashman Andrus
  • Publication number: 20110191796
    Abstract: Computer-implemented method, computer program products and systems for authenticating a user to view content from at least one domain as authorized for viewing by a Multichannel Video Programming Distributor (MVPD). Receiving an MVPD identification. Loading and launching a client executable MVPD authentication application specific to the identified MVPD. Authenticating the user for viewing content from a first domain with the identified MVPD using the MVPD authentication application. In some embodiments receiving a first content identifier associated with the first domain of the MVPD, and authenticating the user's access to the identified content from the first domain. In some embodiments receiving a content identifier associated with a second domain associated with the identified MVPD, and playing the content associated with the second domain based on the authentication, and the association of the second domain with the MVPD, without further authentication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: CBS Interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Sailendra K. Padala, Emma Wei
  • Publication number: 20110184972
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for product catalog navigation. A database stores, in a tangible form, an electronic catalog of product records in an ontology. A query module is configured to receive a product identifier, query the database based on the product identifier and navigate the ontology of the electronic catalog to identify at least one product record in the electronic catalog associated with the product identifier. The product identifier can be image data of the product. The query module can also use supplemental product indicia and additional external information to query the database. Enhanced visualization techniques can be used to display the product in relation to another virtual image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: CBS Interactive Inc.
    Inventors: Scott ARD, Adam Goldband, Daniel Sakai
  • Publication number: 20110161991
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for using an application program interface (API) client controller to build a model view include a requestor, an executor, a converter, and one or more web APIs. Developers can create web pages that are a collection of references to API queries. The requestor maps an API path to an API request or an API call. The executor executes the API request to an API to retrieve content data. The converter then converts the retrieved content data returned by the API request to a data structure. The retrieved content data (structure) can be stored in a memory device. Multiple content data structures may be requested and stored. The data structure or data structures are then inserted in a web page template to create a model view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: CBS INTERACTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: William W. GRAHAM, JR., David HUANG
  • Publication number: 20110161153
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for recommending assets for a user include receiving the user's recently viewed assets list for a web domain that includes a plurality of assets; calculating a score for each asset in the web domain having an overlap of user interest based on mutual information; generating a set of neighbors for each item in the recently viewed assets list using the score; calculating a strength for each set of neighbors using the sum of the score for each neighbor in the set; generating an asset recommendation using the neighbor set with the highest score; and transmitting the asset recommendation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: CBS Interactive Inc.
    Inventors: Cristen Carvis, Clifford Lyon
  • Publication number: 20110161800
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems include proxying a request for a web page from a web server; generating a request for content from one of a plurality of downstream applications corresponding to the request; transmitting the request to the one of the plurality of downstream applications; receiving a response from the one of the plurality of downstream applications, the response including the content; decorating the content to generate a decorated web page; and transmitting the decorated web page to the web server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: CBS Interactive Inc.
    Inventors: Chris TIERNEY, Chris Hostetter
  • Publication number: 20110161847
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating, building, and publishing pages of content are described that provide third parties the ability to present their products and services together with a host's content through a content management and publishing platform. Content is selected from the host or the third party. The page can be on the host's server or on the third party's sever. The content management and publishing platform utilizes a flexible template and database-driven architecture. A toolset is provided with the template that allows users to interactively select and program content accessed through APIs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: CBS INTERACTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Jon CHAIKIN, Peter OFFRINGA, Timothy DALOISIO
  • Publication number: 20110161318
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for assigning topical tags to content on a page stored within a searchable digital document environment is provided. An activity log is created for a document including data indicating search queries resulting in the location of the document by a search engine. Keywords are determined from the activity log, and the document is tagged with a tag associated with the keywords.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: CBS INTERACTIVE INC.
    Inventors: Clifford LYON, Ned RHINELANDER
  • Publication number: 20110153583
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for mapping complex and simple URLs, including navigating a database storing an electronic catalog of product records, wherein the catalog comprises a taxonomy of product categories and products within the categories, receiving a webpage request corresponding to a product record in the catalog, the webpage request having a first URL address associated with it upon a user selecting the webpage to view, wherein the first URL is determined based on location of the product record in the taxonomy, accessing a mapping rule which matches the first URL address to a stored second URL address, and redirecting the first URL address to the second URL address by processing the mapping rule, wherein the first URL address is no longer displayed as a website address and the second URL address is displayed on a screen as the website address from the webpage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: CBS INTERACTIVE, INC.
    Inventor: Adam GOLDBAND
  • Publication number: 20110154400
    Abstract: Systems and methods for aggregating user data and targeting content to users are described. User data is collected through quizzes and users are associated with a particular fictional or nonfictional character profile based on the user-submitted information. The user data associated with each character profile is aggregated to identify and recommend content for the user, such as television shows, news feed, web pages, promotions, advertisements, and the like. The invention can be used in connection with fan sites or other topic-specific sites that are associated with the character of the character profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: CBS INTERACTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Erik JOHNSON, Carlos Teran
  • Publication number: 20110145841
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating pages of content using API requests are described. Users can create web pages that are a collection of references to API queries. An example includes doors which are web pages that are portals to realms of content. Users can create doors by associating API references to a variety of previously created content assets which are called by the front-end to render the door when web users visit the door. The tool includes user interface elements that make creating and saving the API references easy. For example, pickers are provided for selecting API references to individual assets, query makers are provided for formulating previewing, merging and normalizing references to dynamic API searches, overriding functionality is provided for manually grooming the asset references returned by dynamic API searches or individual asset references, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: CBS INTERACTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: John SHERWOOD, Daniel PITTS, Hunter BROWN, Daniel SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20110138306
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an online interactive digital media timeline are described. Users can access a library of dated content that includes television episodes, music videos, music clips, news information, movies and the like. Users are able to generate a personalized scrapbook or timeline by adding content from the library to their scrapbook or timeline. A representation of the selected content may be displayed in the scrapbook or time machine and linked to the actual content. Users can search the metadata of the content to identify content to add or the user may be presented with default content that is the most influential, top selling, and/or most discussed content. Users can also identify content to add to their scrapbook or timeline by searching content by year.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: CBS INTERACTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Soohoo, John Russell, Erik Johnson, Jeff Clark
  • Publication number: 20110131503
    Abstract: Various embodiments for providing content targeted according to user behavior are described. In one or more embodiments, a content optimizing service may be invoked by a client operating a browser application when the browser loads a web page from a web site. The content optimizing service may collect behavior events and compare the collected behavior to a set of rules. When behavior matches a rule, the user may be associated with a segment, which may be provided to a content source that selects content according to the segment. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: CBS INTERACTIVE, INC.
    Inventor: William W. Graham, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110125754
    Abstract: Systems and methods for linking to attribute or category pages from a product landing page are described. The landing pages are dynamic filter linked pages (DFLL). Reverse DFLL links specifications in the product landing page back to a result set for an attribute or category using the links. An index builder (one for each category) analyzes the product record data to identify the entire set of values for a category. The index builder then generates category metadata based on this analysis that identifies all of the values within an attribute and/or category. When a request for a particular page is received by the web application, the reverse DFLL links are created for that product page (i.e., the links are created in real time). The specification values for the requested product are compared to the category metadata. If a match is identified, a link is created for that specification in the product landing page that links back to the attribute or category.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: CBS INTERACTIVE INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Shirey, Robyn Battle
  • Patent number: 7949691
    Abstract: An invention is described herein that provides methods and apparatus for collecting, distributing and storing product data. A data structure suitable for use in collecting, distributing or storing product data for use in a catalog is disclosed. More particularly, the data structure is based on a data model having one or more classes, where each of the classes has one or more associated categories. The data structure includes at least one class definition, each class definition being arranged to identify one or more associated categories. In addition, the data structure includes a plurality of category definitions, each category definition being arranged to identify an associated attribute group. The data structure further includes a plurality of attribute group definitions, where each attribute group definition is arranged to identify one or more attributes that are associated with the attribute group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: CBS Interactive Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Henricus Franciscus de Heer, Rudolf Cornelius Wilhelmus de Heer, Constantin Nickolayvich Zabrodine, Alexandre Igorevitch Kviatkevitch, Eric Oscar Blaettler
  • Publication number: 20110113102
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for integrating a participant into video programming. A list of available social network data fields is received. Programming segments to be customized based on the available social network data fields are detected. At least one of the available social network data fields is correlated with the programming segment to be customized. Personal data of a specific user corresponding to the at least one of the available social network data fields is retrieved and the programming segment is modified to include information based on the personal data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: CBS Interactive Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Jacob Johnson
  • Publication number: 20110106594
    Abstract: A method of presenting data regarding products is described. Feature categories are assigned to each a product category based on available data. Feature categories may be expanded to display further information about a category and specific attributes within that category. A weighted importance is assigned to each attribute of each feature category based on the available data. Attributes are ranked according to their weighted importance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: CBS INTERACTIVE, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew SHIREY