Patents Assigned to Photobucket Corporation
  • Patent number: 9760916
    Abstract: One aspect of the concepts presented herein is aggregation and presentation of useful actions for digital media in general and photographs in particular, coupled with federated distribution of this collection of media actions such as printing and storing. In one embodiment, code is provided for use on any website such that media content on supported professional websites, amateur blogs, or even the entire Internet, is presented with an expanded and consistent set of options that the viewing user can exercise. With a minor update to the code for a particular website, website owners can offer a full suite of media actions and immediately begin earning revenue generated from the use of these actions. The code is set such that sites that offer media services over the Internet can obtain instant distribution and additional consumers for their services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Photobucket Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Shapiro, Charles B. Zapata, Michael Arcuri
  • Patent number: 9424270
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented which allow a user's device to accept media from a variety of sources, process those media items based on their characteristics, and deliver the captured media to a pre-established variety of diverse locations with minimal or no user interaction. These systems and methods can also make media items available to a plurality of internet web sites without actually creating and delivering copies of files. In one embodiment, the diverse locations can each have individual delivery protocols (for example, login and formats) and when a number of media are available at the user's device for delivery to storage locations the media can be delivered to pre-established locations with a single user command without regard to the individual location delivery requirements. In another embodiment, processing, delivery, and access to new media items is handled automatically based on pre-established criteria and analysis of the data and metadata of the media items themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Photobucket Corporation
    Inventors: Charles B. Zapata, Daniel J. Shapiro, Michael Arcuri
  • Patent number: 9049243
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method which allows for the seamless integration of the sending mechanism with the media acquiring mechanism of a portable device. In this manner the end-user has instant access to media sharing with complete control over how the media is shared. This integration is accomplished by presenting to the user a series of screens that are available directly from the media creation applications (e.g. cameras or audio recorders) and media viewing applications (e.g. photo galleries or screen savers) on the device. When a photo (or other media) is captured or viewed, a series of pre-established processing options, including on-device uses for the media, internet services and accounts, email addresses and/or phone numbers to which the media can be sent are presented to the user. Some options require no further user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Photobucket Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Shapiro, Michael Arcuri
  • Patent number: 9046980
    Abstract: By using a server separate from an image it is possible to display real-time auxiliary data, such as advertisements and other pertinent data, to viewers of that image by flipping the image and presenting the auxiliary data on the reverse side of the flipped image. In this manner, additional information is presented to a viewer without increasing the footprint of the image. In some embodiments, the identity of the viewer dictates the data that is provided. In other embodiments, the base images that are being viewed are uploaded by a viewer and are not provided by the sponsor of the server. The data could, for example, be data supplied by the image owner, by the site sponsor or by a third party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Photobucket Corporation
    Inventors: Luke Swanson, Darren Kelly
  • Patent number: 9009265
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method which allows for the transfer of data captured by one device to be processed and moved to another location in accordance with pre-established criteria without requiring user interaction at the time of data capture. In one embodiment, images from a camera-equipped phone are transferred to a personal computer through a file server in accordance with pre-established guidelines. The camera-equipped phone generates a digital image, for example by taking a digital photo with a built-in or attached camera, and transmits the digital image over a standard wireless network, for example the cellular GSM/GPRS network, to a file server. The file server receives the digital data from the camera-equipped phone and forwards the data to a pre-identified location, such as the user's personal computer (or to an image processing facility) through the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Photobucket Corporation
    Inventors: Charles B. Zapata, Daniel J. Shapiro, Brian Schultz
  • Publication number: 20140040712
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for arranging photographs, drawings, videos and other media elements in a logical and visually appealing manner. Media elements may be selected, automatically or manually arranged in a progression to collectively tell a complete narrative. The arrangement for the progression may provide some direction but not limit the creator to sending single elements at a time, or using templates, pages, folders, or albums. Images may be intelligently placed and/or sized. When viewing the story, a viewer can advance through the media and understand the full story or perspective. A user may resize, move, delete or add images to enhance the story. The story may be shared with others, some or all of which may also collaborate to add or change the story progression to provide different perspectives or content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Photobucket Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne C. Chang, Thomas A. Munro, Katharine A. Hare
  • Patent number: 8015253
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing the exchange of data, particularly media data, among remote locations. In one embodiment, instructions are added to a delivered media message. The instructions are such as to control the processing of the media at the receiving device as well as controlling response messages. This then allows a sending device to enable a return connection from the target location thereby facilitating the return to the sending device of data. The retuned data can be specified by the sender, by the target or by a combination of them. In one embodiment, a intermediary server is used to control the data flow across the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Photobucket Corporation
    Inventors: Charles B. Zapata, Daniel J. Shapiro, Brian Schultz
  • Patent number: 7698392
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for data transfer between electronic, hand-held devices, including cell phones, and computer systems, including servers and PCs, as well as component methods and systems of these data-transfer methods and systems. Component methods and systems of the present invention include secure links between various devices, enhancements to electronic hand-held devices that enable service applications to run continuously or intermittently on the devices, deployment of dynamically created service applications to electronic, hand-held devices, and various additional component methods and systems that facilitate the above-mentioned component methods and systems. One embodiment of the present invention is a robust, efficient, secure, and user-friendly method and system for transferring data between cell phones and personal computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Photobucket Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Zapata, Daniel Shapiro, Brian Schultz