Yahoo Patents

Yahoo! Inc. operates an Internet portal that provides communications services, including Yahoo Mail and Messenger, and sports, weather, finance and other digital news content to its users. The company also operates Flickr, the photo sharing website, and Tumblr, a social media and microblogging platform.

Yahoo Patents by Type
  • Yahoo Patents Granted: Yahoo patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Yahoo Patent Applications: Yahoo patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Patent number: 9763024
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a first set of applications installed on a first device is identified. Device characteristics of a second device may be ascertained. An application store for the second device may be determined based, at least in part, on the device characteristics of the second device. A second set of applications corresponding to the first set of applications is selected, where the second set of applications is available from the application store and compatible with the device characteristics of the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Yahoo Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Stoner, Mike Chrabaszcz
  • Patent number: 9760937
    Abstract: An information providing apparatus receives wish information relevant to a wish item that a user wishes to have and position information of the user. The information providing apparatus transmits the wish information to a provider device used by a provider who provides items. The information providing apparatus receives provision information relevant to provision of the wish item from the provider device. The information providing apparatus determines whether a moving cost, which is required for moving from a position indicated by the position information to a providing place at which the provider provides the wish item, satisfies a predetermined condition. The information providing apparatus notifies a user device of the provision information corresponding to a provider in which the moving cost satisfies the predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomohito Takusari
  • Patent number: 9756122
    Abstract: In one embodiment, in a hierarchy of nodes, a master node having two or more child nodes obtains from the two or more child nodes two or more sets of data samples or summaries associated therewith, the two or more sets of data samples being representative of traffic processed via two or more sets of servers corresponding to the two or more child nodes, wherein a size of each of the two or more sets of data samples is proportional to an allocation of traffic among the two or more sets of servers corresponding to the two or more child nodes. Each of the two or more sets of data samples is obtained from a different one of the two or more child nodes and represents traffic processed by a corresponding one of the two or more sets of servers. The master node combines the two or more sets of data samples or summaries associated therewith such that a combined set of data is generated. The master node ascertains a numerical value from the combined set of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Yahoo Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Wexler, Robert Ames, Ian Flint
  • Patent number: 9754330
    Abstract: An electric power retail management apparatus according to an embodiment includes an adjustment parameter calculating unit and an adjustment parameter transmitting unit. The adjustment parameter calculating unit calculates a total electric power adjustment parameter, which balances electric power generation amounts of power generators and the electric power consumption amounts of electric power customers, for each of the electric power generators on the basis of conditions of the electric power generation amounts of the electric power generators and the electric power consumption amounts of the electric power customers existing in a single region. The adjustment parameter transmitting unit transmits the total electric power adjustment parameters to the electric power generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ikuo Kitagishi
  • Patent number: 9754268
    Abstract: In one embodiment at least one user profile of a user may be obtained. Information may be provided to the user by one or more personalization engines based, at least in part, upon the at least one user profile. Each of the one or more personalization engines may be configured to operate according to a different one of a plurality of personas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Yahoo Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Andrew McClelland, Michael Metcalf, Fernando Padilla, Sarah Jean Sosiak
  • Publication number: 20170249311
    Abstract: Methods and devices for assessing the quality of user-generated content are described. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for measuring the quality of a user-generated answer to a question by combining various factors, including question-answer surface word vector similarity, question-answer explicit semantic analysis vector similarity, answer-answer explicit sematic analysis vector similarity, query performance predictor, sentiment analysis, textual analysis of the answer, and reputation of the answerer. The method uses a learning procedure to determine the best algorithm for measuring the overall quality of the answer based on these factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Pelleg, Oleg Rokhlenko, Idan Szpektor, Yuval David Pinter, David Carmel, Shirin Oskooi, Somesh Jain, Archit Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 9747583
    Abstract: Entity profile information is presented to a user of a computing device. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a communication associated with a first entity; in response to receiving the communication, creating or updating, by at least one processor, a first entity profile, wherein the first entity profile is for display to the user on the computing device; and storing a plurality of entity profiles for entities, the entity profiles including the first entity profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Peter Monaco
  • Publication number: 20170243288
    Abstract: A delivery apparatus according to the present application includes an acquisition unit, a generation unit, and a delivery unit. The acquisition unit acquires user information that represents information relating to a user. The generation unit generates, using the user information acquired by the acquisition unit, loan information that represents information including loan terms for the user. The delivery unit delivers the loan information generated by the generation unit to a terminal apparatus that is used by the user by using, as a trigger, display of predetermined service content at the terminal apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyosuke ARAI, Yosuke MORITA, Yuki KOMATSU, Saori KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20170241786
    Abstract: According to one aspect of an embodiment an estimation device includes a detection unit that detects a predetermined physical state that is produced at a time of movement. The estimation device includes an estimation unit that estimates a moving velocity from a state detected by the detection unit, by using a learner that has learned a velocity zone with the physical state being produced therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki OHIRA, Munehiro AZAMI
  • Publication number: 20170245114
    Abstract: According to an embodiment a determination device through a clustering analysis of position history data incudes an estimation unit that, by conducting a clustering analysis on history data of pieces of geographical position information on Earth of a plurality of movable bodies that is obtained by a positioning device, based, on a horizontal position constituted of a latitude and a longitude and a lapse of time, acquires pieces of area information indicating a characteristic of geographical area in which there is a tendency for the movable bodies to be positioned, the history data being accumulated sequentially in a storage device with pieces of movable body identification information and pieces of timestamp information, and a determination unit that determines whether the movable body is present in a specified point in time and the geographical area, based on the pieces of area information acquired for one of the movable bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoya BESSHO
  • Patent number: 9742836
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure may be utilized to analyze a content item comprising text to identify: a quote, a named entity that is the source of the quote (e.g., a person or organization such as a company), and identification information for the named entity (such as a title of the person giving the quote). Quotes may also be ranked to determine, for example, the best quotes to include in an article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Maria Renhui Zhang, Nicholas D'Aloisio-Montilla, Maximillion Zhaohong Mai, Praveenkumar Venkatesan
  • Patent number: 9743120
    Abstract: This disclosure describes methods and systems for viewing a collection of media objects, such as a video clip and associated responses (video, audio and text), in a seamless way. Provided with a media object and a series of responses and counter responses, a real time media combining methodology is coupled with a text and audio conversion process to generate a media stream, or downloadable media object, that contains the original media object and some or all of the associated responses. The media content is formatted into the stream so that ancillary content, like text associated with a particular video response, may also be displayed. Advertisements may be inserted into the stream between responses or overlaying some portion of the viewing area during rendering of the stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Chris Kalaboukis
  • Patent number: 9740794
    Abstract: Previews of a target web site or other Internet-accessible resource are displayed in response to cursor control events. The previews are displayed in preview windows, which may have associated toolbars that include functions permitting various manipulations of the content displayed in the preview window. In some cases, the target web site is displayed as an image thereof in the preview window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Soujanya Bhumkar, Mayank Mehta, Austin Shoemaker
  • Publication number: 20170236161
    Abstract: An information processor includes a detecting unit (control unit), a presuming unit (control unit), and a control unit. The detecting unit detects, by detecting a transition of positional information on individual physical units by sensing with electromagnetic waves and a communication with electromagnetic waves, detects a flow of an aggregate of the physical units. The presuming unit presumes an attribute of the physical units, as an individual, part, or whole, included in the flow, based on the flow of the aggregate detected by the detecting unit. The control unit controls an output or physical action of information to or on the physical units, based on the attribute presumed by the presuming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michitaka OHNO, Takamitsu IRIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20170228775
    Abstract: A learning apparatus according to the subject application includes an acquisition unit, a generating unit, and a specifying unit. The acquisition unit acquires terminal information that is information about a terminal device receiving information content. The generating unit generates a model indicating a tendency of predetermined behavior related to predetermined information content to be taken, by learning the relation between result information indicating whether the predetermined behavior related to the predetermined information content has been taken and terminal information acquired by the acquisition unit. The specifying unit specifies a terminal device to serve as a destination receiving the predetermined information content, based on the model generated by the generating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichi YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20170228457
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for adaptively generating a summary of web-based content based on an attribute of a mobile communication device having transmitted a request for the web-based content. By adaptively generating the summary based on an attribute of the mobile communication device such as an amount of visual space available or a number of characters permitted in the interface, a display of the web-based content may be controlled on the mobile communication device in a way that was not previously available. This enables control of displaying web-based content that has been adaptively generated to be displayed on limited display screens based on a learned attribute of the mobile communication device requesting the web-based content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Youssef Billawal, Yashar Mehdad, Dragomir Radev, Amanda Stent, Kapil Thadani
  • Patent number: 9729591
    Abstract: Methods and systems for sharing content includes detecting selection of multimedia content at a first device. The selection causes automatic rendition of the selected multimedia content on a display portion of the first device. Selection of a second device is detected at a user interface of the first device. The user interface identifies a plurality of devices that have an established communication pairing with the first device. A gesture made with the first device while the second device continues to be selected, is identified. The gesture acts as a trigger for sharing the selected multimedia content with the second device. The gesture causes the multimedia content to be automatically transmitted to the second device for rendering at a display portion of the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Yahoo Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Lars Erik Holmquist, Karolina Buchner, Roger Urrabazo, Roman Lissermann
  • Patent number: 9727565
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a set of tags that has been generated by performing computer vision analysis of image content of a visual media item may be obtained, where each tag of the set of tags has a corresponding probability. In addition, a set of information that is independent from the image content of the visual media item may be obtained. The probability of at least a portion of the set of tags may be modified based, at least in part, upon the set of information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Yahoo Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerry Pesavento, Huy X. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9727901
    Abstract: An image-based recommendation system provides a first set of selectable images to a user and receives user selections from the first set of images. If a user selects a single image from the first set of images, the product page associated with the selected image is transmitted to the user. If the user makes multiple selections from the first set of images, then the images associated with the user selections are analyzed and a second set of similar images is generated for transmission to the user. The process of receiving and analyzing user-selected images, generating image sets and transmission of generated images sets continues until the user selects a single image. The precision of identification of similar images can be improved by providing the user selections as training data to the image-based recommendation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Ralph Li, Evans Tseng, Brian Liu
  • Publication number: 20170220617
    Abstract: Multi-thread systems and methods are described for concurrently handling requests to commit data updates to a database by a plurality of data transactions. The database preferably supports multi-versioning and the data transactions are preferably isolated by snapshot isolation. In one embodiment, concurrent and lock-free handling of requests to commit data updates includes performing two types of concurrent data conflict detection. A transaction proceeds to commit only if it passes both types of conflict detection. The first type of conflict detection is based on a hash map between data keys and their commit timestamps whereas the second type of conflict detection is based on a log that keeps track of the status of transactions whose requests to commit are actively being processed. In another embodiment, concurrent conflict detection for data items in concurrent transactions is broken down into buckets and locks are used for accessing each bucket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Bortnikov, Ohad Shacham, Idit Keidar
  • Publication number: 20170220220
    Abstract: An advertisement generation apparatus includes a generating unit that generates a page to be displayed on a terminal device that displays an advertisement on a screen. The page includes a content page and an advertising page that are superimposed one on top of the other, where the content page includes an advertising space such that the advertising space is to he scrolled on the screen according to operation, and the advertising page is greater in size than the advertising space. The page is configured to display the content page, and a part of the advertising page located within the advertising space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Natsume SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 9721389
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a first perspective of a three-dimensional marker may be detected, where the three-dimensional marker has a shape that presents a different appearance from every angle. A first three-dimensional virtual overlay corresponding to the first perspective of the three-dimensional marker may be identified or generated. The first three-dimensional virtual overlay corresponding to the first perspective of the three-dimensional marker may be projected or displayed such that the first three-dimensional virtual overlay substantially covers the first perspective of the three-dimensional marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventor: Lars Erik Holmquist
  • Patent number: 9720882
    Abstract: Generating notifications comprising text and image data for client devices with limited display screens is disclosed. An image to be included in the notification is resized and reshaped using image processing techniques. The resized image is further analyzed to identify optimal portions for placing the text data. The text data can also be analyzed and shortened for including at the identified portion of resized image to generate a notification. The resulting notification displays the text and image data optimally within the limited screen space of the client device so that a user observing the notification can obtain the information at a glance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Bin Ni, Jia Li
  • Patent number: 9721228
    Abstract: Systems and methods to host a social network locally on a user's computing device using social data at the user device. In one embodiment, a method includes maintaining, on a local computing device of a user, social data regarding social relationships of the user in order to support a social network of the user; and hosting, via the local computing device, the social network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Frank J. Cort, Brian Hein, Jon New
  • Patent number: 9715546
    Abstract: The present teaching relates to searching encrypted data. In one example, a search request is received for encrypted documents. An encrypted query is generated based on the search request. The encrypted query is sent to a server that stores a first encrypted index and a second encrypted index. The first encrypted index maps encrypted keywords to full blocks each of which has a same size and is fully filled with encrypted document identities (IDs). The second encrypted index maps encrypted keywords to partial blocks each of which has the same size and is partially filled with encrypted document IDs. Based on the encrypted query, one or more encrypted document IDs are determined by searching against both the first encrypted index and the second encrypted index. A search result is generated based on the one or more encrypted document IDs. The search result is provided in response to the search request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Payman Mohassel, Ian Miers
  • Patent number: 9716764
    Abstract: Among other disclosures, a method may include collecting historical communication data, personal data and usage statistics relating to a portion of a plurality of communications, a sender of one or more of the communications or one or more recipients of the communications. The method may include depositing the collected data into a repository. The method may include presenting the usage statistics in response to user behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Brezina, Adam Smith
  • Publication number: 20170208497
    Abstract: According to one aspect of an embodiment an information providing device includes a communication unit that communicates with a terminal device used by a user. The information providing device includes an information provision control unit that generates provided information provided to the user in the terminal device and optionally including congestion information presenting a congestion condition and cause the communication unit to transmit the generated provided information to the terminal device. The information providing device includes a derivation unit that derives sensitivity with respect to the congestion information based on information received by the communication unit from the terminal device after the provided information including the congestion information has been transmitted. The information provision control unit of the information providing device generates the provided information based on the sensitivity derived by the derivation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takamitsu IRIYAMA, Kazuhiro NINOMIYA, Michitaka OHNO
  • Patent number: 9710433
    Abstract: Briefly, embodiments disclosed herein may relate to dynamic display of representations of digital content for user interaction on computing devices, for example, including displaying a collection of content items on a display of a computing device, wherein a two-or-more-dimensional spatial arrangement of individual content items of the displayed collection comprises individual content items being positioned relative to other individual content items based, at least in part, on analytic characterizations of one or more attributes of the individual content items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Kayode Osindero, Robert Jaros, Eric Willis, Clayton Mellina, Anastasia Svetlichnaya
  • Patent number: 9710447
    Abstract: System, method and architecture for providing improved visual recognition by modeling visual content, semantic content and an implicit social network representing individuals depicted in a collection of content, such as visual images, photographs, etc. which network may be determined based on co-occurrences of individuals represented by the content, and/or other data linking the individuals. In accordance with one or more embodiments, using images as an example, a relationship structure may comprise an implicit structure, or network, determined from co-occurrences of individuals in the images. A kernel jointly modeling content, semantic and social network information may be built and used in automatic image annotation and/or determination of relationships between individuals, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Jia Li, Xiangnan Kong
  • Patent number: 9710759
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, methods and apparatus facilitate the filtering of unsolicited bulk electronic mail (email) sent from spammers. A plurality of recipient patterns for a plurality of emails from known spammers is logged. A plurality of recipient patterns for a plurality of emails from known non-spammers is also logged. A probabilistic model for predicting whether an unknown sender identity is a spammer is generated or modified based on the logged recipient patterns for the emails from known spammers and known non-spammers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Anirban Dasgupta, Kilian Quirin Weinberger, Yehuda Koren
  • Patent number: 9705460
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a learning unit which learns sound level manipulation relating to a sound level of a terminal device used by a user based on information relating to the user. The information processing apparatus includes a determination unit which determines a reproduction mode at the time when the terminal device reproduces an audio contained in a content according to a learning result of the learning unit. The information processing apparatus includes a controller which controls an audio contained in the content in the reproduction mode determined by the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Kuromusha, Yoshihito Nishikawa, Yoshio Ikai, Toru Takei, Kazutaka Kimura, Kanta Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9704045
    Abstract: One or more systems and/or methods for providing content to a user are provided. An image, associated with a user, may be evaluated utilizing an image classifier to identify an object within the image. The object may be utilized to identify a predicted class for the user. In an example, the predicted class may correspond to a life event (e.g., graduating college, having a baby, buying a house, etc.) and/or a life stage (e.g., adolescence, retirement, etc.). Locational information (e.g., a geotag) for the image may be evaluated to determine an image location (e.g., a location where the image was generated). Responsive to the image location corresponding to a home location of the user, the predicted class may be determined to be a class associated with the user. Content (e.g., promotional content) may be selected from a content repository based upon the class and subsequently provided to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Kristjan Jonsson, Sanjeev Jagannatha Rao, Daniel J. Tasse
  • Patent number: 9704180
    Abstract: A distribution device according to the present application includes a distribution unit. The distribution unit distributes control information to a terminal device. The control information causes the terminal device to execute a detection procedure of detecting a position where a moving operation to move first content being displayed by the terminal device has been performed, and a display procedure of superimposing and displaying second content on the first content, based on the position detected by the detection procedure. For example, the display procedure causes the terminal device to execute processing of displaying, as second content, advertising content that allows an access to a web page provided by an advertiser, when the advertising content is selected by a user of the terminal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Kobayashi, Tatsuaki Suzuki, Kensuke Takada
  • Patent number: 9705790
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is connected to and communicates with a terminal connected to a first communication network and a second communication network based on a predetermined communication protocol. The first and the second communication network are operable using the predetermined communication protocol. The second communication network is a closed communication network. The information processing apparatus includes first and second communication units. The first communication unit communicates with the terminal via the first communication network based on the predetermined communication protocol. The second communication unit communicates with the terminal based on the predetermined communication protocol via a relay unit arranged in a communication line between the second communication network and the information processing apparatus. The first and the second communication units have the same IP address having an anycast relation as an IP address of the predetermined communication protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norifumi Matsuya, Tsunayoshi Egawa, Nobuhiro Takasawa
  • Patent number: 9703783
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for selecting news articles for presentation to a user. One method includes an operation for measuring dwelltimes for a first set of news items, where the dwelltime for a news item is based on the amount of time that the news item is displayed to a viewer. Further, the method includes an operation for training a classifier of news items based on the measured dwelltimes and based on features associated with the first set of news items. Additionally, the method includes an operation for ranking with the classifier a second set of news items for presentation to the user, the ranking also using the profile of the user for delivery of customized news to the user. The ranked second set of news item is then presented to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Xing Yi, Scott Gaffney, Jean-Marc Langlois
  • Publication number: 20170193107
    Abstract: Provided herein are mixed-media modules with functional layers that can be used to provided additional information to targeted audience. Systems and methods are disclosed for performing processing involved with search, such as processing search information to return search results. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a method for processing information to return search results including mixed-media media presentation(s) selectable by a user. Moreover, such method may involve user interaction to manipulate the presentation, display various media and/or effect other functionality. Further implementations may involve generation of interactive, visually rich mixed-media content of high information density providing improved user experience and/or improved value to various participants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicants: Qwiki, Inc., YAHOO! INC
    Inventors: Doug IMBRUCE, Owen BOSSOLA, Rasmus KNUTTSSON, Tommy CHHENG, Hakim EL HATTAB
  • Publication number: 20170193545
    Abstract: A filtering machine receives sponsored content and filters the sponsored content according to a quality metric generated by quality model circuitry and assigned to the instance of sponsored content. The quality model circuitry generates the quality metric in accordance with historical feedback received about other sponsored content and a collection of quality factors pertaining to the sponsored content. Based on the quality metric for the sponsored content, the filtering machine can effect service of the sponsored content to a user device for display thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: YAHOO! Inc.
    Inventors: Ke Zhou, Miriam Redi, Mounia Lalmas, Puneet Mohan Sangal
  • Patent number: 9697581
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image storage unit, a conversion unit, and an output unit. The image storage unit stores therein multiple images with different viewpoint positions. The conversion unit converts each of the images stored in the image storage unit to each of images to be imaged by imaging devices that are arranged such that respective optical axes pass through a dynamically set position in a target object. The output unit outputs the images converted by the conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryuki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9697442
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method comprises obtaining a frequency domain representation associated with an image; obtaining one or more frequency domain representations of one or more object detection filters; generating a composite frequency domain representation based on the frequency domain representation associated with the image and the one or more frequency domain representations of the one or more object detection filters; and detecting one or more objects in the image based on the composite frequency domain representation. The frequency domain representation associated with the image may be obtained based on a forward transform performed on an image feature description. The image feature description may be obtained based on a feature extraction performed on the image. The one or more frequency domain representations of the one or more object detection filters may be obtained based on one or more Fourier transforms performed on the one or more object detection filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Jen-Hao Hsiao, Jia Li
  • Patent number: 9696770
    Abstract: A server cooling system includes: a flex-switch with one or more flexible building bridges; one or more utility farms coupled with the flex-switch; a power distribution unit operably connected to the flex-switch; and a server POD including one or more racks operably connected to the power distribution unit. The flex-switch is configurable to include additional utility farms, one or more generator farms, and one or more UPS farms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Barry Bianculli, Norman Holt, Jesus Suarez
  • Patent number: 9699258
    Abstract: Among other disclosures, a method may include collecting historical communication data and personal data relating to a portion of a plurality of communications, a sender of one or more of the communications or one or more recipients of the communications. The method may include depositing the collected data into a repository of historical communication data and personal data. The method may include presenting one or more items in the repository on a mobile device, in response to user behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Brezina, Adam Smith, Jeffrey Bonforte
  • Publication number: 20170186024
    Abstract: Network devices, methods, and programs identify similar subjects based on physiological characteristics to predict income and expense trends. The devices, methods, and programs receive a user profile from a user terminal via a network interface, the user profile identifying physiological characteristics of the user and an age of the user, and compare the physiological characteristics of the received user profile with physiological characteristics in stored subject profiles to identify a subject having similar physiological characteristics to the user. The devices, methods, and programs analyze expense information that is associated with the identified subject to determine a trend of the expense of the identified subject, and generate a proposal including a predicted future expense trend for the user based on the determined trend and the user's age. The devices, methods, and programs then transmit the generated proposal to the user terminal via the network interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohito TAKUSARI, Yasuyoshi ABE, Hiromoto ONE, Takafumi KUROHARA, Yosuke SHIRAISHI
  • Publication number: 20170185901
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for building a user model. The system includes a processor and a non-transitory storage medium accessible to the processor. The processor is configured to obtain user data from a database, where the user data include user behavior for a plurality of apps installed on one or more user terminals. The processor selects at least one rating parameters using the user data, where the at least one rating parameters indicates a rating of relevant app usage. The system builds the user model based on a rating matrix comprising the at least one rating parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Ayman FARAHAT, Tarun BHATIA
  • Patent number: 9690911
    Abstract: An information distribution apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires individual identification information, product identification information, and user identification information. The information distribution apparatus includes a storing unit that stores the authentication information and the user identification information in an associated manner in a predetermined storing device. The information distribution apparatus includes a deciding unit that decides, whether the received authentication information and the received user identification information are stored in an associated manner in the predetermined storing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshio Suzuki, Tatsuya Kawase, Taku Kusano
  • Patent number: 9690860
    Abstract: Briefly, embodiments disclosed herein may relate to formulating recommended search queries. Search query recommendations may be based, at least in part, on multiple user searches performed at least in part in response to consumption of publicly available content, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Bax, John Peng, Scott Ard, Arun Autuchirayll
  • Publication number: 20170178029
    Abstract: A learning device includes a classification unit that classifies data to be determined by using a learner configured to classify data based on a predetermined feature among features included in the data. The learning device includes an estimation unit that estimates, from classification results according to the classification unit, the behavior of the probability of a mistake occurring in the classification results according to the classification unit based on a large deviation principle. The learning device includes a determination unit that determines, based on the behavior estimated by the estimation unit, whether to add a new feature to an object to be learned for the learner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinkichi HORIE
  • Patent number: 9686590
    Abstract: A method comprises retrieving a profile of a given user, the given user having a given-user device; delivering a content item to the given-user device; receiving one or more user-specified tags associated with the content item; identifying one or more buddies of the user as indicated in the profile; and delivering the one or more tags to the one or more buddies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Jacoby, Brenda O'Kane
  • Patent number: 9685158
    Abstract: Systems and methods to process and/or present information relating to voice messages for a user that are received from other persons. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a data processing system includes: receiving first data associated with prior communications or activities for the user on a mobile device; receiving a voice message for the user; transcribing the voice message using the first data to provide a transcribed message; and sending the transcribed message to the mobile device for display to the user. In one embodiment, options are displayed for selection by the user to correct a misspelled word in the transcribed message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Bonforte
  • Patent number: D791800
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Guy Hepworth, Craig Douglas Weber, Peter Matthew Klein, Aparna Jain
  • Patent number: D794672
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasufumi Hirai