Patents Examined by Anita Coupe
  • Patent number: 9892422
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of sales security integration. At least one embodiment of a method includes the steps of receiving contact data regarding a sales contact for a network site, and performing at least one security check on the contact data to determine a likelihood that the sales contact is a security risk for nefarious activity. In response to determining that the sales contact is a security risk for nefarious activity, the step of implementing at least one security measure is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David Erdmann
  • Patent number: 9881310
    Abstract: An eliciting system is provided. The eliciting system may embody a method for collecting market research data by eliciting customer input through an interactive, competitive game format. The eliciting system may provide the game format by including a controllable object, a control unit and a display platform, wherein the display platform provides a plurality of scan codes presented in an eye-catching manner. The control unit provides a user interface and is adapted to remotely control the controllable object as it hovers over the display platform. The controllable object may provide a scanner for reading the plurality of scan codes. Each scan code may provide a market association with a good and/or service. Each market association scanned by the scanner is represented on the user interface, whereby the user of the control unit can view and approve of or disapprove of it, while the user controls the controllable object hovering over the display platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Lee Register, Dionne Trottie-Register, Charmaine Trottie
  • Patent number: 9824323
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed to detect whether an interaction has occurred between a customer and one or more store employees. By analyzing a how long a communication device used by the customer was within a threshold range of one or more devices worn by store employees, an interaction between the customer and one or more store employees may be identified. Employees whom the customer interacted with may be identified by processing transmission parameters broadcasted by the devices worn by the store employees. Thus, all employees in which a customer interacted with while visiting a store may be identified. The customer may be asked for feedback via the communication device upon detection that a customer has completed a transaction and/or left the store. Using the solicited feedback provided by the customer, various types of reports may be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: WALGREEN CO.
    Inventors: Benjamin Weiss, Tim McCauley, Nicholas Eby
  • Patent number: 9785902
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method are disclosed for performing engineering review of energy consumption by one or more equipment. One or more computers are connected to a specifications database. The computers are configured to receive end-user configurations corresponding to first equipment; retrieve one or more second equipment, as well as second equipment specifications from the specifications database; calculate an invoicing statement for the second equipment; and provide an engineering review report of the energy savings realized h implementing the second equipment. The first equipment may be an existing equipment, while the second equipment is one or more energy-efficient replacement alternatives to the first equipment. Each step is performed in real-time, using automated software modules and sub-modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Leidos, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric James Fontaine, Lars Johan Brasz, Kristi Jo Kezar
  • Patent number: 9754318
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying relative spending pattern data includes a process for displaying relative spending pattern data and/or an application for displaying relative spending pattern reports whereby, data representing various financial transactions is obtained and categorized by a computing system implemented financial management system. The financial transaction data is then stored. A user is then provided with a user interface including a capability to activate a selected item in order to generate a relative spending pattern data report for the selected item. Once an item is selected and/or activated, relative spending pattern report parameters are automatically selected based on historical transaction data and/or input by customers/users. A relative spending pattern report is then prepared using data from the computing system implemented financial management system and the relative spending pattern report parameters provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: J W M Spies, John Reed Flora
  • Patent number: 9710820
    Abstract: Systems, modules, and methods set forth herein may allow patient satisfaction to be improved. One system for improving patient satisfaction includes computer readable media, an output device, a processor in data communication with the computer readable media and the output device, and electronic instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform steps for: (a) automatically storing event data from a plurality of electronic devices in the computer readable media; (b) storing perception data obtained from a plurality of patients in the computer readable media; (c) accessing the event data; (d) accessing the perception data; (e) determining at least one correlation between the event data and the perception data; (f) determining at least one proposal to improve patient satisfaction based on the at least one correlation; and (g) actuating the output device to convey the at least one proposal to improve patient satisfaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Sphere3, LLC
    Inventors: Kourtney Govro, Kristal Rayson, Steven Kent Mills, Kyle Evans, David Govro
  • Patent number: 9626729
    Abstract: Provided is a process including: receiving a tank-nearly-full message indicating that a tank at an oil or gas related facility is or will be ready for a truck to unload and transport fluid accumulating in the tank; in response to the tank-nearly-full message, creating a tank-run record; sending a description of the tank-run to a mobile device of a driver of an oilfield truck; receiving, from the mobile device of the driver of the oilfield truck, a tank-run claimed message indicating that the driver will drive to the oil or gas related facility and transport at least some of the fluid accumulating in the tank; and after the tank-run claimed message, performing steps including: confirming that the tank-run has not yet been claimed; after the confirmation, designating the tank-run as claimed by the driver; and sending confirmation to the mobile device of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: AmpliSine Labs, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Phillips, David Bateman, Britt Wuensche, Jordan Kutscherousky, Linlin Zhao
  • Patent number: 9576259
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems, methods, and apparatus for receiving input information including at least one of generator parameters, energy output requirements, fuel cost, fuel availability, and a maintenance schedule; creating a resource model based on the input information wherein creating the resource model includes linearizing a quadratic objective function and linearizing a quadratic gas constraints function; generating an optimized operating schedule, fuel mix, and allocation plan from the resource model based on the input information; and controlling the generator resources to optimally meet energy output requirements using the operating schedule fuel mix, and allocation plan. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Tao Li, Ashmin Mansingh
  • Patent number: 9563897
    Abstract: Systems and methods to identify intentionally placed products in media content are disclosed. A disclosed system to detect intentionally placed products in media content includes a placement monitor site to record an occurrence of a first intentionally placed product within first broadcast media content in a product placement record; an audience measurement site to record an audience interaction with a second intentionally placed product in second broadcast media content in an event record; and a collection facility to receive the product placement record and the event record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: David H. Harkness, Arun Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 9495654
    Abstract: A method for searching transition routes from an initial state of a plurality of stackable items to a target state by a computer at predetermined conditions includes connecting between transitionable states at an edge by a single handling operation transitioning from the initial state to the target state, to generate a state space graph; evaluating a lower bound of handling operation cost from a certain state to the target state, based on both the stacking sequence of the plurality of items in the certain state and the stacking sequence of the plurality of items in the target state; and searching a route from the initial state to the target state where the handling operation cost is minimal on the state space graph using a heuristic search algorithm based on the lower bound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Hama, Hiroki Yanagisawa, Takayuki Yoshizumi
  • Patent number: 9495653
    Abstract: A method for searching transition routes from an initial state of a plurality of stackable items to a target state by a computer at predetermined conditions includes connecting between transitionable states at an edge by a single handling operation transitioning from the initial state to the target state, to generate a state space graph; evaluating a lower bound of handling operation cost from a certain state to the target state, based on both the stacking sequence of the plurality of items in the certain state and the stacking sequence of the plurality of items in the target state; and searching a route from the initial state to the target state where the handling operation cost is minimal on the state space graph using a heuristic search algorithm based on the lower bound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Hama, Hiroki Yanagisawa, Takayuki Yoshizumi
  • Patent number: 9378471
    Abstract: Generally, an airline operations computing system accomplishes rule checking in an efficient and useful manner and provides functionality that allows multiple different users to accomplish schedule changes in a manner that minimizes conflicts between different schedulers. In addition, an airline operations computing system includes a common rules engine that is used by multiple different optimizer and decision support systems of the airline operations computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignees: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS TALERIS LTD, GE FLIGHT EFFICIENCY SERVICES, INC
    Inventors: Julian Pachon, Marc Anderson, David Staheli
  • Patent number: 9256982
    Abstract: Medical image rendering is described. In an embodiment a medical image visualization engine receives results from an organ recognition system which provide estimated organ centers, bounding boxes and organ classification labels for a given medical image. In examples the visualization engine uses the organ recognition system results to select appropriate transfer functions, bounding regions, clipping planes and camera locations in order to optimally view an organ. For example, a rendering engine uses the selections to render a two-dimensional image of medical diagnostic quality with minimal user input. In an embodiment a graphical user interface populates a list of organs detected in a medical image and a clinician is able to select one organ and immediately be presented with the optimal view of that organ. In an example opacity of background regions of the medical image may be adjusted to provide context for organs presented in a foreground region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Toby Sharp, Antonio Criminisi, Khan Mohammad Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 9235901
    Abstract: A method for locating one or more interproximal tooth regions in a digital tooth image. The method can be executed at least in part on data processing hardware. The method includes generating the digital tooth image from a fluorescence image of one or more teeth and a reflectance image of the one or more teeth, so as to combine image data from the fluorescence and reflectance images. The digital tooth image has intensity values for pixels corresponding to the one or more teeth and background. The method identifies one or more tooth regions by processing the digital tooth image and locates the one or more interproximal tooth regions according to the one or more identified tooth regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiayong Yan, Wei Wang, Liangliang Pan, Victor C. Wong
  • Patent number: 9189846
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for display of multi-channel image data, characterized in that multi-channel image data of an object that are provided by multiple channels of an imaging device are received, an image synthesis is performed on the basis of the multi-channel image data, and a synthesized image data set is output on a display device, characterized in that the image synthesis is performed in a way that the single-channel image data are temporally shifted according to a given function and the parameters of the given function are controllable by a user during the output of the synthesized image data set on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Inventor: Axel Wismüller
  • Patent number: 9188679
    Abstract: There is obtained a communication terminal and a position measuring power source control program capable of reducing power consumption associated with position measurement in relation to use of a position measuring system by a user. A CPU 101 of an arithmetic processing module 102 activates, when a position measurement processing module 105 conducts position measurement by use of a position measuring antenna 106, a particular application program to implement, for example, a navigation system. The CPU 101 assumes that the user has no intention to use the particular application program, when the user closes a folding-type cellular 100 to turn a folding detection switch on, thereby the CPU 101 activates a timer 108, and terminates the position measurement processing after a lapse of a predetermined period of time; and a power supplying module 112 suspends supply of power to the position measurement processing module 105.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Youichi Hamada
  • Patent number: 9086294
    Abstract: A navigation device is disclosed wherein, in at least one embodiment. navigation instruction are adapted to the driver preferences. The driving behavior of the driver is recorded (like speed, time to prepare for an exit etc.), and the way he responds to navigation instructions (promptly, or always too late for example). Traffic, weather and time information may be combined with information on the driving behavior of the driver. This information is examined and used to build up a driver profile. This driver profile is used to adapt future navigation instructions. Alternatively, traffic and weather information may be used to build up route and/or environmental profiles. These profiles can also be used separate from the driver profile to adjust the navigation instruction. The combination of these two techniques, building up a profile (or adapt a pre-defined profile) and adapt the navigation instructions, makes the navigation device a more personal-fit navigation aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Serhiy Tkachenko, David Stelpstra, Kees Wesselius
  • Patent number: 9081877
    Abstract: In embodiments, a medical image interpretation system has at least a medical image storing part, a medical image referring part, a medical record storing part, a process controlling part, an information extraction processing part, an image region specifying part, and an image processing part. The process controlling part specifies a medical image and extracts a medical record of a patient of the medical image. The information extraction processing part classifies terms on a sentence written in the medical record into predetermined types to structure the sentence, and extracts a region term from the structured sentence. The image region specifying part specifies the range of images showing a region corresponding to the region term from the medical image and specifies the position and range of the region. The image processing part displays at least the region position and range in a visually recognizable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hikaru Futami, Hiromasa Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 9020828
    Abstract: A method, a system and a computer program product are disclosed for referencing medical electronically available patient-related data records which are stored in a distributed manner in a computer-based network, including a multiplicity of computer-based entities. In at least one embodiment, a request for patient-related data records is generated on the basis of an original identifier and is sent to an index server. By accessing a table, the index server checks whether entries or data records are stored for the respective patient in the respective repository. If so, it inserts this reference to the storage location into the result. The request is forwarded from index server to index server until all index servers have been processed, so that the end result can be forwarded to the requesting workstation with all references to requested patient-related data records.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Georg Heidenreich, Gerhard Weller
  • Patent number: 9002642
    Abstract: Provided is a system and method for tracking and identifying a target in an area of interest based on a comparison of predicted target behavior or movement and sensed target behavior or movement. Incorporating aspects of both particle diffusion and mobility constraint models with target intent derivations, the system may continuously track a target while simultaneously refining target identification information. Alternatively, the system and method are applied to reacquire a target track based on prioritized intents and predicted target location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: William B. Noble, Serdar N. Gokcen, Michael D. Howard, David W. Payton