Patents Examined by Colleen A Hoar
  • Patent number: 8285643
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for enabling gift card recipients to redeem gift card amounts using existing accounts such as a credit/debit card. A system practicing the method identifies a giver and recipient of a gift card amount and associated accounts. A policy is established which governs how the gift card is redeemed, such as a specific merchant or item. When the recipient makes a purchase using an existing credit/debit card according to the policy, the gift card amount is applied to the transaction. No special codes, separate physical gift cards, or printable coupons are necessary for redemption. The recipient makes purchases using their normal purchasing credit/debit card via a qualifying purchase according to the policy, and the gift card is applied automatically. The recipient credit/debit card becomes a combination of an open-looped card and a closed-loop card. Thus, no money is wasted or lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Monncello Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas M. Isaacson, Ryan Connell Durham
  • Patent number: 8265996
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and a user interface for automatically scheduling a media play is disclosed. The user can specify criteria for play of the media play, including times, stations, and/or external criteria such as a weather condition or the occurrence of an event. Information relevant to the entered criteria is received and assessed against the criteria to determine if the criteria are met. Responsive to the received information meeting the criteria for play of the media play, an accessor accesses the media play inventory and inserts the media play into a media feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Steelberg, Ryan Steelberg, Scott Beauchamp, Russell Kevin Ketchum
  • Patent number: 8239267
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and a user interface for automatically scheduling a media play is disclosed. The user can specify criteria for play of the media play, including times, stations, and/or external criteria such as a weather condition or the occurrence of an event. Information relevant to the entered criteria is received and assessed against the criteria to determine if the criteria are met. Responsive to the received information meeting the criteria for play of the media play, an accessor accesses the media play inventory and inserts the media play into a media feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Steelberg, Ryan Steelberg, Scott Beauchamp, Russell Kevin Ketchum
  • Patent number: 8234168
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are computer-implement systems and methods for identifying and analyzing content (e.g., text, images, videos, etc.) published on digital content platforms (e.g., webpages, mobile applications, etc.). Such analysis is then used to determine whether the published content is appropriate for association with (or “hosting of”) a third-party's content. In one embodiment, for example, the systems and methods presented are particularly useful for determining the appropriateness of an image published on a digital content platform, prior to providing an advertisement proximate the image. As such, merchants can avoid associating their advertised products/services with vulgar, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate images that may have a negative impact on their brand or reputation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Luminate, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristen Lagle Ruiz, Chris Waterson, James R. Everingham
  • Patent number: 8112307
    Abstract: A method of reporting the presentation of data, a data storage medium, and a system for employing a web page is disclosed and that includes accessing a source of data having a specific segment, and reporting a presentation of the specific segment to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: George Henry Forman
  • Patent number: 8099326
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and a user interface are used for bidding on media plays. The user can specify criteria for play of the media play, including times, stations, and budgets. A traffic estimator uses historical data to estimate bids and auctions, and the likelihood of winning, for generating listener traffic based on the criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Steelberg, Ryan Steelberg, Scott Beauchamp, Russell Kevin Ketchum, Eliot Clingman, Robert Gardner
  • Patent number: 8099327
    Abstract: A system and method select bids for a plurality of media plays, such as advertising spots on radio stations. Users provide bids for the medial plays and may select providers of the media plays and a time period of the media play. The media plays are associated with the bids. The bids are allocated to the media plays, and winning bids are selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Steelberg, Ryan Steelberg, Scott Beauchamp, Russell Kevin Ketchum, Robert Gardner, Alex Smolyanov, Jos Bergmans
  • Patent number: 7788130
    Abstract: A method of offering advertising services to a client for advertising a client website on the Internet comprises the steps of enabling a website-related services partner to cause an opt-in object to be displayed on a partner or reseller affiliate website through which the client may choose to establish an Internet advertising services account without leaving the affiliate website, receiving corresponding client information from the affiliate, and using the received client information to establish the Internet advertising services account. The invention also covers a related computer system for performing the method. Generated revenue is preferably shared among the advertising services provider, the partner, and the affiliate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Kanoodle.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Feeley, Joseph Holcomb, Scott Bliss