Patents Examined by George Chen
  • Patent number: 11232493
    Abstract: A fleet management system has a chauffeur or driver module and a communication and positioning module associated with each fleet vehicle, and a backend monitoring and control system located at a fleet data center in communication with each vehicle. The system monitors each trip automatically and generates time stamps at the start of a trip, a pick up location, a drop off location, and return of the vehicle to a garage at the end of a trip. Vehicle status information is collected and stored along with timestamps. The information is used to generate billing and payroll accounts, and also in monitoring conditions of fleet vehicles and generating alerts as needed. Turn-by-turn route instructions are provided to drivers by voice output on request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: e-LANTis Corporation
    Inventors: Hongfeng Wei, Sid Forougi
  • Patent number: 11227318
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for coordinating an Unmanned Vehicle (UV) to perform authenticated delivery of goods. A method for coordinating a delivery may include instructing, via a communication network, a user device to collect user preferences on delivery logistics. The method may also include receiving the user preferences from the user device. The method may also include receiving user financial data from a financial service provider server. The method may also include receiving real-time information comprising location information of a UV and a user device. The method may also include authorizing the delivery of the package if an authentication process is satisfied based on the user preferences, the user financial data, and the real-time information. The method may also include transmitting to the UV a command to complete the delivery, if the delivery is authorized. The method may also include transmitting to the UV an abort command, if the delivery is not authorized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy J. Phillips, Kevin S. Park, Shane F. Blackman
  • Patent number: 11222370
    Abstract: A parking garage system includes a plurality of parking garages. Each parking garage has a plurality of parking sectors and each parking sector has a plurality of parking spaces. A digital system tracks an occupancy level of each parking sector and an anticipated departure time of vehicles parked in each parking space. The digital system further directs vehicles to a particular parking sector based on the driver's anticipated departure time. The digital system also advises potential customers of occupancy level and parking rates and communicates information regarding occupancy level and parking rates to other parking garages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: SPACES OPERATIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Sourabh Sen
  • Patent number: 11216754
    Abstract: Disclosed is an information processing apparatus including a reception unit configured to receive a use reservation of car sharing including designation of any one of round-trip car sharing and one-way car sharing, designation of a pickup location, and designation of a drop-off location from a user and store the use reservation in a use reservation database, and a selection unit configured to select, as users who share a ride in a vehicle, both of a first user who has made a use reservation for designating round-trip car sharing and a second user who has made a use reservation for designating one-way car sharing among a plurality of users who have made a use reservation with a pickup location and a drop-off location satisfying a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichiro Mitsumaki, Masato Endo, Ryota Kondo, Yasuhisa Obata
  • Patent number: 11210624
    Abstract: Generally described, one or more aspects of the present application correspond to machine learning techniques for generating predictions about how much of an item will sell to certain destination regions at certain shipping speeds. A machine learning model, such as a neural network, can be trained to make such predictions based on historical data. The predictions can be presented in a user interface that enables sellers to evaluate the predicted sales and opt in to supporting particular shipping speeds to particular destinations, for example enabling the sellers to create offers for the items with terms corresponding to desired shipping speeds and destinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Siyuan Wang, Nikhil Bhardwaj, Tanvir Talukder
  • Patent number: 11210625
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are computer-implemented systems comprising: a digital processing device and a computer program to create a hybrid delivery model application for regulated products comprising: a database of at least one delivery territory; product depot; regulated products; and delivery vehicles, each vehicle comprising a regulated product inventory case and configured to operate in either of a dynamic delivery model and a batch delivery model and optionally switch between models; a software module setting the delivery model for each vehicle and optionally switching the delivery model for one or more of the vehicles; a software module providing the dynamic delivery model, and a software module providing the batch delivery model, wherein a content of the inventory case is determined based at least on the upper inventory case value threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: EAZE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Kibbey, Stratos Christianakis, Eli Woods, Andrew Tilley, Daniel Erickson, Edmond Meinfelder, Potluck Mittal
  • Patent number: 11200517
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for managing the transportation of an individual. The method includes a processor identifying, based on communicating with location services on a client, a user entering a venue, where the client is a wireless device associated with the user. The processor determined, in real time, a current location of the user within the venue. The processor obtains transportation route information associated with the user. The processor determines, based on the current location of the user and/or the transportation route, an occurrence of a transportation event. Based on the event, the processor determines one or more alternate transportation routes for the user. The processor transmits an alert that includes data related to the one or more alternate transportation routes over a wireless communication channel to the wireless device of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lisa Seacat DeLuca, Jeremy A. Greenberger
  • Patent number: 11195124
    Abstract: Provide herein is a method and system capable of authenticating transactions involving at least one service provider and one or more users who are each in electronic communication. This electronic communication can be, for example, SMS, MMS, e-mail, or online account messaging. It is an aspect of certain embodiments where the transaction is an authentication and/or verification of an entity. Examples of such entities are products, actions and users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Inventor: Jukka Salonen
  • Patent number: 11188950
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments of methods, systems, and machine-readable mediums which may be used in conjunction with a campaign for distributing content to users of the social network. Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a number of advantages over conventional systems for content distribution, including a simplified targeting process and increased reach (i.e. distribution) for content providers among users of a social network, as well as improving the utilization of an inventory of content and higher and more efficient engagement with such content by users of the social network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Haishan Liu, David Merrill Pardoe, Kun Liu, Manoj Rameshchandra Thakur, Kancheng Cao, Chongzhe Li
  • Patent number: 11182730
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for programmatically determining/identifying a delivery location and time based on the schedule of the consignee. One example embodiment may include a method comprising receiving shipping/parcel information/data, the shipping/parcel information/data indicative of an item/parcel to be delivered to a consignee by a carrier, determining whether consignee schedule information/data is accessible, the consignee schedule information/data comprising information/data indicative of a consignee and information/data indicative of a location and an associated time at which the consignee has indicated an ability to receive an item, and providing, to a client device, via a network, a delivery location and a delivery time, the delivery location and the delivery time determined between the consignee schedule information/data and the default delivery location and the estimated time of delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Sager, William Gensburg
  • Patent number: 11182834
    Abstract: A platoon travel system includes an extraction portion, an arrangement order determination portion, a schedule notification portion, a contribution degree calculation portion, and a charge portion. The contribution degree calculation portion calculates a contribution degree for each of the plurality of target vehicles using loss-gain information. The contribution degree is calculated with respect to a benefit of all of the plurality of target vehicles obtained by performing the platoon travel. The loss-gain information reflects the benefit obtained when the plurality of target vehicles participate in the platoon travel. The charge portion determines a charge amount for each of the plurality of target vehicles based on the contribution degree calculated by the contribution degree calculation portion when the platoon travel is performed based on the platoon information. The charge amount is determined for each of the plurality of target vehicles to fairly obtain an advantage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiyuki Takoshima, Yuki Mae
  • Patent number: 11170323
    Abstract: The disclosure herein describes generating, managing, and finalizing group reservations of travel resources (e.g., plane tickets, hotel and other lodging reservations, etc.) via a group reservation system. A group reservation request is received including group member data and travel resource reservation data. The reservation data is transmitted to group members based on the group member data. Reservation feedback is then received from the group members. The reservation feedback includes an acceptance message or a rejection message for participation with the travel resource(s). A quantity of acceptance messages received in the reservation feedback is compared to a reservation threshold and, based on the comparison, the group reservation is finalized, wherein the finalized group reservation is associated with group members from whom an acceptance message was received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jennifer Lowe, Benjamin M. Berger, Amarildo Gjondrekaj
  • Patent number: 11164201
    Abstract: An approach to facilitating identity-recognition-based promotions using virtual containers is provided. A first virtual container may be associated with a first virtual item set and identified by a first container identifier. Container instances of the first virtual container that are purchased through a store interface during a first time period may be configured to be activated by users in a game space to obtain item instances of virtual items of the first virtual item set. The first virtual container may be modified to be associated with a second virtual item set and identified by the first container identifier. Container instances of the first virtual container that are purchased during a second time period may be container instances of the modified first virtual container that are configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain item instances of virtual items of the second virtual item set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: KABAM, INC.
    Inventors: Stephanie K. Schultz, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 11157968
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an advertisement platform where buyers and sellers can trade advertisement inventory programmatically at local, national, and/or worldwide levels. The advertisement platform server system may include an advertiser facing interface which permits advertisers to generate a request for orders (RFO) for an advertisement campaign which spans multiple advertisement channels. The RFO may be automatically provided to numerous media content providers, which may place committed orders which are to be autonomously accepted upon satisfaction of at least one condition of the RFO, such as a minimum budget. Once the committed orders are accepted, the advertisements may be routed to a traffic management system for publishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: WIDEORBIT LLC
    Inventors: Tyler Wallace Box, Brian M. Burdick, Geoffrey P. Coco, Ian P. Ferreira, Paul Jaffe, Alfred Lawrence Shiels, Brian Thoman, Ola Tiverman, Sean Trigony, Stacey N. Young
  • Patent number: 11157838
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for analyzing booking session data to generate a plurality of feature vectors for each booking session of the plurality of booking sessions, and generating training data comprising the plurality of feature vectors for each booking session and at least a first constraint. The systems and methods further providing for calculating a set of weights using the training data, wherein each weight is a lowest weight satisfying the most constraints possible, wherein the set of weights comprises a weight associated with each feature in the plurality of feature vectors, and computing a reservation value for each of a plurality of clients for each of a plurality of listings and for each date of a plurality of dates, based on the set of weights and the plurality of feature vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Airbnb, Inc.
    Inventors: Yin Lou, Li Zhang
  • Patent number: 11157863
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for engaging a service provider to perform a delivery service to redirect a shipment to be delivered to an alternative intended destination upon receipt of a redirection request. Based on a monitored current location of a last mile delivery vehicle scheduled to deliver the shipment to an initial intended destination, a computing entity monitors the location of available service providers capable of meeting the last mile delivery vehicle to pick up the shipment and transport the shipment to the alternative intended destination. The computing entity may engage one of the service providers by transmitting a signal to a mobile computing entity carried by the service provider and may monitor the service provider's progress in meeting the last mile delivery vehicle and transporting the shipment to the alternative intended destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Juan Perez
  • Patent number: 11158022
    Abstract: Improvements in an electronically operated lockbox mailbox assembly is disclosed. The assembly provides a customizable lockbox assembly with a smart lock. The enclosure can be configured with heating, cooling and humidity functions so the internal contents remains at an optimal temperature for storage until the unit is unlocked. The assembly can be linked with other home security devices. The smart lock operated with an application for tracking, opening and security of the assembly. The assembly may take the form of a box, locker, or similar shape that can be either free-standing or “hard installed” as part of a new commercial or residential build or retrofitted to an existing commercial or residential build that is powered via hardwire, plug or battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Sangmyung Lee, Brett Richard Reznichek
  • Patent number: 11159043
    Abstract: Some example embodiments include a method for recharging a number of battery electric vehicles. The method include receiving (by a control module configured to control an electrical grid system that include a number of recharging stations that are configured to recharge the number of battery electric vehicles and from the number of battery electric vehicles) usage data that comprises a current charge level, a current location, and a planned itinerary that includes a destination. The method includes determining anticipated electrical loads in the number of sectors of the electrical grid system based on the usage data of the number of battery electric vehicles. The method also includes redistributing the electrical supply on the electrical grid system to at least one recharging station of the number of recharging stations based on the anticipated electrical loads, prior to actual usage defined by the usage data by the number of battery electric vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Howard N. Anglin, Irgelkha Mejia, Nicholas J. Ruegger, Yvonne M. Young
  • Patent number: 11151508
    Abstract: A grocery transport system comprising a storage facility (600) for goods; the storage facility comprising one or several storage rooms having a controlled environment in that the temperature and the relative humidity of the air in the storage room is controlled so that it is kept within certain predetermined ranges; wherein the goods comprises a plurality of different types of goods sorted into different temperature ranges (TI, TIl, TIll, TIV), each type of goods being stored in a corresponding storage room (650TI, 650TII, 650TIII, 650TIV) having a temperature in accordance with the corresponding goods temperature range (TI, TIl, TIll, TIV); a loading facility for enabling chilled or frozen goods is to be packed into closable and sealable containers (20); said loading facility comprising a plurality of said closable and sealable containers (20) for use in the distribution of said chilled or frozen goods in an air atmosphere environment; a delivery vehicle for transporting said closable and sealable containers
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: IFOODBAG AB
    Inventors: Carl Fallgren, Magnus Gimåker
  • Patent number: 11151482
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide systems and methods for confirming the identity of a passenger and changing destination of a vehicle. This may include receiving dispatching instructions to pick up a first passenger at a pickup location and to drop off the first passenger at a first destination as well as authentication information for authenticating a first client computing device of the first passenger. Once the client device is authenticated and a second passenger enters the vehicle, the vehicle is maneuvered towards the first destination. While doing so, a location of the vehicle is compared to location information received from the client computing devices. A notification is sent to a dispatching server based on the comparison and a second destination location is received in response. The vehicle is then maneuvered towards the second destination instead of the first destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: John Wesley Dyer, Luis Torres, Yu-Hsin Chen, Michael Epstein