Patents Examined by Namrata (Pinky) Boveja
-
Patent number: 9619822Abstract: Systems and methods of identifying user propensity to access a web page via a communication network are provided. A data processing system can receive a request for subject matter to provide for display with the web page. A referring URL identifying a source web page can be identified from the request. Based on the source web page, a score can be assigned to the request. A quality metric can indicate a likelihood that a user associated with the request will access content provided for display with the web page, and this quality metric can be adjusted based on the score.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2012Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Google Inc.Inventor: Christopher Kenneth Harris
-
Patent number: 9430782Abstract: Advertisements in a social networking system may be targeted to searching users in relation with a real-time search engine operated by a social networking system. Ads are targeted to users based in part on social information included in a structured search query and/or search results on a page. In a typeahead search, a user of the social networking system may receive prefix search results of objects in the search box. The prefix search results are ranked by relevance to the user, and advertisers may bid for particular objects to increase their ranking in the results list. An option may be provided to a viewer of search query results to buy an ad that would be seen by other users who performed the same search query, received a targeted search result, or based on targeting criteria as determined by the viewer bidding on the ad.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2012Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Amit Alon, Gregory Joseph Badros
-
Patent number: 9384495Abstract: Portable mobile devices may have ambient light sensors (ALS) capable of modulating the level of backlight on the display of the portable electronic device in various environmental situations. The ALS is capable of receiving an infrared signal or a visible light signal that may then be read to determine an end and a beginning, and parsed to extract the code. The information sent from the infrared or visible light source to the portable electronic device may be handled by the device in various ways including direct processing and display to present the user of the portable electronic device with a coupon, offer, or other benefit. This may occur in several ways including displaying a coupon or an offer, launching a URL or URI, or launching an application on the portable electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.Inventors: Warren B. Cope, Manoj Monga, Lyle W. Paczkowski
-
Patent number: 9367856Abstract: Technology is described for asynchronously modifying a plurality of subaccounts. A method may include receiving an update request for an account having a running order value. An update sub-request may be sent for a subaccount of the account. Another operation may be receiving an expiration request for the subaccount with a consumed running order value. The expiration request may be applied to the subaccount when a determination has been made that the update sub-request is completed by checking the running order value against the consumed running order value.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2012Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Abhin Hattikudru, Ajay Bhutani
-
Patent number: 9355403Abstract: A mobile device including one or more linked memories to store a mobile application and customer data, the mobile application downloaded from a rewards server associated with a retailer, the customer data associated with a loyalty program of the retailer. The mobile device further includes a processor to display the mobile application via the user interface. The processor displays a log-in page permitting a customer to access at least one retailer account associated with the customer and displays a purchase price, via the mobile application, for at least one product associated with the retailer. The processor updates, upon reception of the customer input indicating selection of a payment option, the at least one retailer account to indicate a deduction of the displayed purchase price from at least one payment account.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: SAFEWAY INC.Inventors: David Edward Thomas, Jonathan G. Quinn, Michael Robert Minasi, Michelle Marian, Mir Mohammad Aamir, Tamara Ruth Pattison
-
Patent number: 9189803Abstract: A system and method is presented for product substantiation and promotion redemption. A purchased product list is transmitted from a retail store system to a promotion analysis server along with a user identifier. The promotion analysis server identifies promotions available to the user, and then considers whether the benefits under the promotions are still available to the user. Discounts for available promotions related to the purchased product list are calculated and transmitted to the retail store system for deduction from the transactions. An approved product list can be provided that filters the purchased product list before transmittal. The approved product list can include promotions from a plurality of programs.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Solutran, Inc.Inventors: Barry J. Nordstrand, Jason Lynn Prigge, James Joseph Smola
-
Patent number: 9129313Abstract: A method and system for optimizing real-time bidding on online advertisement placements is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a real-time bidding (RTB) request from a RTB partner who is selling an impression on behalf of a publisher. Several probability scores are predetermined based on various criterion. During the processing of a real-time bid request, a combined probability score and threshold are calculated based on these probability scores. The decision to bid on and price to bid for the impression is determined by the RTB system. Campaign targets are based on the combined probability score. A RTB bid response indicating the selected campaign targets and the bid prices are returned to the RTB partner.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2012Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC.Inventors: Christopher Farmer, Michael Els, Igor Postelnik, Paul Hodges, Kurt Carlson
-
Patent number: 8738429Abstract: A platform for a loyalty program provides an interface allowing a consumer to create a benefit tailored for his/her needs. In one embodiment, a consumer accesses the platform via a web-based interface, and selects benefit/reward parameters including but not limited to the nature of the event triggering award of the benefit, the source (i.e. retailer) of the benefit, the nature of the benefit (i.e., discount based upon purchase price or accumulated loyalty points), and/or the events allowing accrual of loyalty points. The interface communicates the inputted parameter to an engine of the loyalty program. The platform would then check the inputted parameter against any constraints, such as parameters of an existing loyalty program in which the consumer is already enrolled.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2007Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Visa U.S.A. Inc.Inventor: David Shepard
-
Patent number: 8554606Abstract: A system and method for managing sponsorships by a sponsor, in which the party requesting the sponsorship requests to use content owned and protected by the sponsor, such as trademarks, logos, and copyrighted material. An embodiment of the method involves receiving, at a computer network site, a request for sponsorship from a requestor and responding to the request by sending either an approval or a rejection. If an approval is sent, the method further involves providing the requestor with access to content of the sponsor through the site. As part of providing this access, the method can involve requiring the requestor to accept an agreement posted on the site. The method can also include monitoring the requestor's actual use of the content.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2012Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Marcus Delgado, Sandra J. Evans, Harrison P. Lantz, Amy L. Sherwood, David L. Furth
-
Patent number: 8489450Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for facilitating acquisition of customers for merchants through targeted offers to prospective customers; improving the precision of targeting by Prospect Profiling and Intent Prediction. In certain embodiments, the system supports monetizing sources of data which contribute to Prospect Profiling and Intent Prediction, such as purchase history, third-party SNP data. In other embodiments, a “Customer acquisition fee” serves as the underlying business model for the Service Provider of the Platform. The system provides cost-effective marketing where merchants pay only after conversion of prospect to customer. Customers get higher savings through Opportunity Auctioning amongst merchants with the value of Discount offer as part of Bid.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2011Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: RS-Software, Inc.Inventor: Shwetav Agarwal
-
Patent number: 8438057Abstract: A client-server architecture allows consumer electronics (CE) devices to obtain advertisements, including TV and network content recommendations, via a unified application programming interface (API). A gateway server between online advertisement providers and CE devices prioritizes and personalizes the advertisements and recommendations for a requesting CE device. This architecture scales over time and evolves more functionality without requiring CE device software updates.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2011Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: William Arthur Schupp, Nicole Rebong, Ludovic Etienne Douillet, Klaus Hofrichter, Aran London Sadja, Philip Carl Miller