Patents Examined by Victoria Vanderhorst
  • Patent number: 9886697
    Abstract: Certain aspects direct to systems and methods for distributing segmented media content to digital signage devices in a private network. In certain embodiments, the system includes a Media Content Distribution System (MCDS). Upon receiving an instruction to distribute an item of media content, the MCDS retrieves and segments the item from a storage server, and stores the segments in the storage server. When a first digital signage device requests for a segment, the MCDS transmits a storage link of the requested segment to the first digital signage device. Thus, the first digital signage device may retrieve the requested segment from the storage server, and send an address identifying a storage location of the requested segment stored in the private network back to the MCDS. When a second digital signage device also requests for the same segment, the MCDS transmits the address to the second digital signage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: AMERICAN MEGATRENDS, INC.
    Inventor: Clas Gerhard Sivertsen
  • Patent number: 9858598
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media for media content management and deployment. A data store stores available timeslot information data and signage device information data. A demographic information server obtains observation demographic data; generates, based on the observation demographic data, prediction demographic data; receives a demographic request; examines the prediction demographic data; and returns locations and future timeslots that have the predicted demographics satisfying the demographic request. A deployment module obtains campaign parameters for building a campaign and including time parameters, location parameters, and demographic parameters; requests the demographic information server to obtain locations and future timeslots satisfying the demographic parameters; and examines the signage device information data and the available timeslot information data to select candidate timeslots and signage devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: AMERICAN MEGATRENDS, INC.
    Inventor: Clas Gerhard Sivertsen
  • Patent number: 9824362
    Abstract: An object is to restrict the giving of points according to an object of payment for which payment was made with electronic money. An electronic money server (FIG. 11) receives transaction information in which a breakdown of the amount of payment of an electronic money card used in one payment processing is recorded and breakdown information in which a breakdown of the amount of payment for each object of payment in this payment processing is recorded. The breakdown includes a normal item into which general products are classified, a tax-free item into which tax-free articles such as a postage stamp are classified, and a collected item into which public utility rates collected by an agency payment service are classified. Among these breakdown items, points are given to the amount of payment made for a normal item, and no points are given to the others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Makiko Hara, Takayuki Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9811839
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a customer loyalty framework for a customer relationship management (CRM) system. The framework includes an internal CRM system, an internal loyalty system and an internal enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The internal CRM system has a CRM repository storing CRM data and the internal loyalty system has a loyalty repository storing loyalty data for one or more customers enrolled in a company loyalty program. The internal CRM system stores business logic that is executable by the internal loyalty system, the internal CRM system, and/or the internal ERP system to execute the company loyalty program. The system further includes an external CRM system connected with the internal network by an external communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventor: Meenakshi Sundaram P
  • Patent number: 9800949
    Abstract: A computer readable medium is disclosed containing instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method for presenting advertising data, the method including but not limited to placing scene start marker data in video data stream at a scene start data; receiving end user trick play command data during presentation of the video data stream at the end user device; and moving to the scene start marker data in the video data in response to the end user trick play command data. A system is disclosed for executing the method. A data structure is disclosed for containing data used by the system and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: James L. Cansler, Charles Scott, Scott White
  • Patent number: 9760911
    Abstract: An embodiment is directed to a non-expanding advertisement that displays a video loop or a portion of a video within the advertisement. If the user interacts with the advertisement, the entire video is played within the advertisement without expanding. The user is not given the option to stop or pause the video. In addition, since the advertisement does not expand, the user is not given the option to close the video, ensuring that a complete view of the video is delivered to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Darrick Paul Brown, Rick Reicker, Troy William Young
  • Patent number: 9679295
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for sorting seller listings or advertisements of a seller network. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining an indicator of potential revenue for a first party from price information of a list of entities, wherein revenue generated according to the price information of at least some of the list of entities is to be split among a plurality of parties; and, sorting the list of entities into a first list based at least partially on the indicator of potential revenue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLC
    Inventors: Kelvin Ho, Ron Hirson, Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber
  • Patent number: 9639863
    Abstract: Systems and methods to provide telephonic connections. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing a listing on a marketplace, the listing including an assigned reference to be used to initiate a real time communication connection; and billing for a real time communication lead generated from presenting the listing in response to a real time communication initiated via the reference. In one embodiment, a method includes: conducting online auction of telephonic leads; determining a way to present listings based at least partially on received price bids on the telephonic leads (e.g., the order of placement, the selection for placement, etc); and providing the listings with information to initiate a telephonic connection in a way trackable to measure a number of telephonic calls generated from presenting the listings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLC
    Inventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden
  • Patent number: 9615132
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method, the computer program including but not limited to instructions to track a portion of the advertising data forwarded from a first end user device to a second end user; instructions to generate, based on the tracking, penetration data indicating an extent to which the first end user device forwards and propagates the portion of the advertising data to other end users; and instructions to present a portion of the advertising data in a picture in picture display window on the end user device based on the prioritizing of the advertising data during execution of the trick play command data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: James I Cansler, Charles Scott, Scott White
  • Patent number: 9607321
    Abstract: Computer-based systems and methods for an advertisement displayed on a fixed position on a web browser window displaying a visible portion of a web page. The fixed position advertisement remains in its fixed position in view of the user as the user scrolls the web page in various directions. The advertisement may be sized, shaped, or formatted based on the available space on the web page and on the content of the advertisement. The advertisement may include a variety of static and dynamic content, including interaction prompts and other elements, which may enable an engagement-based revenue generation model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Darrick Paul Brown, David Ross Lerman, Troy William Young, Matthew Allen Sanchez
  • Patent number: 9558498
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for optimizing and managing advertising campaigns. The method of the present invention comprises storing one or more advertisement data structures associated with an ad group data structure in the ad group data structure. One or more ad group data structures associated with a campaign data structure are stored in an ad campaign data structure. Additionally, one or more ad campaign data structures associated with an advertised property are stored in an account data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: EXCALIBUR IP, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Collins, Scott Melvin Harvester, Paul Joseph Apodaca
  • Patent number: 9224159
    Abstract: An Internet-oriented advertising exchange controller presents website content in a plurality of frames as well as support search criteria and other flexible forms of inventory formatting and delivery. Applications include Internet protocol request coordination or relay, cooperative frame based or interstitial advertising, and support for a local search or dataless metasearch system. The controller operates in a cookieless environment, has logic to protect advertiser's investment from AutoSurf equivalent systems, and protects against other inappropriate stimuli including denial of service or IP blast attacks. As such, an advertiser's credits are affected only by human stimuli. Communication with and among exchange controllers for sharing or delivering information about inventory occurs by a number of protocols with optional encryption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: DOUGLAS ASHBAUGH
    Inventor: Douglas L. Ashbaugh
  • Patent number: 9218609
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method provides customizable brand experiences. The method includes providing a server coupled to a storage system and coupled to a network. The storage system stores end-user data, associated with a first plurality of brands, and a second plurality of end-users. Additionally the method includes operating the sever to run a plurality of modules, each module associated with at least one of the brands and customized to provide an outcome message as an output, conditioned on a change in end-user data from one state to another state, wherein the change from the one state to the other state is further conditioned on receipt by the server of a programmable pattern of a set of trigger messages. Finally, the method includes making the outcome message available over the network to an outcome destination client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Xperiel, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Hertel, Philipp Hertel
  • Patent number: 9208500
    Abstract: Computer-based systems and methods for a multi-state advertisement displayed at a fixed position on a primary display space of a display device. The fixed position advertisement remains in its fixed position in view of the user as the user scrolls the web page in various directions. A plurality of events trigger a change in the state of the multi-state advertisement, with the change in state resulting in a change of the advertisement content, shape, size, style and appearance. An embodiment deploys an initial video in combination with a billboard. When the interstitial video ends, the fixed position advertisement is sized down to a less obtrusive size, with the billboard and the interstitial video replaced with a navigation bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Darrick Paul Brown, David Ross Lerman, Troy William Young, Matthew Allen Sanchez
  • Patent number: 9209984
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to facilitate connections between peoples for real time communications. In one embodiment, a method includes: identifying an entity based at least in part on relevancy to a content of a document to be presented to a user; and for presentation to the user adding a communication reference separately from the content used to identify the entity; where the communication reference has been assigned to the entity and the communication reference can be used to request a connection for real time communications with the entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: YellowPages.com LLC
    Inventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van der Linden, Paul G. Manca
  • Patent number: 9203974
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to connect telephone calls and track information about the telephone calls resulting from advertisements for groups of advertisers. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a telephone call at a second telephone number from a caller; connecting the telephone call to a first telephone number of a first entity who provides a price bid for a phone lead to be directed to the first telephone number of the first entity; where the first entity is to be billed for the telephone call connected to the first telephone number according to the price bid in response to a determination that the telephone is not a repeated telephone call from the caller to the first entity within a time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Inventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden
  • Patent number: 9202219
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for merging different types of pay for performance advertisements. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining an indicator of potential revenue for a party from price information of a list of entities, which includes first price information for a first type of advertisements and second price information for a second type of advertisements; and sorting the list of entities based at least partially on the indicator of potential revenue. In one embodiment, a method includes: converting price information for an advertisement of a first type to equivalent price information for a second type of advertisements. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining automatically, based on a call bid amount for a pay per call advertisement, a click bid amount for a pay per click advertisement to provide a phone number of the pay per call advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLC
    Inventors: Sean Van Der Linden, Scott Faber, Mark Halstead, Ebbe Altberg
  • Patent number: 9195958
    Abstract: A method for automatically developing a proposal of advertising segments from a plurality of available advertising segments offered by an owner of a media presentation containing the advertising segments. A plurality of representations of available advertising segments are stored, and actual and/or speculative presentation characteristics are associated to each of the plurality of representations. A proposal is developed comprising a subset of the representations based on media buyer specified variables. The proposal is validated by ensuring that the speculative characteristics are satisfied upon creation of the media presentation containing segments purchased by the media buyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Regal Cinemedia Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher H. Theiste, Joseph Agee
  • Patent number: 9118778
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for advertising where the advertisement performance is determined via tracking the deals made as a result of communication leads generated from the advertisements. One embodiment includes: providing an advertisement containing a communication reference to a customer on behalf of a party; providing a connection via the reference for real time communications between the customer and the party; and charging an advertisement fee in response to an action of a predetermined type being performed by the customer (or an agreement between the customer and the party being reached) as a result of the real time communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLC
    Inventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden, Ben Harris Lyon, Paul G. Manca
  • Patent number: 9105032
    Abstract: Systems and methods to provide advertisements based on the content of documents in which the advertisements are presented. One embodiment includes: a web server to receive a request for an advertisement in reference to a document provided to a user by a content provider; a backend server to identify the advertisement based on relevancy of the advertisement to the content of the document and to associate a communication reference with the advertisement and the content provider, the web server to provide the advertisement and the reference for inclusion in the document; and a telecommunication server coupled to a session border controller and the backend server to receive a connection request via the reference, to determine contact information of the advertiser and identify the content provider based on the reference, and to establish the connection between the user and the advertiser using the determined contact information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLC
    Inventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden, Paul G. Manca