Patents Examined by William A Brandenburg
  • Patent number: 9747606
    Abstract: Providing targeted advertising on food/beverage preparation or dispensing machines may include electronically presenting selected targeted media on or in proximity to a food/beverage preparation or dispensing machine. This may involve automatically activating consumable item preparation or dispensing mechanisms of the food/beverage preparation or dispensing machine, or activating an item selection menu, in conjunction with electronically presenting the selected media. The targeted advertising may be based on receiving user input such as information identifying a particular user or consumer or menu selections and then selecting the selected media based on the received user input. User interface elements may also be provided enabling a user to request additional information regarding selected targeted media be electronically sent to them or an order be placed for a related product. Compensation to a user or another entity may be activated each time the selected media is played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: BREAK ROOM MEDIA LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Stoulil
  • Patent number: 9727877
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for dynamic messaging are disclosed. A lookup request may be received for a customer. A plurality of eligible campaigns may be determined for the customer. An eligible campaign of the plurality of eligible campaigns may include an available offer for the customer. The available offer may be represented by a compressed filter. The customer may match the compressed filter of the available offer of the plurality of eligible campaigns. The available offer of a campaign may be selected from the plurality of eligible campaigns based on metadata of the plurality of eligible campaigns and campaign history data of the customer. A message associated with the selected offer may be provided. The message may be capable of being presented to the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Benjamin Rosler, Jennifer Ann Cantele, Amit Sharma, Daniel Aaron Issen
  • Patent number: 9721267
    Abstract: Profiles characterizing each of a plurality of consumers are received. Thereafter, each profile is associated with one of a plurality of customer segments (e.g., matched pairs, etc.). Thereafter, a coupon effectiveness index is determined for each of the plurality of consumers for an offering based on the associated customer segment. The coupon effectiveness indices model characterizes causal effects estimates determined using historical data of purchases of individuals having varying coupon treatments for the offering. Subsequently, provision of at least a portion of the determined coupon effectiveness indices is initiated. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FAIR ISAAC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gerald Fahner, Zhenyu Yan, Shafi Rahman, Amit Kiran Sowani
  • Patent number: 9661374
    Abstract: Various features are described for caching, tagging, and exchanging advertisements associated with network-accessible content. Advertisements may be retrieved and cached on mobile devices and other types of client devices prior to obtaining content containing references to advertisements. When content with an embedded reference to an advertisement is obtained, a previously retrieved advertisement can be loaded from the cache. Advertisements may also be tagged for later viewing. Users may revisit tagged advertisements at a future time, such as when wireless network connectivity is restored or when the user has more available time. Additional features facilitate bidding, by an advertisement server directly or indirectly associated with a client device, on advertising inventory associated with requested network content. In response to acceptance of the bid by a 3rd party advertising server, an advertisement from the associated advertisement server may be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: David Erdmann, Brett R. Taylor, Jonathan A. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9633356
    Abstract: A facility for selecting targeted advertising messages for presentation with sets of media sequences forming playlists is described. The facility stores search queries that are used by a user to locate pre-existing playlists, to generate new playlists, or to modify existing playlists. Prior to the use of a stored playlist, or contemporaneously with the use of a stored playlist, the facility uses the stored search queries to select one or more advertising messages to be presented with the media sequences in the playlist. The advertising messages that are presented may be updated each time the playlist is accessed in order to remove advertising messages from expired campaigns, to remove advertising messages that are not having a desired marketing effect, or to add new advertising messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: AOL Inc.
    Inventors: Karen N. Howe, Jennifer L. Kolar, Srinivasan Sudanagunta
  • Patent number: 9616334
    Abstract: A multi-platform gaming system for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants playing a game on a gaming platform is described. The multi-platform gaming system can include collectible toys depicting or representing one or more game characters or objects relevant to a game adapted to be played on the gaming platform. The collectible toys can have associated therewith an RFID tag including a corresponding unique tag identification number. The RFID tag can include an antenna, integrated circuitry for wirelessly transmitting and receiving information to and from an associated RFID tag reader, and non-volatile programmable memory for storing game-relevant information describing skills, abilities or attributes associated with one of said game characters or objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: MQ Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Denise Chapman Weston, Jonathan A. Barney
  • Patent number: 9162149
    Abstract: Methods are described for selling, loaning, renting, or otherwise providing a retail product, such as an interactive product, that allows a consumer to participate in one or more venues. The retail product is capable of interfacing with interactive devices in the venues that are capable of producing sensory effects based on communication from and/or to the retail product. Furthermore, the retail product preferably has an independent or intrinsic value apart from the use of the product in the venues, and may include, for example, a toy wand or like toy device, apparel, and/or jewelry. In certain examples, the retail methods include tracking the consumer's use of the retail product in the venue(s). Such tracking information may be used to customize the experience of the user during a subsequent visit to the same venue or another venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: MQ Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Denise Chapman Weston, Jonathan A. Barney
  • Patent number: 8938395
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting click fraud where data is received corresponding to a tracking of movement of a cursor on a web page. The movement of the cursor is associated with at least one vector. The at least one vector represents at least a portion of the cursor movement. A confidence level useable in the determination of click fraud is determined. The confidence level is responsive to analysis of the at least one vector representing at least a portion of the cursor movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Barry E. Willner, Edith H. Stern, Patrick J. O'Sullivan, Robert C. Weir, Sean Callanan
  • Patent number: 8935176
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting click fraud where data related to at least one vector associated with a path taken by movement of a cursor on a web page prior to an advertisement on the web page being clicked by a controller of the cursor is received. Click fraud is detected based on an analysis of the received data. A pattern in the at least one vector is analyzed to determine if the cursor movement is human-like and a click fraud detected if the cursor movement is not human-like. In another embodiment, the at least one vector associated with the path is stored and compared with previously stored vectors associated with the path and a click fraud detected if the stored at least one vector is analogous to at least one of the previously stored vectors associated with the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Barry E. Willner, Edith H. Stern, Patrick J. O'Sullivan, Robert C. Weir, Sean Callanan
  • Patent number: 8935175
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting click fraud where the movement of a cursor on a web page is tracked prior to an advertisement on the web page being clicked by a controller of the cursor. The tracking is performed by client code on a client device displaying the web page. A path taken by the movement of the cursor is mapped to at least one vector associated with the path by the client code. The at least one vector is useable to detect a click fraud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Barry E. Willner, Edith H. Stern, Patrick J. O'Sullivan, Robert C. Weir, Sean Callanan
  • Patent number: 8924256
    Abstract: In one embodiment, data from an electronic device is identified. The data may describe an electronic device (e.g. a hardware or software device) on which a document was created or modified, the subject matter of a document, the state of a document, or the like. Content relating to the electronic device is obtained based on the data. The content may be obtained in response to viewing, editing, printing, emailing or other accessing and/or processing of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Bryan Herf
  • Patent number: 8838470
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for managing display of data on a display. In some examples, the display includes a display area. In some examples, a method for managing display of data on the display includes receiving a first request from a first user, to display first data in the display area. In some examples, the method includes determining a first price for the first user, to display the first data in a first display sub-area in the display area and allocating in a memory the first data to the first display sub-area. In some examples, the method includes receiving a second request from a second user, to display second data in the display area. In some examples, the method includes determining a second price for the second user, to display the second data in a second display sub-area in the display area and allocating in the memory the second data to the second display sub-area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Ezekiel Kruglick
  • Patent number: 8838479
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for advertising that performs the steps of delivering an electronic advertisement comprising one or more menu options and a reference to a network location for retrieving specified content associated with each menu option for inclusion in a first electronic document, receiving a selection of one or more menu options from the electronic advertisement and delivering a subsequent accessible document including content from the referenced network location associated with the menu option selected, the subsequent accessible document including the electronic advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Ross Koningstein
  • Patent number: 8827810
    Abstract: Methods are described for selling, loaning, renting, or otherwise providing a retail product, such as an interactive product, that allows a consumer to participate in one or more venues. The retail product is capable of interfacing with interactive devices in the venues that are capable of producing sensory effects based on communication from and/or to the retail product. Furthermore, the retail product preferably has an independent or intrinsic value apart from the use of the product in the venues, and may include, for example, a toy wand or like toy device, apparel, and/or jewelry. In certain examples, the retail methods include tracking the consumer's use of the retail product in the venue(s). Such tracking information may be used to customize the experience of the user during a subsequent visit to the same venue or another venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: MQ Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Denise Chapman Weston, Jonathan A Barney
  • Patent number: 8788321
    Abstract: A method of evaluating advertising is disclosed based on analysis of user behavior in a market focused directory. Users actions are logged over a given time period. Implicit measures are derived from the log files and read into one or more databases. The implicit measures are aggregated across a plurality of user sessions and a report of the user behavior with respect to a single URL or a comparison between URLs is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Thomas Publishing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Lettow, Jr., John Gennaro
  • Patent number: 8751300
    Abstract: Detecting click fraud that includes a processing device that receives data related to a cursor movement towards an advertisement displayed on a web page. The processing device analyzes the cursor movement data and determines a confidence level useable in the determination of click fraud, the confidence level responsive to the analysis of the cursor movement. The received data includes data that the cursor on the web page has transited at least one pixel cluster on the web page prior to a clicking the advertisement. In one embodiment, a click fraud is detected when the click occurred without the cursor crossing a pixel cluster, and no click fraud occurring when the click occurred after the cursor crossed a pixel cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick O'Sullivan, Edith H. Stern, Robert C. Weir, Barry E. Willner
  • Patent number: 8719088
    Abstract: Detecting click fraud that includes a server that hosts a website that includes a web page containing an advertisement. The server provides an advertisement on a web page, provides pixel clusters on the web page with the advertisement, each pixel cluster having an associated mechanism for capturing whether a cursor on the web page has transited the associated pixel cluster, and collects information based on the capturing of each associated mechanism of information regarding the transit of the pixel cluster by a cursor. The collected information is useable in a determination of a confidence level pertinent to the determination of click fraud occurring on the advertisement on the web page. The server verifies the cursor on the web page has transited at least one pixel cluster on the web page prior to a controller of the cursor clicking the advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick O'Sullivan, Edith H. Stern, Robert C. Weir, Barry E. Willner
  • Patent number: 8712832
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for optimally allocating an online advertising budget for a search engine marketing (SEM) campaign among a fixed set of keywords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Pavel Berkhin, Usama M. Fayyad, Scott Gaffney, Bassel Ojjeh, Rajesh Girish Parekh, Andrew Tomkins
  • Patent number: 8702515
    Abstract: A multi-platform gaming system for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants playing a game on a gaming platform is described. The multi-platform gaming system can include collectible toys depicting or representing one or more game characters or objects relevant to a game adapted to be played on the gaming platform. The collectible toys can have associated therewith an RFID tag including a corresponding unique tag identification number. The RFID tag can include an antenna, integrated circuitry for wirelessly transmitting and receiving information to and from an associated RFID tag reader, and non-volatile programmable memory for storing game-relevant information describing skills, abilities or attributes associated with one of said game characters or objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: MQ Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Denise Chapman Weston, Jonathan A Barney
  • Patent number: 8694379
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates automatically generating an advertisement. An interface component can receive a portion of image data related to at least one of a good or a service associated with a transaction. An automatic posting component can automatically generate an advertisement with a portion of descriptive data related to at least one of the good or the service based at least in part upon the image data, wherein the created advertisement is published to an environment for exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Garry R. Wiseman, Kurt Weber, Leonard Smith, Jr.