Patents by Inventor Alan Sunners

Alan Sunners has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8700024
    Abstract: A method for enhanced commercial activities to a mobile device user includes providing a user with an application for use on a mobile wireless device and receiving an incoming communication from the wireless device via the application at an enhanced services platform of a directory assistance center. Stored account information, associated with the user is retrieved and a coded information is received from the wireless device, where the coded information is generated by the application based on input uploaded onto the wireless device by the user obtained from any one of the group selected from a product advertisement, a product price tag and digital image of a product. The coded information is parsed at the enhanced services platform, options are retrieved related to a product corresponding to the coded information and the user is provided with options relating to the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Faith McGary, Michael Bates, Alan Sunners
  • Publication number: 20130198178
    Abstract: A method for providing search results in response to a web based query includes receiving incoming communications each configured to generate a user profile, along with input from the users to set preferences. Tracked web activity history from the plurality of users are stored in the profiles. The tracked histories are analyzed in combination with their preferences and at least one group profile for users having similar preferences is generated. When additional web based queries are received, search results are provided where the results are affected by the tracked web activity history from the users with similar stored preferences in the group profile to the user making the additional web based query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Faith McGary, Michael Bates, Alan Sunners
  • Patent number: 8325904
    Abstract: A method for providing directory assistance, including receiving at least one request from a requester for an un-listed contact information, where the un-listed contact information is stored in one of a plurality of carrier databases. A request is generated to a third party for the un-listed contact information, where the third party is in contact with the carriers, one of which has the un-listed contact information. A notification is received from the third party indicating that the un-listed contact information has been retrieved by said third party and a message is sent to the un-listed contact information, through the third party, indicating that the requester is trying to contact them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bates, Alan Sunners, Faith McGary, Christine Baumeister, Harold Robinson, Xavier Riley
  • Patent number: 7606358
    Abstract: A personalized assistance system for a user of a mobile device including a first database having a digital file library associated with the user, where the digital file library includes at least one digital file supplied to the first database by the user. An identification code uniquely associated with the mobile device is transmitted to the personalized assistance system, when the user calls the system. A customer service representative terminal is coupled to the database, where the identification code prompts automatic retrieval of at least a portion of the digital file library to the customer service representative terminal in response to processing of the identification code, the customer service representative terminal searching the digital file library in response to a user query to locate a designated digital file from the user's digital file library and causing the delivery of the digital file to a desired destination indicated by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Inventors: Faith McGary, Harold Robinson, Alan Sunners, Michael Bates
  • Publication number: 20090080636
    Abstract: A method for providing directory assistance, including receiving at least one request from a requester for an un-listed contact information, where the un-listed contact information is stored in one of a plurality of carrier databases. A request is generated to a third party for the un-listed contact information, where the third party is in contact with the carriers, one of which has the un-listed contact information. A notification is received from the third party indicating that the un-listed contact information has been retrieved by said third party and a message is sent to the un-listed contact information, through the third party, indicating that the requester is trying to contact them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Bates, Alan Sunners, Faith McGary, Christine Baumeister, Harold Robinson, Xavier Riley
  • Publication number: 20090077033
    Abstract: A method for providing search results in response to a web based query includes receiving incoming communications each configured to generate a user profile, along with input from the users to set preferences. Tracked web activity history from the plurality of users are stored in the profiles. The tracked histories are analyzed in combination with their preferences and at least one group profile for users having similar preferences is generated. When additional web based queries are received, search results are provided where the results are affected by the tracked web activity history from the users with similar stored preferences in the group profile to the user making the additional web based query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Faith McGary, Michael Bates, Alan Sunners
  • Publication number: 20090010417
    Abstract: A personalized assistance system for a user of a mobile device including a first database having a digital file library associated with the user, where the digital file library includes at least one digital file supplied to the first database by the user. An identification code uniquely associated with the mobile device is transmitted to the personalized assistance system, when the user calls the system. A customer service representative terminal is coupled to the database, where the identification code prompts automatic retrieval of at least a portion of the digital file library to the customer service representative terminal in response to processing of the identification code, the customer service representative terminal searching the digital file library in response to a user query to locate a designated digital file from the user's digital file library and causing the delivery of the digital file to a desired destination indicated by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Faith McGary, Harold Robinson, Alan Sunners, Michael Bates
  • Publication number: 20080215442
    Abstract: A method for enhanced commercial activities to a mobile device user includes providing a user with an application for use on a mobile wireless device and receiving an incoming communication from the wireless device via the application at an enhanced services platform of a directory assistance center. Stored account information, associated with the user is retrieved and a coded information is received from the wireless device, where the coded information is generated by the application based on input uploaded onto the wireless device by the user obtained from any one of the group selected from a product advertisement, a product price tag and digital image of a product. The coded information is parsed at the enhanced services platform, options are retrieved related to a product corresponding to the coded information and the user is provided with options relating to the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Faith McGary, Michael Bates, Alan Sunners