Patents by Inventor Alexander Blair Ireland

Alexander Blair Ireland 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: 9866598
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and systems to assess an ability to playback media content. The system progresses through media content playback applications by communicating a query to a computer system over a computer network. The progressing is used to assess an ability of the computer system to playback media content locally. Next, the system, receives a response to the query. The response indicates an ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu
  • Patent number: 9571531
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method to provide rich media content over a computer network. The system determines a user's ability to playback said rich media content locally. Next, the system provides the user with a version of said rich media content appropriate for said user's ability to playback said rich media content locally. Next, the system loads said rich media content into a local cache of the user. Finally, the system displays said rich media content from the user's local cache after said rich media content has been completely loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu
  • Publication number: 20160142448
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and systems to assess an ability to playback media content. The system progresses through media content playback applications by communicating a query to a computer system over a computer network. The progressing is used to assess an ability of the computer system to playback media content locally. Next, the system, receives a response to the query. The response indicates an ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu
  • Patent number: 9319482
    Abstract: A method and system to identify an ability of a computer system to playback media content locally. The system progresses through media content playback applications by querying the computer system over a computer network. The system progresses through the applications to assess an ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally. Finally, the system provides the computer system with a version of the media content appropriate for the ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally. The version of the media content is a media file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu
  • Publication number: 20150358365
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method to provide rich media content over a computer network. The system determines a user's ability to playback said rich media content locally. Next, the system provides the user with a version of said rich media content appropriate for said user's ability to playback said rich media content locally. Next, the system loads said rich media content into a local cache of the user. Finally, the system displays said rich media content from the user's local cache after said rich media content has been completely loaded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu
  • Patent number: 9065879
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and systems for selecting media content based on technical environment information. A connection over a network between a server and a client is established. The e connection is associated with the technical environment information and the technical environment information is associated with an the ability of the client to playback media content locally. The method includes selecting, at the server, a version of media content appropriate for playback at the client locally based on the ability of the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu
  • Publication number: 20130227003
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and systems for selecting media content based on technical environment information. A connection over a network between a server and a client is established. The e connection is associated with the technical environment information and the technical environment information is associated with an the ability of the client to playback media content locally. The method includes selecting, at the server, a version of media content appropriate for playback at the client locally based on the ability of the client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu
  • Patent number: 8417820
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and systems for selecting media content based on technical environment information. A connection over a network between a server and a client is established. The e connection is associated with the technical environment information and the technical environment information is associated with an the ability of the client to playback media content locally. The method includes selecting, at the server, a version of media content appropriate for playback at the client locally based on the ability of the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu
  • Patent number: 8060625
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for methods and systems for providing media content over a network. The method includes sending a query from a server over the network to a client regarding an ability of the client to playback the media content locally. The sending is automatic and initiated by the server. The method is further includes receiving, at the server, a response from the client regarding the ability of the client to playback the media content locally. The receiving is responsive to the sending. A version of the media content is sent from the server to the client based on the ability of the client to playback the media content locally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu
  • Patent number: 7747708
    Abstract: A method and system to provide a media file appropriate for playback. The system identifies an ability of a computer system to playback media content locally by querying a computer system over a network to assess a local playback capability of the computer system. Next, the system creates the media file in response to the identification of the ability and based on the ability. Finally, the system provides the computer system with the media file based on the ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu
  • Publication number: 20080228925
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and systems for selecting media content based on technical environment information. A connection over a network between a server and a client is established. The e connection is associated with the technical environment information and the technical environment information is associated with an the ability of the client to playback media content locally. The method includes selecting, at the server, a version of media content appropriate for playback at the client locally based on the ability of the client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu
  • Patent number: 7421482
    Abstract: The invention presented here is a method and system for providing rich media content over a computer network. In accordance with the invention, a server on a physical or wireless computer network polls the software, hardware, or appliance of an end user on the network, for the availability of software and/or hardware necessary for the display of rich media content. This polling is transparent to the end user and requires no action on the part of the end user. Based on the client's response, the server sends an appropriately formatted version of the rich media file. The user is not necessarily aware that this transfer is taking place, as it is taking place in the background, while the user is performing other tasks or viewing content other than that which is being transferred. Once the rich media has been transferred in its entirety and stored, or cached, in the local memory of the client, the rich media content is displayed automatically in a designated display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: eBay, Inc.
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu
  • Publication number: 20080183584
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for methods and systems for providing media content over a network. The method includes sending a query from a server over the network to a client regarding an ability of the client to playback the media content locally. The sending is automatic and initiated by the server. The method is further includes receiving, at the server, a response from the client regarding the ability of the client to playback the media content locally. The receiving is responsive to the sending. A version of the media content is sent from the server to the client based on the ability of the client to playback the media content locally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu
  • Publication number: 20080177713
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for methods and systems for providing media content for display in a designated area. An ability of a client to playback media content locally is determined by querying the client over a network. The client includes the designated display area and a content display area. The determining is automatic and initiated by the server. The method includes providing over the network a version of the media content to the client for display in the designated display area. The version of the media content is appropriate for the ability of the client to playback media content locally. The providing is automatic and initiated by the server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu
  • Publication number: 20080120344
    Abstract: A method and system to identify an ability of a computer system to playback media content locally. The system progresses through media content playback applications by querying the computer system over a computer network. The system progresses through the applications to assess an ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally. Finally, the system provides the computer system with a version of the media content appropriate for the ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally. The version of the media content is a media file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu
  • Patent number: 6985934
    Abstract: The invention presented here is a method and system for providing rich media content over a computer network. In accordance with the invention, a server on a physical or wireless computer network polls the software, hardware, or appliance of an end user on the network, for the availability of software and/or hardware necessary for the display of rich media content. This polling is transparent to the end user and requires no action on the part of the end user. Based on the client's response, the server sends an appropriately formatted version of the rich media file. The user is not necessarily aware that this transfer is taking place, as it is taking place in the background, while the user is performing other tasks or viewing content other than that which is being transferred. Once the rich media has been transferred in its entirety and stored, or cached, in the local memory of the client, the rich media content is displayed automatically in a designated display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Binham Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Brooke Allysoun Armstrong, John Robert Behrens, Abie Hadjitarkhani, Alexander Blair Ireland, Stephen John Muller, Nancy Kiyoko Narimatsu