Patents by Inventor Benjamin David Foster

Benjamin David Foster 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).

  • Publication number: 20120059708
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes constructing an intent map for a plurality of products, the intent map comprising intent topics and each intent topic comprising intents, and then deriving a plurality of keywords from the intent map based on keyword templates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: ADCHEMY, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Galas, Veeravich Thi Thumasathit, Murthy V. Nukala, Richard Edward Chatwin, Alessandro Magnani, Benjamin David Foster, Alan Coleman, Manish Khettry, Siva Chandrasekar, Nitin Gupta, Srinidhi Ramesh Kondaji
  • Patent number: 8055641
    Abstract: There is provided a method and system to communicate information. The system receives a first query that contains at least one constraint and retrieves a first plurality of data items from a database based on the first query. Next the system generating a first distribution based on the first plurality of data items, the first distribution utilizing a first plurality of domains used to identify data items. Next the system generates a second distribution based on a plurality of requests to view a second plurality of data items. Next the system generates a third distribution based on the first distribution and the second distribution. Finally the system generates interface information, to be communicated to a user, based on the third distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Seema Shah, Adam Nash, Raghav Gupta, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Srikanth Subramaniam, Suhail Ansari, Xavier Stonestreet, Vijay Raman, Jean-Michel Leon
  • Patent number: 8046321
    Abstract: A method and system to analyze rules is described. The system receives a query and applies a first plurality of rules to the query to identify a second plurality of rules that respectively identify at least one matching keyword in the query. Next, the system counts the first plurality of rules to identify a total quantity of rules applied to the query and further counts the second plurality of rules to identify a second quantity of rules that respectively identify at least one matching keyword in the query. Finally, the system determines a percentage of coverage for the query based on the total quantity of rules and the second quantity of rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Loftus, Venkat Sundaranatha, Louis Marcel Gino Monier, Jean-Michel Leon, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Seema Shah
  • Publication number: 20110119246
    Abstract: There is provided methods and systems to identify a preferred domain of a plurality of domains corresponding to a query. First, the system receives the query. Second, the system accesses demand information corresponding to the query, the demand information including navigation information associated with the query. Third, the system accesses supply information corresponding to the query, the supply information including a count of data items in each of the plurality of domains that match the query. Fourth, the system identifies the preferred domain based on the demand information and the supply information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Loftus, Venkat Sundaranatha, Louis Marcel Gino Monier, Jean-Michel Leon, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Seema Shah
  • Publication number: 20110106785
    Abstract: There is provided methods and systems to enable navigation of data items based on aspect-value pairs extracted from the data items. First, the system receives the query. Second, the system identifies the plurality of data items found by the query. Third, the system identifies an aspect of at least one of the plurality of data items. Fourth, the system identifies a value of a plurality of values corresponding to the aspect. Fifth, the system a request to navigate to a set of data items within the plurality of data items, the request comprising the aspect and a requested value of the plurality of values. Each one of the set of data items has the aspect and the value. Sixth, the system presents, in a user interface, information about each one of the set of data items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Loftus, Venkat Sundaranatha, Louis Marcel Gino Monler, Jean-Michel Leon, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Seema Shah
  • Publication number: 20110082872
    Abstract: There is provided methods and systems to transform unstructured information into structured information. First, the system accesses a rule specifying a condition for assigning data to the data item, the condition based on the content of the data item, the assigned data to provide structure to the data item. Second, based on a detecting that the condition has been met, the system applies the rule to assign the assigned data to the data item. Third, the system stores, in a database, the data item and the assigned data as the data item structured information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Loftus, Venkat Sundaranatha, Louis Marcel Gino Monier, Jean-Michel Leon, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Seema Shah
  • Publication number: 20110055040
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method to facilitate generating listing recommendations to a user of a network-based commerce system. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying a term associated with a user interaction in a network-based commerce system. The method further includes generating a recommendation query including the identified term. In addition, the method includes running the recommendation query against a plurality of listings hosted by the network-based commerce system to identify a recommendation. Moreover, the method includes presenting the recommendation to a user of the network-based commerce system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: EBAY INC.
    Inventors: BENJAMIN DAVID FOSTER, LEONARD ROBERT SPEISER, LORI KATHLEEN STEWART, ANDREW LEIGH SANDLER, CHARLES ZORAN KALKO, STERLING RYAN QUICK, ANNE CHANG RAIMONDI
  • Publication number: 20100325011
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method to facilitate generating listing recommendations to a user of a network-based commerce system. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying a term associated with a user interaction in a network-based commerce system. The method further includes generating a recommendation query including the identified term. In addition, the method includes running the recommendation query against a plurality of listings hosted by the network-based commerce system to identify a recommendation. Moreover, the method includes presenting the recommendation to a user of the network-based commerce system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin David Foster, Leonard Robert Speiser, Lori Kathleen Stewart, Andrew Leigh Sandler, Charles Zoran Kalko, Sterling Ryan Quick, Anne Chang Raimondi
  • Patent number: 7849047
    Abstract: Methods and systems to analyze domain rules based on domain coverage of the domain rules are provided. First, the system receives a first plurality of data items from a database utilized by an information storage and retrieval platform, respectively counting the first plurality of data items to determine a total quantity of data items. Next, the system applies a plurality of rules to the first plurality of data items to identify a second plurality of data items associated with a first domain based on the respective rule, respectively counting the first plurality of data items to determine a first quantity of data items. Next, the system determines a percentage of coverage for the first domain, the percentage of coverage based on the first quantity of data items and the total quantity of data items. Next, the system represents the percentage of coverage as a first interface element within an interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Loftus, Venkat Sundaranatha, Louis Marcel Gino Monier, Jean-Michel Leon, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Seema Shah
  • Patent number: 7831476
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method to facilitate generating listing recommendations to a user of a network-based commerce system. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying a term associated with a user interaction in a network-based commerce system. The method further includes generating a recommendation query including the identified term. In addition, the method includes running the recommendation query against a plurality of listings hosted by the network-based commerce system to identify a recommendation. Moreover, the method includes presenting the recommendation to a user of the network-based commerce system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin David Foster, Leonard Robert Speiser, Lori Kathleen Stewart, Andrew Leigh Sandler, Charles Zoran Kalko, Sterling Ryan Quick, Anne Chang Raimondi
  • Publication number: 20100250535
    Abstract: There are provided methods and systems to identify an item based on data associated with the item. Information is received that is descriptive of an item to be listed on an information storage and retrieval platform. The information is associated with an aspect-value pair, which is an aspect of the item and a value of the aspect. An expression of an interest of a user in the item is received. The expression is associated with the aspect-value pair. In response to the associating of the expression with the aspect-value pair, the item is identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Josh Loftus, Venkat Sundaranatha, Louis Marcel Gino Monier, Jean-Michel Leon, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Seema Shah
  • Publication number: 20100217741
    Abstract: A method and system to analyze rules is described. The system receives a query and applies a first plurality of rules to the query to identify a second plurality of rules that respectively identify at least one matching keyword in the query. Next, the system counts the first plurality of rules to identify a total quantity of rules applied to the query and further counts the second plurality of rules to identify a second quantity of rules that respectively identify at least one matching keyword in the query. Finally, the system determines a percentage of coverage for the query based on the total quantity of rules and the second quantity of rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Josh Loftus, Venkat Sundaranatha, Louis Marcel Gino Monier, Jean-Michel Leon, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Seema Shah
  • Patent number: 7739225
    Abstract: Methods and systems to analyze aspect rules based on domain coverage of aspect-value pairs are provided. The system receives a first plurality of data items from a database, applies a first plurality of rules to the first plurality of data items to generate a second plurality of data items associated with a first domain, counts the second plurality of data items to determine a total quantity of data items, applies a second plurality of rules to the second plurality of data items to identify a third plurality of data items it associates with a first aspect-value pair, counts the third plurality of data items to determine a first quantity of data items, determines a percentage of coverage for the first aspect-value pair based on the first quantity of data items and the total quantity of data items, and provides the percentage coverage for the first aspect-value pair as an interface element within an interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Loftus, Venkat Sundaranatha, Louis Marcel Gino Monier, Jean-Michel Leon, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Seema Shah
  • Patent number: 7739226
    Abstract: Methods and systems to analyze aspect rules based on domain coverage of the aspect rules are provided. The system receives a first plurality of data items from a database, applies a first plurality of rules to the first plurality of data items to generate a second plurality of data items associated with a first domain, counts the second plurality of data items to determine a total quantity of data items, applies a second plurality of rules to the second plurality of data items to identify a third plurality of data items associated with a first aspect counts the third plurality of data items to determine a first quantity of data items, determines a percentage of coverage for the first aspect based on the first quantity of data items and the total quantity of data items, and provides the percentage of coverage as an interface element within an interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Loftus, Venkat Sundaranatha, Louis Marcel Gino Monier, Jean-Michel Leon, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Seema Shah
  • Publication number: 20100145928
    Abstract: There is provided a method and system to communicate information. The system receives a first query that contains at least one constraint and retrieves a first plurality of data items from a database based on the first query. Next the system generating a first distribution based on the first plurality of data items, the first distribution utilizing a first plurality of domains used to identify data items. Next the system generates a second distribution based on a plurality of requests to view a second plurality of data items. Next the system generates a third distribution based on the first distribution and the second distribution. Finally the system generates interface information, to be communicated to a user, based on the third distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Seema Shah, Adam Nash, Raghav Gupta, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Srikanth Subramaniam, Suhail Ansari, Xavier Stonestreet, Vijay Raman, Jean-Michel Leon
  • Patent number: 7725417
    Abstract: There are provided methods and systems to analyze rules. The system may analyze the rules by applying the rules to a most popular query. The most popular query may be identified as such by containing a particular keyword. Specifically, a most popular query may contain a keyword that appears more often than other keyword in a sample of queries received over a period of time. Next, the system applies the rules to the most popular query to determine a percentage of coverage of the rules for the most popular query. For example, a particular rule may evaluate TRUE, if the rule identifies a keyword in the query. Next the system generates a percentage of coverage based on a count of the rules that evaluated TRUE and the total number of rules that were applied to the most popular query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Loftus, Venkat Sundaranatha, Louis Marcel Gino Monier, Jean-Michel Leon, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Seema Shah
  • Patent number: 7640234
    Abstract: There is provided a method and system to communicate information. The system receives a first query that contains at least one constraint and retrieves a first plurality of data items from a database based on the first query. Next the system generating a first distribution based on the first plurality of data items, the first distribution utilizing a first plurality of domains used to identify data items. Next the system generates a second distribution based on a plurality of requests to view a second plurality of data items. Next the system generates a third distribution based on the first distribution and the second distribution. Finally the system generates interface information, to be communicated to a user, based on the third distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Seema Shah, Adam Nash, Raghav Gupta, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Srikanth Subramaniam, Suhail Ansari, Xavier Stonestreet, Vijay Raman, Jean-Michel Leon
  • Publication number: 20070198498
    Abstract: There is provided methods and systems to determine aspect coverage. First, the system receives a first plurality of data items from a database utilized by an information storage and retrieval platform. Next, the system applies a first plurality of rules to the first plurality of data items to generate a second plurality of data items associated with a first domain. Next, the system counts the second plurality of data items to determine a total quantity of data items. Next, the system applies a second plurality of rules to the second plurality of data items to identify a third plurality of data items that contain information identified by the respective rule, the third plurality of data items associated with a first aspect based on the respective rule. Next, the system counts the third plurality of data items counted to determine a first quantity of data items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Josh Loftus, Venkat Sundaranatha, Louis Marcel Gino Monier, Jean-Michel Leon, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Seema Shah
  • Publication number: 20070198497
    Abstract: There is provided methods and systems to provide aspect-value coverage. First, the system receives a first plurality of data items from a database utilized by an information storage and retrieval platform. Next, the system applies a first plurality of rules to the first plurality of data items to generate a second plurality of data items associated with a first domain. Next, the system counts the second plurality of data items respectively to determine a total quantity of data items. Next, the system applies a second plurality of rules to the second plurality of data items to identify a third plurality of data items that contain matching information identified by the respective rule. Next, the system associates the third plurality of data items with a first aspect-value pair based on the respective rule. Next, the system counts the third plurality of data items respectively to determine a first quantity of data items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Josh Loftus, Venkat Sundaranatha, Louis Marcel Gino Monier, Jean-Michel Leon, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Seema Shah
  • Publication number: 20070198496
    Abstract: There is provided methods and systems to determine aspect coverage. First, the system receives a first plurality of data items from a database utilized by an information storage and retrieval platform. Next, the system counts the first plurality of data items respectively to determine a total quantity of data items. Next, the system applies a plurality of rules to the first plurality of data items to identify a second plurality of data items associated with a first domain based on the respective rule. Next, the system counts the first plurality of data items respectively to determine a first quantity of data items. Next, the system determines a percentage of coverage for the first domain, the percentage of coverage based on the first quantity of data items and the total quantity of data items. Next, the system represents the percentage coverage for the first domain provided as a first interface element within an interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Josh Loftus, Venkat Sundaranatha, Louis Marcel Gino Monier, Jean-Michel Leon, Aditya Arora, Benjamin David Foster, Seema Shah