Patents by Inventor Brent R. Smith

Brent R. Smith 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: 20240108265
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods and systems for generating a void profile for user void events. The method includes receiving by a processing element a plurality of outputs from a fluid level sensor corresponding to a plurality of levels of fluid flowing through a voiding device during a flow event; determining by the processing element a beginning and an end time of the fluid flow into the voiding device during the flow event; analyzing the plurality of outputs of the fluid level sensor over a time interval defined by the beginning and end time of the fluid flow to determine at least one of a fluid flow rate data and an accumulated volume data for the fluid flowing through the voiding device; and storing the fluid flow rate data and the accumulated flow volume data in a memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Brent Laing, John Green, Paul R. Johnson, Robert John Smith, Robert Edwin Schneider, Magnus Hargis, Elise Geolat Edson, Elizabeth A. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 11925465
    Abstract: Uroflowmeters and methods for processing data generated therefrom are disclosed. In one aspect, the uroflowmeter is a handheld device. The uroflowmeter includes a handle, a flow chamber coupled to the handle, and a sensor associated with the flow chamber that detects a parameter of urine received in the flow chamber. The uroflowmeter may include both reusable and disposable components. As a uroflowmeter it can identify and record data corresponding to the rate of flow over the measured duration of a void of urine, but may also timestamp the voiding act and communicate the data to an external data collection center for additional analysis and incorporation into a comprehensive voiding report or voiding diary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: ClearTrac Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brent Laing, John Green, Paul R. Johnson, Robert John Smith, Robert Edwin Schneider, Magnus Hargis, Elise Geolat Edson, Elizabeth A. O'Brien, Joseph L. Kapushion
  • Patent number: 8504441
    Abstract: A service is disclosed for enabling web sites and other entities to provide item recommendations and other behavior-based content to end users. The service can be implemented as a web service that is remotely accessible over the Internet. Web sites use the web service's interface to report events descriptive of item-related actions performed by end users (e.g., item views, item purchases, searches for items, etc.). The web service analyzes the reported event data on an aggregated basis to detect various types of associations between particular items, and stores resulting datasets that map items to associated items. The web service's interface also provides various API calls for enabling the web sites to request item recommendations and other behavior-based content, including but not limited to personalized recommendations that are based on the event history of the target user. Advantageously, the web sites need not host the infrastructure for providing such content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis J. Kane, Jr., Brent R. Smith, Jocelyn M. Miller, ShenbagaKumaran Srinivasan, Matthew T. Tavis
  • Patent number: 8438052
    Abstract: Automated processes are disclosed for identifying bundles of three or more items to suggest to users. In one embodiment, item action data, such as item purchase data reflective of the item purchases of a user population, is used to detect pairwise (item to item) associations between particular items represented in an electronic catalog. These pairwise associations are then used (optionally in combination with other information) to select bundles of three or more items to recommend to users. The bundles may, for example, be suggested on item detail pages of the electronic catalog.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gaurav Chanda, Brent R Smith, Ronald M Whitman
  • Patent number: 8433621
    Abstract: Various processes are disclosed for discovering item relationships between particular items, such as products represented in an electronic catalog, based on monitored user behaviors (e.g., item viewing activities, item purchases, shopping cart activities, etc.). The discovered item relationships may, for example, be used to generate personalized item recommendations for users, and/or to supplement item detail pages of an electronic catalog with lists of related items. Also disclosed are processes for generating personalized item recommendations based on users' search activities and browse node visits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Linden, Brent R. Smith, Nida K. Zada
  • Patent number: 8407105
    Abstract: Various processes are disclosed for discovering item relationships between particular items, such as products represented in an electronic catalog, based on monitored user behaviors (e.g., item viewing activities, item purchases, shopping cart activities, etc.). The discovered item relationships may, for example, be used to generate personalized item recommendations for users, and/or to supplement item detail pages of an electronic catalog with lists of related items. Also disclosed are processes for generating personalized item recommendations based on users' search activities and browse node visits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Linden, Brent R. Smith, Nida K. Zada
  • Publication number: 20130013749
    Abstract: A service is disclosed for enabling web sites and other entities to provide item recommendations and other behavior-based content to end users. The service can be implemented as a web service that is remotely accessible over the Internet. Web sites use the web service's interface to report events descriptive of item-related actions performed by end users (e.g., item views, item purchases, searches for items, etc.). The web service analyzes the reported event data on an aggregated basis to detect various types of associations between particular items, and stores resulting datasets that map items to associated items. The web service's interface also provides various API calls for enabling the web sites to request item recommendations and other behavior-based content, including but not limited to personalized recommendations that are based on the event history of the target user. Advantageously, the web sites need not host the infrastructure for providing such content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Francis J. Kane, JR., Brent R. Smith, Jocelyn M. Miller, ShenbagaKumaran Srinivasan, Matthew T. Tavis
  • Publication number: 20120259729
    Abstract: Various processes are disclosed for discovering item relationships between particular items, such as products represented in an electronic catalog, based on monitored user behaviors (e.g., item viewing activities, item purchases, shopping cart activities, etc.). The discovered item relationships may, for example, be used to generate personalized item recommendations for users, and/or to supplement item detail pages of an electronic catalog with lists of related items. Also disclosed are processes for generating personalized item recommendations based on users' search activities and browse node visits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Gregory D. Linden, Brent R. Smith, Nida K. Zada
  • Patent number: 8275674
    Abstract: A service is disclosed for enabling web sites and other entities to provide item recommendations and other behavior-based content to end users. The service can be implemented as a web service that is remotely accessible over the Internet. Web sites use the web service's interface to report events descriptive of item-related actions performed by end users (e.g., item views, item purchases, searches for items, etc.). The web service analyzes the reported event data on an aggregated basis to detect various types of associations between particular items, and stores resulting datasets that map items to associated items. The web service's interface also provides various API calls for enabling the web sites to request item recommendations and other behavior-based content, including but not limited to personalized recommendations that are based on the event history of the target user. Advantageously, the web sites need not host the infrastructure for providing such content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis J. Kane, Jr., Brent R. Smith, Jocelyn M. Miller, ShenbagaKumaran Srinivasan, Matthew T. Tavis
  • Patent number: 8239287
    Abstract: A computer system for detecting associations between items may include a probabilistic analysis component that accesses user data having information about item selections by a plurality of users. The probabilistic analysis component may programmatically generate associations between certain items by determining a first number of users who selected the items and by estimating a probability that a second number of users would have selected the items due to random chance. The probabilistic analysis component may estimate this probability based at least partly on a number of item selections made by one or more of the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent R. Smith, Ronald Whitman, Gaurav Chanda
  • Patent number: 8234183
    Abstract: Data mining systems and methods are disclosed for generating data that is helpful to users in selecting between items represented in an electronic data repository, such as an electronic catalog. One disclosed data mining method generates pairwise comparison data for particular pairs of items. The pairwise comparison data for a given item pair reveals a tendency of users who consider both items in the pair to select one item over the other. The pairwise comparison data may be appropriately exposed to users of the electronic repository. For instance, an item detail page for item A may be supplemented with an indication that users who view both item A and item B select item B a specified percentage of the time. Another data mining method uses item viewing histories and item purchase histories of users in combination to identify pairs of items that are good candidates for being recommended in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120158552
    Abstract: Data mining systems and methods are disclosed for generating data that is helpful to users in selecting between items represented in an electronic data repository, such as an electronic catalog. One disclosed data mining method generates pairwise comparison data for particular pairs of items. The pairwise comparison data for a given item pair reveals a tendency of users who consider both items in the pair to select one item over the other. The pairwise comparison data may be appropriately exposed to users of the electronic repository. For instance, an item detail page for item A may be supplemented with an indication that users who view both item A and item B select item B a specified percentage of the time. Another data mining method uses item viewing histories and item purchase histories of users in combination to identify pairs of items that are good candidates for being recommended in combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Brent R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120078747
    Abstract: A recommendation system uses feedback from users on specific item recommendations to assess the quality of the recommendation rules used to generate such recommendations. The feedback may be explicit (e.g., a user rates a particular recommended item), implicit (e.g., a user purchases a recommended item), or both. The system may use these assessments to modify the degree to which particular recommendation rules are used to generate recommendations. For instance, if a particular recommendation rule leads to negative feedback relatively frequently, the system reduce or terminate its reliance on the rule. In some embodiments, the system may also increase its reliance on recommendation rules that tend to produce positive feedback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Kushal Chakrabarti, Brent R. Smith
  • Patent number: 8117085
    Abstract: Data mining systems and methods are disclosed for generating data that is helpful to users in selecting between items represented in an electronic data repository, such as an electronic catalog. One disclosed data mining method generates pairwise comparison data for particular pairs of items based on aggregated user activity data reflective of item consideration actions and item selection actions of users. Another data mining method uses item viewing histories and item purchase histories of users in combination to assess whether particular items are good candidates for being purchased or recommended in combination. Statistical data resulting from one or both of these data mining methods may be presented to users (e.g., on electronic catalog pages) to assist users in making informed item selection decisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent R. Smith
  • Patent number: 8090621
    Abstract: A recommendation system uses feedback from users on specific item recommendations to assess the quality of the recommendation rules used to generate such recommendations. The feedback may be explicit (e.g., a user rates a particular recommended item), implicit (e.g., a user purchases a recommended item), or both. The system may use these assessments to modify the degree to which particular recommendation rules are used to generate recommendations. For instance, if a particular recommendation rule leads to negative feedback relatively frequently, the system reduce or terminate its reliance on the rule. In some embodiments, the system may also increase its reliance on recommendation rules that tend to produce positive feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kushal Chakrabarti, Brent R. Smith
  • Patent number: 8073747
    Abstract: A service is disclosed for enabling web sites and other entities to provide item recommendations and other behavior-based content to end users. The service can be implemented as a web service that is remotely accessible over the Internet. Web sites use the web service's interface to report events descriptive of item-related actions performed by end users (e.g., item views, item purchases, searches for items, etc.). The web service analyzes the reported event data on an aggregated basis to detect various types of associations between particular items, and stores resulting datasets that map items to associated items. The web service's interface also provides various API calls for enabling the web sites to request item recommendations and other behavior-based content, including but not limited to personalized recommendations that are based on the event history of the target user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis J. Kane, Jr., Brent R. Smith, Jocelyn M. Miller, ShenbagaKumaran Srinivasan, Matthew T. Tavis
  • Publication number: 20110258085
    Abstract: A service is disclosed for enabling web sites and other entities to provide item recommendations and other behavior-based content to end users. The service can be implemented as a web service that is remotely accessible over the Internet. Web sites use the web service's interface to report events descriptive of item-related actions performed by end users (e.g., item views, item purchases, searches for items, etc.). The web service analyzes the reported event data on an aggregated basis to detect various types of associations between particular items, and stores resulting datasets that map items to associated items. The web service's interface also provides various API calls for enabling the web sites to request item recommendations and other behavior-based content, including but not limited to personalized recommendations that are based on the event history of the target user. Advantageously, the web sites need not host the infrastructure for providing such content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Francis J. Kane, JR., Brent R. Smith, Jocelyn M. Miller, ShenbagaKumaran Srinivasan, Matthew T. Tavis
  • Publication number: 20110238525
    Abstract: Various processes are disclosed for discovering item relationships between particular items, such as products represented in an electronic catalog, based on monitored user behaviors (e.g., item viewing activities, item purchases, shopping cart activities, etc.). The discovered item relationships may, for example, be used to generate personalized item recommendations for users, and/or to supplement item detail pages of an electronic catalog with lists of related items. Also disclosed are processes for generating personalized item recommendations based on users' search activities and browse node visits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory D. Linden, Brent R. Smith, Nida K. Zada
  • Patent number: 7974888
    Abstract: A service is disclosed for enabling web sites and other entities to provide item recommendations and other behavior-based content to end users. The service can be implemented as a web service that is remotely accessible over the Internet. Web sites use the web service's interface to report events descriptive of item-related actions performed by end users (e.g., item views, item purchases, searches for items, etc.). The web service analyzes the reported event data on an aggregated basis to detect various types of associations between particular items, and stores resulting datasets that map items to associated items. The web service's interface also provides various API calls for enabling the web sites to request item recommendations and other behavior-based content, including but not limited to personalized recommendations that are based on the event history of the target user. Advantageously, the web sites need not host the infrastructure for providing such content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis J. Kane, Jr., Brent R. Smith, Jocelyn M. Miller, ShenbagaKumaran Srinivasan, Matthew T. Tavis
  • Patent number: 7970664
    Abstract: Various methods are disclosed for monitoring user browsing activities, and for using such information to provide item recommendations to users. In one embodiment, a monitoring component of a merchant's Web site maintains a record of products viewed by each user during a current browsing session—preferably based on visits to product detail pages. A recommendations component uses the resulting history of viewed products to identify additional products to recommend, preferably using a pre-existing table that maps products to related products. In one embodiment, this table is generated by periodically analyzing user browsing histories to identify correlations between purchases, viewing events, and/or other actions performed with respect to particular products. The recommended items may be displayed together with an option to individually deselect the recently viewed items on which the recommendations are based.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Amazon.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Linden, Brent R. Smith, Nida K. Zada