Patents by Inventor Byron J. Wier

Byron J. Wier 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: 11943151
    Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate access to computing resources by cloud-based applications are described. Embodiments enable cloud-based applications to provide output to and/or obtain input from computing resources, such as printers, scales, scanners, and storage devices, for performing various functions. In operation according to embodiments, a user agent client application is executed by computing equipment in communication with a computing resource to which access is to be provided to one or more cloud-based applications. Although embodiments implement a user interface client application which is separate from a user agent client application, tight integration between a user interface client application and user agent client application may be provided. Embodiments not only facilitate operation whereby a cloud-based application is enabled to provide output to and/or obtain input from computing resources, but also facilitate remote and/or shared client interaction with such computing resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Auctane, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias J. Stafford, Byron J. Wier, Paul D. Henry
  • Publication number: 20240095660
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing various shipping related functionality are presented. The methods can automatically predict shipping attributes based on historical shipping data, and automatically purchase postage for a current shipment from a shared postage account while preventing the postage account shared among multiple users from having insufficient funds. Furthermore, predictions of shipping attributes for shipments may not be presented to a user, until the certainty of the predictions reaches or surpasses a confidence level or a threshold, where the confidence level or the threshold can be determined and changed by a user. Even when the certainty of the predictions reaches or surpasses a confidence level, and the predictions are presented to the user, the user can accept, reject, or change the predicted attributes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Byron J. Wier, Jason Hodges, Paul D. Henry
  • Patent number: 11887040
    Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate automated querying of shipping services status information using a rules based engine are disclosed. A shipping status query engine of embodiments implements various rules for intelligently querying one or more shipping service provider systems for information regarding the status of shipped items. Using the intelligent determinations of a rules base shipping status query engine, embodiments enable large scale, automated status queries for a very large number of shipped items. Having such automated access to updated status information for the shipped items, additional functionality may also be supported, such as to provide alerts, reminders, notifications, etc., upon detecting certain events and/or failure to detect certain events. Moreover, embodiments may be adapted to utilize the updated status information to initiate actions with respect to particular shipments based upon detected events and/or failure to detect certain events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Auctane, LLC
    Inventors: Paul D. Henry, Byron J. Wier, John Roland Clem
  • Patent number: 11790314
    Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate return shipment of items, such as to provide for the return of goods from a purchaser to a merchant, are shown. Embodiments provide shipping management functionality for managing return requests, processing of return requests, authorizing returns, tracking of the processing of a return request, and/or tracking of return shipments. A shipping management system of embodiments operates to make shipping functionality and/or information utilized with respect to return shipments, which may not otherwise be readily available to the return shipper, conveniently accessible for use by the return shipper. Embodiments provide for some or all return shipping fees to be borne by the merchant rather than the return shipper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Auctane, LLC
    Inventors: Byron J. Wier, John Roland Clem
  • Patent number: 11593752
    Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate return shipment of items, such as to provide for the return of goods from a purchaser to a merchant, are shown. Embodiments provide shipping management functionality for managing return requests, processing of return requests, authorizing returns, tracking of the processing of a return request, and/or tracking of return shipments. A shipping management system of embodiments operates to make shipping functionality and/or information utilized with respect to return shipments, which may not otherwise be readily available to the return shipper, conveniently accessible for use by the return shipper. Embodiments provide for some or all return shipping fees to be borne by the merchant rather than the return shipper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Auctane, LLC
    Inventors: Byron J. Wier, John Roland Clem
  • Patent number: 11574280
    Abstract: Systems and methods which provide shipping management system shipping documentation generation operation which spawns intelligent generation subprocesses are described. The intelligent generation subprocesses of embodiments facilitate autonomous shipping documentation generation functionality of a concatenated shipping documentation generation process. A user may initiate a shipping documentation generation process, whereby an intelligent generation subprocess is spawned, and thereafter the user may be freed to perform one or more independent operation and/or interaction with the shipping management system. One or more verifications, checks, warnings, and/or the like are suspended and one or more parameter, input, selection, and/or the like are defaulted for operation of an intelligent generation subprocess of embodiments. Embodiments implement a documentation queue to provide historical information with respect to intelligent generation subprocess operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Auctane, LLC
    Inventor: Byron J. Wier
  • Patent number: 11563694
    Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate access to computing resources by cloud-based applications are described. Embodiments enable cloud-based applications to provide output to and/or obtain input from computing resources, such as printers, scales, scanners, and storage devices, for performing various functions. In operation according to embodiments, a user agent client application is executed by computing equipment in communication with a computing resource to which access is to be provided to one or more cloud-based applications. Although embodiments implement a user interface client application which is separate from a user agent client application, tight integration between a user interface client application and user agent client application may be provided. Embodiments not only facilitate operation whereby a cloud-based application is enabled to provide output to and/or obtain input from computing resources, but also facilitate remote and/or shared client interaction with such computing resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Auctane, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias J. Stafford, Byron J. Wier, Paul D. Henry
  • Patent number: 11157331
    Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate management of functionality provided with respect to data objects in a multiuser environment are described. Embodiments are adapted to provide concurrency with respect to the data of the data objects in the multiuser environments, such as through the use of channel grouping techniques for providing various data communications. Additionally or alternatively, embodiments are adapted to implement data object assignments for facilitating management functionality available with respect to the multiuser environment, such as through the use of data object assignment containers created for storage of instances of assigned data objects. Through pre-creation of data object assignments to assignees, multiple users of a multiuser environment are enabled to utilize the functionality provided with respect to data objects without duplication of tasks and/or undesired conflicts between the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Auctane, LLC
    Inventor: Byron J. Wier
  • Publication number: 20210272060
    Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate return shipment of items, such as to provide for the return of goods from a purchaser to a merchant, are shown. Embodiments provide shipping management functionality for managing return requests, processing of return requests, authorizing returns, tracking of the processing of a return request, and/or tracking of return shipments. A shipping management system of embodiments operates to make shipping functionality and/or information utilized with respect to return shipments, which may not otherwise be readily available to the return shipper, conveniently accessible for use by the return shipper. Embodiments provide for some or all return shipping fees to be borne by the merchant rather than the return shipper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Byron J. Wier, John Roland Clem
  • Patent number: 11107029
    Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate automated querying of shipping services status information using a rules based engine are disclosed. A shipping status query engine of embodiments implements various rules for intelligently querying one or more shipping service provider systems for information regarding the status of shipped items. Using the intelligent determinations of a rules base shipping status query engine, embodiments enable large scale, automated status queries for a very large number of shipped items. Having such automated access to updated status information for the shipped items, additional functionality may also be supported, such as to provide alerts, reminders, notifications, etc., upon detecting certain events and/or failure to detect certain events. Moreover, embodiments may be adapted to utilize the updated status information to initiate actions with respect to particular shipments based upon detected events and/or failure to detect certain events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Auctane, LLC
    Inventors: Paul D. Henry, Byron J. Wier, John Roland Clem
  • Patent number: 11095572
    Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate access to computing resources by cloud-based applications are described. Embodiments enable cloud-based applications to provide output to and/or obtain input from computing resources, such as printers, scales, scanners, and storage devices, for performing various functions. In operation according to embodiments, a user agent client application is executed by computing equipment in communication with a computing resource to which access is to be provided to one or more cloud-based applications. Although embodiments implement a user interface client application which is separate from a user agent client application, tight integration between a user interface client application and user agent client application may be provided. Embodiments not only facilitate operation whereby a cloud-based application is enabled to provide output to and/or obtain input from computing resources, but also facilitate remote and/or shared client interaction with such computing resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Auctane, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias J. Stafford, Byron J. Wier, Paul D. Henry
  • Patent number: 11010706
    Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate return shipment of items, such as to provide for the return of goods from a purchaser to a merchant, are shown. Embodiments provide shipping management functionality for managing return requests, processing of return requests, authorizing returns, tracking of the processing of a return request, and/or tracking of return shipments. A shipping management system of embodiments operates to make shipping functionality and/or information utilized with respect to return shipments, which may not otherwise be readily available to the return shipper, conveniently accessible for use by the return shipper. Embodiments provide for some or all return shipping fees to be borne by the merchant rather than the return shipper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Auctane, LLC
    Inventors: Byron J. Wier, John Roland Clem
  • Patent number: 10579955
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing various shipping related functionality are presented. The methods can automatically predict shipping attributes based on historical shipping data, and automatically purchase postage for a current shipment from a shared postage account while preventing the postage account shared among multiple users from having insufficient funds. Furthermore, predictions of shipping attributes for shipments may not be presented to a user, until the certainty of the predictions reaches or surpasses a confidence level or a threshold, where the confidence level or the threshold can be determined and changed by a user. Even when the certainty of the predictions reaches or surpasses a confidence level, and the predictions are presented to the user, the user can accept, reject, or change the predicted attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Auctane, LLC
    Inventors: Byron J. Wier, Jason Hodges, Paul D. Henry
  • Patent number: 10574587
    Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate access to computing resources by cloud-based applications are described. Embodiments enable cloud-based applications to provide output to and/or obtain input from computing resources, such as printers, scales, scanners, and storage devices, for performing various functions. In operation according to embodiments, a user agent client application is executed by computing equipment in communication with a computing resource to which access is to be provided to one or more cloud-based applications. Although embodiments implement a user interface client application which is separate from a user agent client application, tight integration between a user interface client application and user agent client application may be provided. Embodiments not only facilitate operation whereby a cloud-based application is enabled to provide output to and/or obtain input from computing resources, but also facilitate remote and/or shared client interaction with such computing resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Auctane, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias J. Stafford, Byron J. Wier, Paul D. Henry
  • Patent number: 10521754
    Abstract: Systems and methods which provide shipping management system shipping documentation generation operation which spawns intelligent generation subprocesses are described. The intelligent generation subprocesses of embodiments facilitate autonomous shipping documentation generation functionality of a concatenated shipping documentation generation process. A user may initiate a shipping documentation generation process, whereby an intelligent generation subprocess is spawned, and thereafter the user may be freed to perform one or more independent operation and/or interaction with the shipping management system. One or more verifications, checks, warnings, and/or the like are suspended and one or more parameter, input, selection, and/or the like are defaulted for operation of an intelligent generation subprocess of embodiments. Embodiments implement a documentation queue to provide historical information with respect to intelligent generation subprocess operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Auctane, LLC
    Inventor: Byron J. Wier
  • Patent number: 10129172
    Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate access to computing resources by cloud-based applications are described. Embodiments enable cloud-based applications to provide output to and/or obtain input from computing resources, such as printers, scales, scanners, and storage devices, for performing various functions. In operation according to embodiments, a user agent client application is executed by computing equipment in communication with a computing resource to which access is to be provided to one or more cloud-based applications. Although embodiments implement a user interface client application which is separate from a user agent client application, tight integration between a user interface client application and user agent client application may be provided. Embodiments not only facilitate operation whereby a cloud-based application is enabled to provide output to and/or obtain input from computing resources, but also facilitate remote and/or shared client interaction with such computing resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Auctane, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias J. Stafford, Byron J. Wier, Paul D. Henry
  • Publication number: 20170262801
    Abstract: Systems and methods which provide shipping management system shipping documentation generation operation which spawns intelligent generation subprocesses are described. The intelligent generation subprocesses of embodiments facilitate autonomous shipping documentation generation functionality of a concatenated shipping documentation generation process. A user may initiate a shipping documentation generation process, whereby an intelligent generation subprocess is spawned, and thereafter the user may be freed to perform one or more independent operation and/or interaction with the shipping management system. One or more verifications, checks, warnings, and/or the like are suspended and one or more parameter, input, selection, and/or the like are defaulted for operation of an intelligent generation subprocess of embodiments. Embodiments implement a documentation queue to provide historical information with respect to intelligent generation subprocess operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventor: Byron J. Wier