Patents by Inventor Christopher D. Payne

Christopher D. Payne 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: 9135657
    Abstract: A method embodiment includes receiving data indicative of a person accessing at least one of a first network-available electronic content or a second network-available electronic content. Also, receiving data indicative of an involvement with respect to possible matters of interest between the person and a third-party. The involvement being independent of the person activating a link to a site owned by the third-party that is included in the first network-available electronic content or in the second network available electronic content. Further, assessing a behavioral influence by the first network-available electronic content and/or the second network-available electronic content on the indicated involvement with respect to the possible matters of interest between the person and a third-party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, III, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150025953
    Abstract: A method embodiment includes receiving data indicative of a person accessing at least one of a first network-available electronic content or a second network-available electronic content, perhaps in a Web 2.0 environment. Also, receiving data indicative of an involvement between the person and a third party. The involvement being independent of the person activating a link to a site owned by the third party that is included in the first network-available electronic content or in the second network available electronic content. Further, assessing a behavioral influence by the first network-available electronic content and/or the second network-available electronic content on the indicated involvement with respect to the possible matters of interest between the person and a third party. Also, facilitating delivery of a benefit to an owner of the first network-available electronic content and/or an owner of the second network-available electronic content in response to the assessed behavioral influence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, III, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Patent number: 8831973
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems for rewarding influencers in a Web 2.0 environment. More specifically, in some implementations, a system is configured to assess an influence of an electronically-accessed content on an involvement between an accessor and a third party, and may also be configured to facilitate a reward to one or more influencers based on one or more assessed influences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, III, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8793155
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system, a device, an apparatus, a method, and a computer program product. A method of reporting influence on a person includes collecting data indicative of the person accessing electronic content over a computer network using the user computing device. The method also includes generating a user influence report by transforming the collected data into information indicative of events associatable with the person accessing the electronic content over a computer network using the user computing device. The method further includes transmitting data indicative of the user influence report via a network, the user influence report being receivable by a site operable to facilitate delivery of a benefit to an owner of the electronic content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, III, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8712837
    Abstract: A method embodiment includes receiving data indicative of a person accessing at least one of a first network-available electronic content or a second network-available electronic content. Also, receiving data indicative of an involvement with respect to possible matters of interest between the person and a third-party. The involvement being independent of the person activating a link to a site owned by the third-party that is included in the first network-available electronic content or in the second network available electronic content. Further, assessing a behavioral influence by the first network-available electronic content and/or the second network-available electronic content on the indicated involvement with respect to the possible matters of interest between the person and a third-party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, III, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8341017
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer-accessible medium are provided for optimizing search result listings in a search engine user interface. The system and method provide an automated way of promoting and demoting the placement of a search result listing between more or less desirable locations, based on the listing's performance in a given placement. Promoting and demoting placements is based on a threshold performance for the listing against which the actual performance of a listing is measured. The threshold performance may be advantageously varied to accommodate different revenue and relevance goals for a particular search engine or portion of the search engine's market.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Payne, Eric B. Watson, Sally K. Salas, Sreeram Krishnan
  • Patent number: 8290973
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to determining influencers in a Web 2.0 environment. More specifically, in some implementations, an influence of an electronically-accessed content on an involvement between an accessor and a third party is determined. In further implementations, a provider of the electronically accessed content is rewarded based on the assessed influence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, III, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100318374
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to determining influencers in a Web 2.0 environment. More specifically, in some implementations, an influence of an electronically-accessed content on an involvement between an accessor and a third party is determined. In further implementations, a provider of the electronically accessed content is rewarded based on the assessed influence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, III, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Patent number: 7822762
    Abstract: A system that employs an explicitly and/or implicitly trained model in order to return entity-specific computer-based search results is provided. The innovation can provide for a customized search model that focuses search in connection with achieving information that is meaningful with respect to goals of an entity. The model can be used to modify a search query in accordance with a goal of the entity or to generate the search query thereby returning meaningful and/or targeted results to the user. The system can automatically gather entity-related data thereafter determining or inferring a goal as well as training the model. Moreover, the system can selectively configure (e.g., order, rank, filter) and render results to a user based upon the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Payne, Eric J. Horvitz, Alexander G. Gounares, Susan T. Dumais, Kyle G. Peltonen, Gary W. Flake, Xuedong D. Huang, William H. Gates, III, John C. Platt, Oliver Hurst-Hiller, Joshua T. Goodman, Christopher A. Meek, Ramez Naam, Raymond E Ozzie, Eric D. Brill
  • Publication number: 20090248493
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems for rewarding influencers in a Web 2.0 environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, III, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090177527
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to rewarding influencers in a Web 2.0 environment. More specifically, in some implementations, an influence of an electronically-accessed content on an involvement between an accessor and a third party is assessed. In further implementations, a provider of the electronically accessed content is rewarded based on the assessed influence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, III, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090030772
    Abstract: A method embodiment includes receiving data indicative of a person accessing at least one of a first network-available electronic content or a second network-available electronic content. Also, receiving data indicative of an involvement with respect to possible matters of interest between the person and a third-party. The involvement being independent of the person activating a link to a site owned by the third-party that is included in the first network-available electronic content or in the second network available electronic content. Further, assessing a behavioral influence by the first network-available electronic content and/or the second network-available electronic content on the indicated involvement with respect to the possible matters of interest between the person and a third-party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, III, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20080270234
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system, a device an apparatus, a method, and a computer program product. An embodiment provides an influence evaluation method. The method includes receiving data indicative of a person accessing at least one of a first network-available electronic content having a first-electronic-content portion or a second network-available electronic content having a second-electronic-content portion. The method also includes receiving data indicative of an involvement between the person and a third party. The method further includes facilitating delivered of a benefit to an owner of the first-electronic content or an owner of the second electronic content in response to an assessed influence bad the first-electronic-content portion and/or the second-electronic-content portion on the involvement between the person and the third-party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Robert W. Lord
  • Publication number: 20080270416
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system, a device, an apparatus, a method, and a computer program product. An embodiment provides an influencer discovery method includes receiving at least one of content site data, computing device data, search engine site data, or beneficiary site data. The method also includes determining a correlation between the communication between the content site and the computing device responsive to a human user input; and the communication between the computing device responsive to a human user input and the beneficiary site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood
  • Publication number: 20080270426
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system, a device, an apparatus, a method, and a computer program product. A method of reporting influence on a person includes collecting data indicative of the person accessing electronic content over a computer network using the user computing device. The method also includes generating a user influence report by transforming the collected data into information indicative of events associatable with the person accessing the electronic content over a computer network using the user computing device. The method further includes transmitting data indicative of the user influence report via a network, the user influence report being receivable by a site operable to facilitate delivery of a benefit to an owner of the electronic content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood
  • Publication number: 20080270474
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system, a device, an apparatus, a method, and a computer program product. A method of reporting influence on a person includes collecting data indicative of the person accessing electronic content over a computer network using the user computing device. The method also includes generating a user influence report by transforming the collected data into information indicative of events associatable with the person accessing the electronic content over a computer network using the user computing device. The method further includes transmitting data indicative of the user influence report via a network, the user influence report being receivable by a site operable to facilitate delivery of a benefit to an owner of the electronic content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood
  • Publication number: 20080270476
    Abstract: A method embodiment includes receiving data indicative of a person accessing at least one of a first network-available electronic content or a second network-available electronic content. Also, receiving data indicative of an involvement with respect to possible matters of interest between the person and a third-party. The involvement being independent of the person activating a link to a site owned by the third-party that is included in the first network-available electronic content or in the second network available electronic content. Further, assessing a behavioral influence by the first network-available electronic content and/or the second network-available electronic content on the indicated involvement with respect to the possible matters of interest between the person and a third-party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood,
  • Publication number: 20080270473
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system, a device, an apparatus, a method, and a computer program product. A user-side influence reporting method includes collecting data indicative of a computing device environment of a user-side computing device facilitating a person accessing Web pages and facilitating the person communicating with a third-party via a computer network. The method also includes transforming the collected data to indicate an involvement between the third-party and the person. The method further includes transforming the collected data to indicate the Web pages accessed by the person. The method also includes correlating the indicated involvement between the third-party and the person with the indicated Web pages accessed by the person. The method further includes outputting from the user-side computing device data indicative of the correlation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood
  • Publication number: 20080270551
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system, a device, an apparatus, a method, and a computer program product. An embodiment provides an influence evaluation method. The method includes receiving data indicative of a person accessing at least one of a first network-available electronic content having a first-electronic-content portion or a second network-available electronic content having a second-electronic-content portion. The method also includes receiving data indicative of an involvement between the person and a third party. The method further includes facilitating delivery of a benefit to an owner of the first-electronic content or an owner of the second electronic content in response to an assessed influence by the first-electronic-content portion and/or the second-electronic-content portion on the involvement between the person and the third-party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood
  • Publication number: 20080270620
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system, a device, an apparatus, a method, and a computer program product. A method includes assessing a behavioral influence with respect to possible matters of interest to other parties including a third-party by network-available content on a person accessing the network-available content. The method also includes generating a user influence report responsive to the assessed behavioral influence. At least one characteristic of the user influence report includes differentiating between (i) a behavioral influence on the person resulting from the person activating a link included in the network-available content to another network-available content owned by the third-party, and (ii) another behavioral influence on the person. The method further includes transmitting information derived from the user influence report.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, William H. Gates, Alexander G. Gounares, W. Daniel Hillis, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Craig J. Mundie, Christopher D. Payne, Richard F. Rashid, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood