Patents by Inventor Christopher Dixon

Christopher Dixon 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: 20160205510
    Abstract: Systems and methods including a database storing the identifiers of cells representing residential parcels of real estate properties. Mobile devices determine the coordinates of their locations during a period of time using a location determination system, such as a global positioning system. The coordinates are converted to cell identifiers to look up corresponding residential parcels that have been visited by the mobile devices. A server generates a visitation data set for each residential parcel visited by each mobile device, including different types of frequencies of the mobile device visiting the residential parcel (e.g., night, weekend). A server filters the residential parcels based on visitation frequencies to identify home candidates and then further filters the home candidates based on the count of mobile devices having the home candidates. A home parcel, and thus its address, is identified from the filtered home candidate(s) for each mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Elena Rose, Mark Christopher Dixon, Kevin Toshio Ching, Veronica Milenkiy
  • Patent number: 9374671
    Abstract: Systems and methods including mobile devices determining their location using a location determination system, such as a global positioning system. A database stores the identifiers of cells representative of predefined regions in a hierarchical grid system. The location coordinates as function of time are converted to visitation patterns of the mobile devices to the predefined regions, based on converting the coordinates to cell identifiers and searching the database to find matches between the cell identifiers representing the regions and the cell identifiers representing the mobile device locations. For example, mobile devices having similar visitation patterns can be identified and divided into two groups; and information relevant to a region is transmitted to one of the group but not another. The visitation patterns of the two group after the transmission is identified and compared to measure a difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: NinthDecimal, Inc.
    Inventors: Yury Zhyshko, Veronica Milenkiy, Elena Rose, Mark Christopher Dixon, Kevin Toshio Ching, Keith Kilpatrick
  • Patent number: 9355361
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computers, helps determine an unknown user's preferences through the use of internet based social interactive graphical representations on a computer facility by performing the steps of (1) ascertaining preferences of a plurality of users who are part of an internet based social interactive construct, wherein the plurality of users become a plurality of known users; (2) determining the internet based social interactive graphical representation for the plurality of known users; and (3) inferring the preferences of an unknown user present in the internet based social interactive graphical representation of the plurality of known users based on the interrelationships between the unknown user and the plurality of known users within the graphical representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Pinckney, Christopher Dixon, Matthew Ryan Gattis
  • Patent number: 9349099
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computers, helps determine an unknown user's preferences through the use of internet based social interactive graphical representations on a computer facility by performing the steps of (1) ascertaining preferences of a plurality of users who are part of an internet based social interactive construct, wherein the plurality of users become a plurality of known users; (2) determining the internet based social interactive graphical representation for the plurality of known users; and (3) inferring the preferences of an unknown user present in the internet based social interactive graphical representation of the plurality of known users based on the interrelationships between the unknown user and the plurality of known users within the graphical representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Pinckney, Christopher Dixon, Matthew Ryan Gattis
  • Patent number: 9291700
    Abstract: Systems and methods including a database storing the identifiers of cells representing residential parcels of real estate properties. Mobile devices determine the coordinates of their locations during a period of time using a location determination system, such as a global positioning system. The coordinates are converted to cell identifiers to look up corresponding residential parcels that have been visited by the mobile devices. A server generates a visitation data set for each residential parcel visited by each mobile device, including different types of frequencies of the mobile device visiting the residential parcel (e.g., night, weekend). A server filters the residential parcels based on visitation frequencies to identify home candidates and then further filters the home candidates based on the count of mobile devices having the home candidates. A home parcel, and thus its address, is identified from the filtered home candidate(s) for each mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: NinthDecimal, Inc.
    Inventors: Elena Rose, Mark Christopher Dixon, Kevin Toshio Ching, Veronica Milenkiy
  • Patent number: 9251471
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computers, helps determine an unknown user's preferences through the use of internet based social interactive graphical representations on a computer facility by performing the steps of (1) ascertaining preferences of a plurality of users who are part of an internet based social interactive construct, wherein the plurality of users become a plurality of known users; (2) determining the internet based social interactive graphical representation for the plurality of known users; and (3) inferring the preferences of an unknown user present in the interact based social interactive graphical representation of the plurality of known users based on the interrelationships between the unknown user and the plurality of known users within the graphical representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Pinckney, Christopher Dixon, Matthew Ryan Gattis
  • Patent number: 9245230
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computers, helps determine an unknown user's preferences through the use of internet based social interactive graphical representations on a computer facility by performing the steps of (1) ascertaining preferences of a plurality of users who are part of an internet based social interactive construct, wherein the plurality of users become a plurality of known users; (2) determining the internet based social interactive graphical representation for the plurality of known users; and (3) inferring the preferences of an unknown user present in the internet based social interactive graphical representation of the plurality of known users based on the interrelationships between the unknown user and the plurality of known users within the graphical representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Pinckney, Christopher Dixon, Matthew Ryan Gattis
  • Patent number: 9245231
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computers, helps determine an unknown user's preferences through the use of internet based social interactive graphical representations on a computer facility by performing the steps of (1) ascertaining preferences of a plurality of users who are part of an inter-net based social interactive construct, wherein the plurality of users become a plurality of known users; (2) determining the internet based social interactive graphical representation for the plurality of known users; and (3) inferring the preferences of an unknown user present in the interact based social interactive graphical representation of the plurality of known users based on the interrelationships between the unknown user and the plurality of known users within the graphical representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Pinckney, Christopher Dixon, Matthew Ryan Gattis
  • Patent number: 9241028
    Abstract: A communication interface and a device control, management and monitoring system are provided to enable the networking of and communication between multiple devices operating under different protocols. The communication interface may act as a translator or protocol converter that reformats transmissions from one protocol to another based on protocol compatibility between the recipient and transmitting devices. The device control and monitoring system may store predefined rules that are triggered when specified conditions associated with the networked devices are detected. The rules may specify an action to take, such as transmitting a discount offer to a user or turning off a light. According to one or more arrangements, the communication interface may act as an intermediary between the networked devices and the device control system, so that the device control system is not required to understand or be compatible with the various other protocols used by the networked devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: COMCAST INTERACTIVE MEDIA, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Dixon, James Poder
  • Patent number: 9159034
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a geographically localized recommendation to a user through a computer-based advice facility, comprising collecting a recommendation from an Internet source, wherein the recommendation is determined to have an interestingness aspect and a geographic location aspect, comparing the collected recommendation to a derived user taste and the user's current geographic location, determining at least one recommendation for the user based on processing on the comparison, and delivering at least one recommendation to a user's mobile communications device, wherein the user is enabled to at least one of view, save, and share the recommendation via an application at least in part resident on the computer-based advice facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Pinckney, Christopher Dixon, Matthew Ryan Gattis
  • Publication number: 20150186383
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a ratings matrix including matrix values is generated, each row of the ratings matrix identifying one of a plurality of users, each column of the ratings matrix identifying one of a plurality of items, and each of the matrix values corresponding to a known affinity rating describing a degree of affinity associated with one of the users and one of the items. The ratings matrix may include a missing entry representing an unknown affinity rating. According to various embodiments, a revised ratings matrix is generated by factoring the ratings matrix into a user matrix and an item matrix, the revised ratings matrix being the product of the user matrix and the item matrix and including at least one entry representing a predicted affinity rating in place of the missing entry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Pinckney, Christopher Dixon, Matthew Ryan Gattis
  • Publication number: 20150142711
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a recommendation to a user through a computer-based advice facility, comprising collecting topical information, wherein the collected topical information includes an interestingness aspect; filtering the collected topical information based on the interestingness aspect; determining an interestingness rating from the collected topical information, wherein the determining is through the computer-based advice facility; and providing a user with the recommendation related to the topical information based on the interestingness rating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Pinckney, Christopher Dixon, Matthew Ryan Gattis
  • Patent number: 9037531
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computers, helps determine an unknown user's preferences through the use of internet based social interactive graphical representations on a computer facility by performing the steps of (1) ascertaining preferences of a plurality of users who are part of an internet based social interactive construct, wherein the plurality of users become a plurality of known users; (2) determining the internet based social interactive graphical representation for the plurality of known users; and (3) inferring the preferences of an unknown user present in the internet based social interactive graphical representation of the plurality of known users based on the interrelationships between the unknown user and the plurality of known users within the graphical representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: eBay
    Inventors: Thomas Pinckney, Christopher Dixon, Matthew Ryan Gattis
  • Publication number: 20150127587
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computers, helps determine an unknown user's preferences through the use of internet based social interactive graphical representations on a computer facility by performing the steps of (1) ascertaining preferences of a plurality of users who are part of an inter-net based social interactive construct, wherein the plurality of users become a plurality of known users; (2) determining the internet based social interactive graphical representation for the plurality of known users; and (3) inferring the preferences of an unknown user present in the interact based social interactive graphical representation of the plurality of known users based on the interrelationships between the unknown user and the plurality of known users within the graphical representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Pinckney, Christopher Dixon, Matthew Ryan Gattis
  • Publication number: 20150127597
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computers, helps determine an unknown user's preferences through the use of internet based social interactive graphical representations on a computer facility by performing the steps of (1) ascertaining preferences of a plurality of users who are part of an internet based social interactive construct, wherein the plurality of users become a plurality of known users; (2) determining the internet based social interactive graphical representation for the plurality of known users; and (3) inferring the preferences of an unknown user present in the internet based social interactive graphical representation of the plurality of known users based on the interrelationships between the unknown user and the plurality of known users within the graphical representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Pinckney, Christopher Dixon, Matthew Ryan Gattis
  • Publication number: 20150127598
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computers, helps determine an unknown user's preferences through the use of internet based social interactive graphical representations on a computer facility by performing the steps of (1) ascertaining preferences of a plurality of users who are part of an internet based social interactive construct, wherein the plurality of users become a plurality of known users; (2) determining the internet based social interactive graphical representation for the plurality of known users; and (3) inferring the preferences of an unknown user present in the internet based social interactive graphical representation of the plurality of known users based on the interrelationships between the unknown user and the plurality of known users within the graphical representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Pinckney, Christopher Dixon, Matthew Ryan Gattis
  • Publication number: 20150127586
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computers, helps determine an unknown user's preferences through the use of internet based social interactive graphical representations on a computer facility by performing the steps of (1) ascertaining preferences of a plurality of users who are part of an inter-net based social interactive construct, wherein the plurality of users become a plurality of known users; (2) determining the internet based social interactive graphical representation for the plurality of known users; and (3) inferring the preferences of an unknown user present in the interact based social interactive graphical representation of the plurality of known users based on the interrelationships between the unknown user and the plurality of known users within the graphical representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Pinckney, Christopher Dixon, Matthew Ryan Gattis
  • Publication number: 20150127585
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computers, helps determine an unknown user's preferences through the use of internet based social interactive graphical representations on a computer facility by performing the steps of (1) ascertaining preferences of a plurality of users who are part of an internet based social interactive construct, wherein the plurality of users become a plurality of known users; (2) determining the internet based social interactive graphical representation for the plurality of known users; and (3) inferring the preferences of an unknown user present in the internet based social interactive graphical representation of the plurality of known users based on the interrelationships between the unknown user and the plurality of known users within the graphical representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Pinckney, Christopher Dixon, Matthew Ryan Gattis
  • Patent number: 9009096
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a ratings matrix including matrix values is generated, each row of the ratings matrix identifying one of a plurality of users, each column of the ratings matrix identifying one of a plurality of items, and each of the matrix values corresponding to a known affinity rating describing a degree of affinity associated with one of the users and one of the items. The ratings matrix may include a missing entry representing an unknown affinity rating. According to various embodiments, a revised ratings matrix is generated by factoring the ratings matrix into a user matrix and an item matrix, the revised ratings matrix being the product of the user matrix and the item matrix and including at least one entry representing a predicted affinity rating in place of the missing entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Pinckney, Christopher Dixon, Matthew Ryan Gattis
  • Patent number: 8992149
    Abstract: Anti-rotation keys are typically used in applications where an end of a threaded stud is received in a housing, and where the opposite end of the stud projects from the housing to allow attachment of another component to the housing. Once partially received in the housing, further rotation of the stud is prevented by an anti-rotation key. The disclosed anti-rotation key is self-retaining, in that it prevents itself from “backing out” of the channel due to vibration or thermal expansion of the housing, etc., while also being removable from the channel if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Benjamin Christopher Dixon