Patents by Inventor Christopher William Higgins

Christopher William Higgins 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: 8386499
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods for modeling relationships between entities on a network using data collected from a plurality of communication channels including social data, spatial data, temporal data and logical data within a W4 Network. The W4 Network personalizes and automates sorting, filtering and processing of W4COMN communications delivered or requested to be delivered using personalized value-based ranking and encoding of data, which is modeled from the point-of-view (POV) of any specific user, topic or node in the W4 Distributed graph. POV modeling supplies comparative value services to users which entails individuated data models to be aggregated and used in customization and personalization forecasting for each user and their associated data management needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Joseph James O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8386506
    Abstract: A system and method for media enhanced messaging. A message from a message sender to be delivered to at least one message recipient is received over a network. The message comprises at least one delivery criteria and at least one content criteria. When it is determined, via the network that the delivery criteria of the message has been satisfied, a query is formulated based on the content criteria so as to search, via the network, for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data that is available via the network and relates to the content criteria and to media files so as to identify at least one media file that is relevant to the content criteria. The media files are inserted into the message and the message is transmitted over the network to the recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Michael Spiegelman, Christopher T Paretti, Nicola Stefano Ghezzi, Christopher William Higgins, Chris Kalaboukis
  • Publication number: 20130046778
    Abstract: A system and method for automated service recommendations. A request is received over a network, from a user for service recommendations, wherein the request comprises an identification of the user and at least one service selection criteria. A query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for user profile data, spatial data, temporal data, social data and topical data that is available via the network and relates to the requesting user, the service selection criteria and to a plurality of services available via the network so as to a identify a subset of the plurality of services available via the network that relate to the request. A list of the identified subset of services is transmitted, via the network, to the requesting user. A selection of at least one of the selected subset of services available received from the user and the user is enrolled in the selected service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Eliot Davis
  • Patent number: 8364611
    Abstract: A system and method for precaching information on a mobile device. A precaching strategy is built for a mobile device The strategy defines a forecast of data types a user is predicted to request after the occurrence of one or more data refresh conditions. The precaching strategy is built by recognizing data usage patterns in data requested by the user or a group of users over a time period. The data usage pattern comprises data types and events that are correlated to the usage of the data. The events are used to define at least one refresh condition within the precaching strategy. The precaching strategy is executed. When the occurrence of the data refresh condition is detected, data is then retrieved from a data source, wherein the data is retrieved according to the precaching strategy. The retrieved data is transmitted to a user device cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Meher Tendjoukian, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins
  • Publication number: 20130018897
    Abstract: A system and method for distributing media related to a location. The physical location of a media presentation device is received over a network. The physical location of a plurality of end users are identified, via the network, wherein each of plurality of users is associated with a user device capable of storing media files. At least one of the end users is identified who is located in such proximity to the media presentation device that the user can perceive media that presented on the media presentation device. At least one media file that is currently being presented on the media presentation device is identified and transmitted over the network to each of the identified end users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Michael Spiegelman, Christopher T. Paretti, Nicola Stefano Ghezzi, Christopher William Higgins, Chris Kalaboukis
  • Publication number: 20120310612
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods for modeling relationships between entities on a network using data collected from a plurality of communication channels including social data, spatial data, temporal data and logical data within a W4 Network. The W4 Network personalizes and automates sorting, filtering and processing of W4COMN communications delivered or requested to be delivered using personalized value-based ranking and encoding of data, which is modeled from the point-of-view (POV) of any specific user, topic or node in the W4 Distributed graph. POV modeling supplies comparative value services to users which entails individuated data models to be aggregated and used in customization and personalization forecasting for each user and their associated data management needs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Joseph James O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8307029
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods delivering communications associated with delivery conditions in which the occurrence of the delivery condition is determined by monitoring information received from a plurality of sources via multiple communication channels. The message delivery systems allow messages to be delivered to any “Who, What, When, Where” from any “Who, What, When, Where” upon the detection of an occurrence of one or more “Who, What, When, Where” delivery conditions. A message (which may be any data object including text-based messages, audio-based message such as voicemail or other audio such as music or video-based prerecorded messages) is delivered in accordance with delivery conditions based on any available data, including topical, spatial, temporal, and/or social data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Eliot Davis, Marco Boerries, Christopher William Higgins, Joseph James O'Sullivan, Ronald Martinez, Robert Carter Trout
  • Patent number: 8281027
    Abstract: A system and method for distributing media related to a location. The physical location of a media presentation device is received over a network. The physical location of a plurality of end users are identified, via the network, wherein each of plurality of users is associated with a user device capable of storing media files. At least one of the end users is identified who is located in such proximity to the media presentation device that the user can perceive media that presented on the media presentation device. At least one media file that is currently being presented on the media presentation device is identified and transmitted over the network to each of the identified end users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Michael Spiegelman, Christopher T. Paretti, Nicola Stefano Ghezzi, Christopher William Higgins, Chris Kalaboukis
  • Patent number: 8271506
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods for modeling relationships between entities on a network using data collected from a plurality of communication channels including social data, spatial data, temporal data and logical data within a W4 Network. The W4 Network personalizes and automates sorting, filtering and processing of W4COMN communications delivered or requested to be delivered using personalized value-based ranking and encoding of data, which is modeled from the point-of-view (POV) of any specific user, topic or node in the W4 Distributed graph. POV modeling supplies comparative value services to users which entails individuated data models to be aggregated and used in customization and personalization forecasting for each user and their associated data management needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Joseph James O'Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20120203853
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods delivering communications associated with delivery conditions in which the occurrence of the delivery condition is determined by monitoring information received from a plurality of sources via multiple communication channels. The message delivery systems allow messages to be delivered to any “Who, What, When, Where” from any “Who, What, When, Where” upon the detection of an occurrence of one or more “Who, What, When, Where” delivery conditions. A message (which may be any data object including text-based messages, audio-based message such as voicemail or other audio such as music or video-based prerecorded messages) is delivered in accordance with delivery conditions based on any available data, including topical, spatial, temporal, and/or social data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Marc Eliot Davis, Joseph James O'Sullivan, Christopher William Higgins, Keith David Saft, Nathanael Joe Hayashi, Marco Boerries, Paul Callan, Luke Wroblewski
  • Patent number: 8166168
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods for disambiguating a non-unique identifiers of real world entities (RWEs) detected by a computing network by dynamically identifying relationships between RWEs known to the network. The relationships are determined based on social, spatial, temporal and logical information known about the RWEs based on the RWEs previous interactions with the network. These relationships are then used to generate a probability for each RWE that the non-unique identifier identifies that RWE. Based on the probabilities an RWE is selected and the proper network identifier may be used in place of the non-unique identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Joseph Hayashi, Marco Boerries, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Ronald Martinez, Joseph James O'Sullivan, Robert Carter Trout
  • Patent number: 8166124
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods delivering communications associated with delivery conditions in which the occurrence of the delivery condition is determined by monitoring information received from a plurality of sources via multiple communication channels. The message delivery systems allow messages to be delivered to any “Who, What, When, Where” from any “Who, What, When, Where” upon the detection of an occurrence of one or more “Who, What, When, Where” delivery conditions. A message (which may be any data object including text-based messages, audio-based message such as voicemail or other audio such as music or video-based prerecorded messages) is delivered in accordance with delivery conditions based on any available data, including topical, spatial, temporal, and/or social data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Eliot Davis, Joseph James O'Sullivan, Christopher William Higgins, Keith David Saft, Nathanael Joe Hayashi, Marco Boerries, Paul Callan, Luke Wroblewski
  • Patent number: 8166016
    Abstract: A system and method for automated service recommendations. A request is received over a network, from a user for service recommendations, wherein the request comprises an identification of the user and at least one service selection criteria. A query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for user profile data, spatial data, temporal data, social data and topical data that is available via the network and relates to the requesting user, the service selection criteria and to a plurality of services available via the network so as to a identify a subset of the plurality of services available via the network that relate to the request. A list of the identified subset of services is transmitted, via the network, to the requesting user. A selection of at least one of the selected subset of services available received from the user and the user is enrolled in the selected service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Eliot Davis
  • Patent number: 8150967
    Abstract: A system and method for verified presence tracking. A request for a location is received over a network. The request comprises a request type, a request source and at least one request target. Location data relating to the request targets is retrieved from a plurality of location data sources. The reliability of the retrieved location data is determined. A response is formulated using based on the request type, the retrieved location data, and the determined reliability of the retrieved location data. The response is then transmitted over the network to the request source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Simon P King, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins
  • Publication number: 20120030578
    Abstract: A system and method for Context Enhanced Mapping. A request is received from a user over a network for a map comprising an identification of a physical location, and at least one criteria. The physical location is mapped. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to the physical location and criteria is retrieved using a global index of data available to the network and prioritized for inclusion based upon the user and context of the request. The map of the physical location and at least some of the retrieved spatial, temporal, topical, and social data is displayed on a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Athellina Athsani, Christopher T. Paretti, Joseph James O'Sullivan, Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Christopher Kalaboukis
  • Patent number: 8108778
    Abstract: A system and method for Context Enhanced Mapping. A request is received from a user over a network for a map comprising an identification of a physical location, and at least one criteria. The physical location is mapped. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to the physical location and criteria is retrieved using a global index of data available to the network and prioritized for inclusion based upon the user and context of the request. The map of the physical location and at least some of the retrieved spatial, temporal, topical, and social data is displayed on a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Athellina Athsani, Christopher T. Paretti, Joseph James O'Sullivan, Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Christopher Kalaboukis
  • Publication number: 20120010997
    Abstract: A system and method for deriving income from URL based context queries. A URL based user context query is received over a network from a user, wherein the user context comprises at least one user context criteria. A query is formulated based on the context criteria so as to search for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data, topical data and context query bid data that is available via the network and relates to the context so as to identify entries in a context query bid database that relate to user context criteria. A dynamic webpage is generated having content relating to the query and advertisements associated with the selected bid are inserted into the webpage. The dynamic webpage is transmitted to the user. The advertiser associated with the selected bid is charged a fee when a user interface event relating to the dynamic webpage occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Nair, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Simon P. King
  • Publication number: 20110302128
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods for disambiguating a non-unique identifiers of real world entities (RWEs) detected by a computing network by dynamically identifying relationships between RWEs known to the network. The relationships are determined based on social, spatial, temporal and logical information known about the RWEs based on the RWEs previous interactions with the network. These relationships are then used to generate a probability for each RWE that the non-unique identifier identifies that RWE. Based on the probabilities an RWE is selected and the proper network identifier may be used in place of the non-unique identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Joseph Hayashi, Marco Boerries, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Ronald Martinez, Joseph James O'Sullivan, Robert Carter Trout
  • Patent number: 8069142
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods for synchronizing data on a network based on temporal, spatial, social and logical data available to the network. The method includes receiving a first information object (IO) containing attributes for a first real-world entity (RWE), the first IO associated with a second RWE; identifying one or more second IOs, each second IO containing one or more attributes for the first RWE and each second IO independently associated with a third RWE; generating a different probability for each IO based on a comparison of contents of the first and second IOs and their associated RWEs; and replacing one or more of the attributes in at least one IO with at least one attribute from a different IO based on the probabilities for each IO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Eliot Davis, George Grinstead, Lee J. Parry, Marco Boerries, Christopher William Higgins, Joseph James O'Sullivan, Ronald Martinez, Robert Carter Trout
  • Patent number: 8060492
    Abstract: A system and method for generation of URL context queries. A request is received over a network from a user for generation a URL based context query, wherein the request comprises at least one query generation criteria. A multidimensional dataspace having a spatial axis, a temporal axis, a topical axis and a social axis is searched for clusters of related data objects using the query generation criteria, wherein at least one cluster of data objects relating to the query generation criteria is identified. Permissions are checked relating to each data object cluster of related data objects. If the user does not have permission to view the data object, it is removed from the cluster. A URL having a context query comprising at least one context criteria is generated from the properties of the cluster of data objects. The URL having a context query is then transmitted to the end user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Nair, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Simon P King