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: 8055675
    Abstract: A system and method for context based query augmentation. A question is received over a network from a questioning user comprising an identification of a user and at least one question criteria. A first query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data so as to identify user context data relevant to question criteria. The question is modified using the user context data to create at least one modified question having at least one additional criteria based on the user context data. A second query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for knowledge data, user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data so as to identify knowledge data relevant to the identified user and the modified question criteria. The knowledge data is transmitted, over the network, to the questioning user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher T Paretti, Simon P King, Rahul Nair, Carrie Burgener
  • Publication number: 20110252101
    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 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    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: 8032508
    Abstract: A system and method for URL based query for retrieving data related to a context. A request is received over a network from a user for data related to a context, wherein the request is a URL comprising a context query comprising at least one context criteria. The context criteria are parsed and translated and disambiguated. A network data query is formulated based on the context 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 context query so as to identify at least one data object that relates to context criteria. Permissions relating to the identified data objects are checked and references to the data objects are transmitted over the network to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Christopher William Higgins, Joseph James O'Sullivan, Marc Eliot Davis
  • Patent number: 8024317
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Nair, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Simon P. King
  • Patent number: 7925708
    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: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    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
  • Publication number: 20110040691
    Abstract: A system and method for a verified presence data marketplace. Offers for verified location data are received wherein each offer comprises an identification of at least one target user, at least one data granularity level and data reliability level and at least one offer payment term. Location data relating to the target users is retrieved from a plurality of location data sources and the reliability of the data is then verified and the data is then stored on a computer readable medium. At least one bid for verified location data from an entity is received wherein the bid relates to the offers for verified location data. An acceptance of the bid is then processed. The verified location data relating to the bid is then retrieved and is transmitted over the network to the bidding entity and the target users are paid according to the terms of the bid payment offer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Simon P. King, Christopher William Higgins, Chris Kalaboukis, Duane R. Valz
  • Publication number: 20110040736
    Abstract: Receive a plurality of data management policies from a user. Store in a memory the data management policies in association with a context and an identifier of the user. Receive personal data of the user collected in one or more contexts by one or more collection devices. Determine whether the personal data complies with one or more of the data management policies with respect to collecting personal data of the user. If the personal data complies with the data management policies with respect to collecting personal data on the user, then storing in the memory the personal data in association with the identifier of the user. Provide a centralized interface to the user for managing the personal data stored in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Kalaboukis, Christopher William Higgins, Marc Eliot Davis, Ronald Martinez, Rahul Nair, Simon P. King, Carrie Burgener, Duane R. Valz
  • Publication number: 20110040718
    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: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Meher Tendjoukian, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins
  • Publication number: 20110035265
    Abstract: A system and method for verified monetization. A definition of a commercial campaign is received wherein the definition comprises an identification of an advertiser and an advertisement, at least one trigger condition, at least one monetization condition, at least one verification policy, and at least one monetization action, wherein trigger conditions relate to the occurrence of trigger events, the monetization conditions relate to location data relating to at least one person, verification policies relates to the reliability of the location data, and the monetization actions relates to payments to payees. When an indication of an association between a user and the advertisement is received, the user is associated with the commercial campaign. When the occurrence of trigger events is detected, if the campaigns monetization conditions and verification policies have been satisfied, payees are paid according to the campaign's monetization actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Simon P. King, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins
  • Publication number: 20100250727
    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: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Simon P. King, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins
  • Patent number: 7769740
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods of ranking user interest in physical entities based on the attention given to those entities as determined by an analysis of communications from devices over multiple communication channels. The attention ranking systems allow any “Who, What, When, Where” entity to be defined and ranked based, at least in part, on information obtained from communications between users and user proxy devices. An entity rank is generated for entity known to the system in which the entity rank is derived from the information in communications that are indicative of user actions related to the entity. The entity ranks are then used to modify the display of information or data associated with the entities. The system may also generate a personal rank for each entity based on the relation of the entity to a specified user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Joseph James O'Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20100185518
    Abstract: A method for targeted advertisement is provided, for which one or more tags relating to an advertisement is/are accessed, one or more of the most representative activities for the tag(s) is/are determined, and the advertisement is targeted to the one or more most representative activities. In addition, for each of a plurality of tags, one or more of the most representative activities is/are determined based on term frequency-inverse document frequency, such that an activity is relatively more representative of a tag if the tag is more uniquely and/or frequently associated with the activity. The advertisement is delivered to participants of the activities, and optionally during a time interval relevant to the activities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher Todd Paretti, Carrie Burgener, Rahul Nair, Simon P. King
  • Publication number: 20100185509
    Abstract: A method for ranking entities with respect to a tag for targeted advertisement is provided. For each entity to be ranked, a first score is calculated, which indicates the level of uniqueness the tag is to the entity. For each entity to be ranked, a second score is calculated, which indicates the number of people connected with the entity. For each entity to be ranked, a final score is calculated, which combines the first score and the second score. The entities are ranked based on their respective final scores. Optionally, the entity rankings may be used to determine the cost of advertisement for each entity and to recommend entities with respect to an advertisement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher Todd Paretti, Carrie Burgener, Rahul Nair, Simon P. King
  • Publication number: 20100185517
    Abstract: A user interface for targeted advertisement is provided, which comprises a plurality of interface components, wherein selected ones of the plurality of interface components are capable of: receiving a list of advertising targets; presenting a list of most representative entities for the list of advertising targets, wherein an entity is relatively more representative of an advertising target if the advertising target is relatively more uniquely and frequently associated with the entity; receiving a list of target entities selected from the list of most representative entities; and presenting an estimated advertising cost for the list of target entities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher Todd Paretti, Carrie Burgener, Rahul Nair, Simon P. King
  • Publication number: 20100185642
    Abstract: A method for targeted advertisement is provided, for which one or more tags relating to an advertisement is/are determined, one or more of the most representative entities for the tag(s) is/are determined, and the advertisement is targeted to the one or more most representative entities. In addition, for each of a plurality of tags, one or more of the most representative entities is/are determined based on term frequency-inverse document frequency, such that an entity is relatively more representative of a tag if the tag is more uniquely and/or frequently associated with the entity. For each tag, the associated entities may be divided into multiple categories, such that one or more most representative entities within each category is/are determined for each tag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher Todd Paretti, Carrie Burgener, Rahul Nair, Simon P. King
  • Publication number: 20100161600
    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: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Eliot Davis
  • Publication number: 20100145976
    Abstract: A system and method for context based query augmentation. A question is received over a network from a questioning user comprising an identification of a user and at least one question criteria. A first query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data so as to identify user context data relevant to question criteria. The question is modified using the user context data to create at least one modified question having at least one additional criteria based on the user context data. A second query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for knowledge data, user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data so as to identify knowledge data relevant to the identified user and the modified question criteria. The knowledge data is transmitted, over the network, to the questioning user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher T. Paretti, Simon P. King, Rahul Nair, Carrie Buergener
  • Publication number: 20100125604
    Abstract: A system and method for URL based query for retrieving data related to a context. A request is received over a network from a user for data related to a context, wherein the request is a URL comprising a context query comprising at least one context criteria. The context criteria are parsed and translated and disambiguated. A network data query is formulated based on the context 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 context query so as to identify at least one data object that relates to context criteria. Permissions relating to the identified data objects are checked and references to the data objects are transmitted over the network to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Christopher William Higgins, Joseph James O'Sullivan, Marc Eliot Davis
  • Publication number: 20100125605
    Abstract: A system and method for data privacy in URL based context queries. A reference to a data object is received from a user. At least one entity that controls the data object is identified via the network. At least one permission for the data object is retrieved via the network, wherein the permission is associated with the entity that controls the data object. It is then determined, via the network, if the user is permitted to access to the data object using the permission for the data object and spatial data, temporal data social data and logical data available to the network that relates to the user and to the permission for the data object. If the user is permitted access to the data object, access is granted to the data object, and if the user is nor permitted access to the data object, access is denied to the data object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Nair, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Simon P. King
  • Publication number: 20100125563
    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: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Nair, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Simon P. King