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).

  • Publication number: 20100125562
    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 datapace 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: 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: 20100125569
    Abstract: A system and method for autohyperlinking and navagation in URL based context queries. A result set from a context query is received from a user over a network, wherein the result set comprises at least one reference to a data object and further comprises the context query. The reference to the data object is translated, via the network, to a URL configured to retrieve the data object. A plurality of related URLs are generated via the network, wherein the result set of the context query is used to seed generation. At least one advertisement associated with the context query is retrieved via the network. A webpage comprising the URL configured to retrieve the data object, the plurality of related URLs and the advertisement is assembled and transmitted over the network to the user.
    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: 20100083169
    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: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Athellina Athsani, Christopher T. Paretti, Joseph James O'Sullivan, Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher Williams Higgins, Christopher Kalaboukis
  • Publication number: 20100082403
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for providing real-time and customized advocacy to consumers over a network. Customizing advocacy is done by selecting one or more advocates most likely to induce a potential customer to engage in a transaction with a product, brand, or service. To select these one or more advocates, an advocate ranking is generated, wherein advocates are ranked by a total advocacy value (an estimation of the likelihood that an advocate will induce a potential customer to engage in a transaction with a product, brand, or service). The total advocacy value is determined by monitoring data regarding advocates, and applying that data to a model. The data can be derived from the interactions of real world entities (RWEs) with the network as well as from information objects (IOs) accessible by the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Eliot Davis, Ronald Martinez, Christopher T. Paretti
  • Publication number: 20100082688
    Abstract: A system and method for reporting and analysis of media consumption data. A request is received over a network from a requesting user for consumption data relating to at least one media object, the request comprising an identification of the media objects. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to consumption of the media object are retrieved using a global index of data available to the network. The spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to consumption of the media objects are transmitted, over the network to the requesting user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Eliot Davis, Michael Spiegelman, Chris Kalaboukis, Ronald Martinez, Nicola Stefano Ghezzi, Christopher T. Paretti, Christopher William Higgins
  • Publication number: 20100063993
    Abstract: A system and method for a Socially Aware Identity Manager. A request is received over a network from a first user for data relating to a second user, wherein the request comprises an identification of the second user. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to the second user is retrieved using a global index of data available to the network, wherein such data comprises at least one website comprising data relating to the second user, which can include social networking sites. The data relating to the second user is filtered using at least one filter criteria. A subset of the filtered data relating to the second user is selected using at least one selection criteria. The filtered subset of data relating to the second user is transmitted over the network to the first user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Eliot Davis, Joseph James O'Sullivan, Christopher T. Paretti
  • Publication number: 20100049702
    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: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Michael Spiegelman, Christopher T. Paretti, Nicola Stefano Ghezzi, Christopher William Higgins, Chris Kalaboukis
  • Publication number: 20100027527
    Abstract: A system and method for improved mapping and routing. A request for the determination of a route is received over a network. The request comprises an identification of a requesting user, and at least one objective. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network which relating to the requesting user and the request objectives are retrieved using a global index of data available to the network. At least one entity which satisfies at least one request objective and which has a physical location known to the network is selected using the retrieved spatial, temporal, topical, and social data. At least one physical route is mapped between a starting location and the selected entity and is displayed on a display medium. Sponsored and recommended content available to the network which relates to the requesting user, and at least one objective can additionally be displayed on the display medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Eliot Davis, Ronald Martinez, Joseph James O'Sullivan, Athellina Athsani, Chris Kalaboukis, Christopher T. Paretti
  • Publication number: 20100030740
    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 display medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Eliot Davis, Ronald Martinez, Joseph James O'Sullivan, Christopher T. Paretti, Chris Kalaboukis, Athellina Athsani
  • Publication number: 20090248694
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods for utilizing data collected and stored on multiple devices in order to improve the performance of the network via a markup language for addressing and delivering communications. The markup language invokes W4COMN operations through a free-form, natural language syntax which enables completely personalized user-defined designations for real-world entities (RWEs) or information objections (IOs) utilizing names or functional tags. Desired network operations including addressing network resources, entities or users are activated when the markup language is augmented via processing with W4 contextual data into an actual W4COMN circuit, process or event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Joseph James O'Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20090248738
    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: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Joseph James O'Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20090248711
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods for optimizing the storage of data collected from a plurality of communication channels including social data, spatial data, temporal data and logical data. Based on user data collected from past interactions with the network, clusters of objects that include common information are combined into single objects in order to save storage space and reduce the number of objects managed by the system. The combination method may also be used to dynamically identify events or conditions which are related to a plurality of entities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Joseph James O'Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20090222303
    Abstract: A service provider facilitates consumption of goods, brands, or services on an interactive network using characterizations of consumers, behavior, brands, consumable goods, advertisers, and advocates to determine a three-way match between a consumable good, a consumer, and an advocate. The matching method determines one or more goods likely to be benefit from the marketing scheme by maximizing the estimated contextual value of personalized advocacy. Further, the service provider captures the value of the personalized advocacy in each match, and distributes that value in the form of various marketing incentives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Davis, Joseph O'Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20090222304
    Abstract: A service provider facilitates consumption of goods, brands, or services on an interactive network using characterizations of consumers, behavior, brands, consumable goods, advertisers, and advocates to determine a three-way match between a consumable good, a consumer, and an advocate. The matching method determines one or more advocates by maximizing the estimated contextual value of personalized advocacy. Further, the service provider captures the value of the personalized advocacy in each match, and distributes that value in the form of various marketing incentive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Davis, Joseph O'Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20090222302
    Abstract: A service provider facilitates consumption of goods, brands, or services on an interactive network using characterizations of consumers, behavior, brands, consumable goods, advertisers, and advocates to determine a three-way match between a consumable good, a consumer, and an advocate. The matching method determines one or more likely consumers by maximizing the estimated contextual value of personalized advocacy. Further, the service provider captures the value of the personalized advocacy in each match, and distributes that value in the form of various marketing incentives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Davis, Joseph O'Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20090182631
    Abstract: A system and method to facilitate word-of-mouth advertising and sales support associated with displayed media objects on distributed networks is described. The system provides one or more advocates to a network user accessing advertising of a brand, product, or service. One or more of the advocates may be socially related to the user. User interactions with the advocates are facilitated through a real-time communication network, follow-on commercial activity is tracked, and the value of word-of-mouth advocacy is captured and distributed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Davis, Joseph O'Sullivan, Ronald Martinez
  • Publication number: 20090182810
    Abstract: A system and method to facilitate word-of-mouth advertising and sales support associated with displayed media objects on distributed networks is described. The system provides one or more advocates to a network user accessing advertising of a brand, product, or service. One or more of the advocates may be socially related to the user. User interactions with the advocates are facilitated through a real-time communication network, follow-on commercial activity is tracked, and the value of word-of-mouth advocacy is captured and distributed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Davis, Joseph O'Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20090183112
    Abstract: A system and method to facilitate word-of-mouth advertising and sales support associated with displayed media objects on distributed networks is described. The system provides one or more advocates to a network user accessing advertising of a brand, product, or service. One or more of the advocates may be socially related to the user. User interactions with the advocates are facilitated through a real-time communication network, follow-on commercial activity is tracked, and the value of word-of-mouth advocacy is captured and distributed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Davis, Joseph O'Sullivan, Ronald Martinez
  • Publication number: 20090182618
    Abstract: A system and method to facilitate word-of-mouth advertising and sales support associated with displayed media objects on distributed networks is described. The system provides one or more advocates to a network user accessing advertising of a brand, product, or service. One or more of the advocates may be socially related to the user. User interactions with the advocates are facilitated through a real-time communication network, follow-on commercial activity is tracked, and the value of word-of-mouth advocacy is captured and distributed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher William Higgins, Marc Davis, Joseph O'Sullivan, Ronald Martinez
  • Publication number: 20090177644
    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: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Marc Eliot Davis, Christopher William Higgins, Joseph James O'Sullivan