Patents by Inventor Elizabeth F. Churchill

Elizabeth F. Churchill 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: 20120158638
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards employing a classifier to determine a classification for target media content using nominally factored social interaction attributes, the classifier being trained using a training dataset that includes at least one nominally factored social interaction attribute. The trained classifier determines a classification of the target media content based on nominally factored social interaction attributes obtained during a monitored social interaction with the target media content and one or more users. The classification may include identifying at least one genre for the media content, as well as predicting whether the media content will go viral or not. The classification may also be used to provide recommendation to the one or more users of other media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth F. Churchill, Jude Yew, David Ayman Shamma
  • Patent number: 8175922
    Abstract: Advertisements displayed in a web page are enabled to be changed as a context of the web page changes without reloading the web page. A first set of one or more advertisements may be displayed on a web page. One or more of the displayed advertisements may be replaced with one or more alternative advertisements. Selection of the alternative advertisements is triggered based on the occurrence of one or more events that cause a change in a context of the web page. The display of the alternative advertisements is performed dynamically, without the web page needing to be reloaded. In this manner, the advertisements displayed on a web page may be changed based on the change in web page context, to provide advertisements to users that correspond to the changing context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: M. Cameron Jones, Elizabeth F. Churchill
  • Patent number: 8131762
    Abstract: A system is provided to facilitate tag-based organization of documents. During operation, the system receives an original user query. The system extends the query to include documents with an IN-tag and exclude documents with an OUT-tag. The system then performs a search based on the extended query to indicate a collection of documents which satisfy the extended query. The system further allows a user to add a document to the collection of documents or remove a document from the collection of documents. Next, the system modifies a tagging property of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Diana K. Smetters, Elizabeth F. Churchill, Lester D. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8055673
    Abstract: Community search query technology operable to provide users with the means to collaborate on search queries and share their query results with other users in a community is disclosed. The community search query technology provides a collaborative search engine that utilizes community feedback and personal profiles. The community search query technology also includes personal task, information management, project creation, listing queries by activity categories, setting deadlines for ongoing search needs, setting up search queues, and annotation of search sessions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth F. Churchill, Joseph O'Sullivan, Anthony D. Thrall
  • Publication number: 20110207482
    Abstract: The present disclosure is descriptive of discovering structure, content, and context of a media event, e.g., a live media event, using real-time discussions that unfold through short messaging services. Generally, a sampling of short messages of a plurality of users is obtained. The sampling of short messages corresponds to a media event. A segment in the media event is identified using the sampling of short messages, and at least one term taken from the sampling of short messages is identified. The at least one term is indicative of a context of the identified segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: David Ayman Shamma, Lyndon Kennedy, Elizabeth F. Churchill
  • Publication number: 20110202537
    Abstract: A system and method for using topic messages to understand media relating to an event. An event (such as a live event or broadcast event), is selected where at least a portion of the content of the event is stored as at least one media object, such as, for example a video or audio recording in digital format. A plurality of topic messages relating to the broadcast event is retrieved over a network and are analyzed to identify a plurality of content segments within the event. The topic messages are further analyzed to identify at least one key actor related to the event. Segment and key actor data relating to the event is stored to a computer readable medium in association with the media objects, whereby the segment data identifies the plurality of content segments within the media objects and the key actor data identifies key actors in the event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: David Ayman Shamma, Lyndon Kennedy, Elizabeth F. Churchill
  • Publication number: 20110196896
    Abstract: A system is provided to facilitate tag-based organization of documents. During operation, the system receives an original user query. The system extends the query to include documents with an IN-tag and exclude documents with an OUT-tag. The system then performs a search based on the extended query to indicate a collection of documents which satisfy the extended query. The system further allows a user to add a document to the collection of documents or remove a document from the collection of documents. Next, the system modifies a tagging property of the document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Diana K. Smetters, Elizabeth F. Churchill, Lester D. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20110106615
    Abstract: Techniques are described for selecting advertisements for display in web pages. In one aspect, a web page content characterization document may be generated that describes aspects of a web page. The web page content characterization document may be used to match advertisements for display in the web page. In another aspect, a multi-display mode advertisement object is provided. The multi-display mode advertisement object is an advertisement object that can be displayed as an advertisement in various formats, as desired for the particular web page destination location. In still another aspect, an in-linking advertisement object is provided. The in-linking advertisement object may be displayed on a web page, and when selected (e.g., clicked on), activates a link to content within the web page, rather than linking off page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Elizabeth F. Churchill, David Ayman Shamma, M. Cameron Jones
  • Patent number: 7933889
    Abstract: A system is provided to facilitate tag-based organization of documents. During operation, the system receives an original user query. The system extends the query to include documents with an IN-tag and exclude documents with an OUT-tag. The system then performs a search based on the extended query to indicate a collection of documents which satisfy the extended query. The system further allows a user to add a document to the collection of documents or remove a document from the collection of documents. Next, the system modifies a tagging property of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Diana K. Smetters, Elizabeth F. Churchill, Lester D. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20110088009
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments of computer systems and techniques facilitate creation and retrieval of software code. Provenance tracking at the step level allows for each step to be tracked to its original creator and to various remixes of the original in the line of provenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: M. Cameron Jones, Elizabeth F. Churchill, David Ayman Shamma
  • Publication number: 20110061001
    Abstract: Techniques for displaying advertisements on web pages are provided. A revisitation rate for views of a web page by a user population is determined. A refresh rate for an advertisement space on the web page is synchronized with the determined revisitation rate. An advertisement is selected to be displayed at the advertisement space at a particular refresh time of the synchronized refresh rate. The advertisement is selected based at least on a difference between a content of the web page at the particular refresh time and a content of the web page at a previous refresh time of the synchronized refresh rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: M. Cameron Jones, David Ayman Shamma, Elizabeth F. Churchill
  • Publication number: 20110040756
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing recommendations for an activity to a user are provided. In one method, the method tracks status information of a plurality of users, and detects a trigger for providing recommendations for an activity. In response the trigger, the method identifies a cluster of users based on the status information of the users. The method further retrieves profiles and behavioral characteristics of the users in the identified cluster, and provides one or more recommendations for the activity to the user based, at least in part, upon the behavioral characteristics and the profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: M. Cameron Jones, Elizabeth F. Churchill, Athellina Athsani
  • Publication number: 20100325207
    Abstract: A device, system and method to enable communications over a network that allows a user to establish a status that controls the method or manner of communication to client devices of the user based on various definable conditions, and to track such communications based on the condition-related status of various users to discern behavior or gauge progress towards an objective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth F. Churchill, Ron Martinez, Athellina Athsani
  • Publication number: 20100293035
    Abstract: In the Internet field, interfaces which support social interaction are used by two or more people to share information and content. An example is a geolocation (map-type) interface (a web page for instance) which is relied upon by users to obtain travel routes, plan trips and find geolocation information, such as stores, restaurants and other places. Described here is a system for advertising whereby targeted advertisements are displayed to users of such an interface and the advertisements are the result of an analysis of user behavior during a particular interface session or several sessions, so advertisements are closely targeted to each particular user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Athellina ATHSANI, Elizabeth F. Churchill, M. Cameron Jones
  • Patent number: 7836409
    Abstract: User behavior while interacting with one or more first representations of digital content can be monitored. Interaction information can be determined by monitoring the user behavior while interacting. Interaction information can include information identifying interaction areas of the first representation, degree of interaction information, and sequence of interaction information. The interaction information can be maintained and used to deform a second representation of digital content. The first and second representations can be of the same or different digital content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Laurent Denoue, Patrick Chiu, Tohru Fuse, Jonathan Trevor, David M. Hilbert, Les Nelson, Elizabeth F. Churchill
  • Patent number: 7823070
    Abstract: Methods and systems that can be used to dynamically restructure user interfaces into a set of communicating processes. The methods and systems update new and wrapped legacy user interface components for repurposing of user interfaces. The methods and systems provide for changing one or more of at least an appearance, a behavior, and a state or condition of the user interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lester D. Nelson, Laurent Denoue, Jonathan Helfman, Elizabeth F. Churchill, Scott Carter, Paul Murphy
  • Publication number: 20100250578
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for conducting a profile based search. The method and system includes receiving a search request including one or more search terms from a user, parsing the search request into categorical verticals, determining search refinement data relative to the categorical verticals, the search refinement data including at least one of: profile information, environmental data relative to the search request and historical behavior data relating to the search request or the user and accessing a database of aggregated search data based on the search refinement data. The method and system includes using the aggregated search data, determining a most relevant search query and a most relevant user profile, refining the search request based on the most relevant search query and most relevant user profile and generating an output display of a search result set based on the refined search request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Athellina Athsani, M. Cameron Jones, Lawrence Gordon Tesler, Elizabeth F. Churchill
  • Patent number: 7797447
    Abstract: A Web browser provides the ability to separate content and hyper-links from a Web page and provides a list of the links for viewing on a mobile device display screen along with links to telephone numbers, addresses, email addresses, and other communication-related information in the Web page detected by a data detector portion of the Web browser to further enhance usability of the Web page information for mobile device users. Further, once a link is selected using the mobile device, a services portal link is provided to the mobile device display to provide selection of services to be performed on the selected link, such as faxing or printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: William N. Schilit, Jonathan James Trevor, Catherine Claire Marshall, Elizabeth F. Churchill
  • Publication number: 20100205060
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention describe systems and methods for automatically generating route(s) based on users' trip intent and conditions. A user enters his/her trip intent and conditions. A context-sensitive route generation system generates one or more routes based on information surrounding the user's trip intent, such as destination, time, means of transportation, purpose and identity(ies) of traveler(s), and conditions, such as user's limitations, needs, and preferences, for the user. Once the user chooses a route to follow, context-sensitive route generation system (CRGS) keeps track of user's movement and can modify the user's route when a need arises. The CRGS searches one or more networks and the system database(s) for profile and real-time (or instant) information for route generation, and continues to mine networks for information related to the trip to ensure the best route is recommended to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Athellina Athsani, Elizabeth F. Churchill
  • Publication number: 20100198869
    Abstract: A system and method which may allow a requester to post a search query and get time-sensitive responses from other users who are best suited to respond to the search query. The system may find out such best suited responders based on their location, activity and time affinity/proximity to the search query, and forward the search query to them. The system may then return the responses to the requester. The system may also be able to automatically answer search queries based on users' historical query-response activities. By matching a search query with users knowledgeable about it, the invention may help a requester to get timely and accurate responses to his search query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Chris Kalaboukis, Elizabeth F. Churchill, Athellina Athsani