Patents by Inventor Hilliard Bruce Siegel

Hilliard Bruce Siegel 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: 8984153
    Abstract: A logically centralized system or service, such as a cloud-based content management service, enables intelligent communication between disparate devices. Such communication enables content such as applications and data to be synchronized between various devices, where the synchronization takes into account the capabilities of each device to provide versions and/or formats of that content that are appropriate for each device. A user purchasing an additional device, for example, can have various applications and other content automatically installed or copied over to the additional device, but with versions or formats that take advantage of, and are appropriate for, the capabilities of that additional device. Further, the intelligent communication via a logically centralized service can enable such devices to interact even though those devices might utilize different protocols and/or formats, and might otherwise not be able to communicate or have ever have been tested together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Z. Evans, Luis Felipe Cabrera, Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Peter N. DeSantis
  • Patent number: 8918645
    Abstract: Intelligent content delivery enables content to be delivered to different devices in formats appropriate for those devices based on the capabilities of those devices. A user might access the same piece of content on two different devices, and can automatically receive a higher quality format on a device capable of playing that higher quality format. The user can purchase rights to content in any format, such that as new formats emerge or the user upgrades to devices with enhanced capabilities, the user can receive the improved formats automatically without having to repurchase the content. Further, the user can pause and resume content between devices even when those devices utilize different formats, and can access content on devices not otherwise associated with the user, receiving content in formats that are appropriate for those unknown devices even if the user has not previously accessed content in those formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Z. Evans, Luis Felipe Cabrera, Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Peter N. DeSantis
  • Patent number: 8886710
    Abstract: Intelligent content delivery enables content to be delivered to different devices in formats appropriate for those devices based on the capabilities of those devices. A user might access the same piece of content on two different devices, and can automatically receive a higher quality format on a device capable of playing that higher quality format. The user can purchase rights to content in any format, such that as new formats emerge or the user upgrades to devices with enhanced capabilities, the user can receive the improved formats automatically without having to repurchase the content. Further, the user can pause and resume content between devices even when those devices utilize different formats, and can access content on devices not otherwise associated with the user, receiving content in formats that are appropriate for those unknown devices even if the user has not previously accessed content in those formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Z. Evans, Luis Felipe Cabrera, Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Peter N. DeSantis
  • Publication number: 20140249952
    Abstract: Techniques are described for facilitating a supply of used items on behalf of an entity that desires to acquire such used items, such as a merchant that sells used items to customers. The used items are obtained based on interactions with recipients who receive items that are sold or otherwise provided by one or more merchants (or other suppliers of items), such as by supplying appropriate information and materials to the recipients along with the items. In some situations, when an item is delivered or otherwise supplied to a recipient by a merchant, the merchant also supplies information to the recipient that indicates an offer from a used item acquirer entity to re-acquire the item from the recipient (such as after the recipient has used the item) and shipping materials for use in returning the item to an indicated destination if the recipient accepts the offer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Paul G. Nordstrom
  • Patent number: 8826386
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to techniques and systems to verify an identity of an applicant to enable the applicant to claim accounts, domain names, electronic messaging addresses, and/or other computing resources in a computing environment. The techniques may use a voucher system that relies on approvals (or vouchers) from members that each has an associated reputation score. The members may vouch for an applicant that submits a request to claim a portion of content. The portion of content may have an associated verification requirement, which may include a predetermined number of vouchers from members where the reputation scores of the members reach or exceed a threshold score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: IMDb.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Thomas William Whitcomb
  • Publication number: 20140095727
    Abstract: A logically centralized system or service, such as a cloud-based content management service, enables intelligent communication between disparate devices. Such communication enables content such as applications and data to be synchronized between various devices, where the synchronization takes into account the capabilities of each device to provide versions and/or formats of that content that are appropriate for each device. A user purchasing an additional device, for example, can have various applications and other content automatically installed or copied over to the additional device, but with versions or formats that take advantage of, and are appropriate for, the capabilities of that additional device. Further, the intelligent communication via a logically centralized service can enable such devices to interact even though those devices might utilize different protocols and/or formats, and might otherwise not be able to communicate or have ever have been tested together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Z. Evans, Luis Felipe Cabrera, Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Peter N. DeSantis
  • Patent number: 8671340
    Abstract: Age data is calculated and stored that describes the age of one or more elements in a Web page, such as images or hyperlinks. The age data may be utilized to modify the Web page such that the age of each Web page element is visually presented when the Web page is rendered. For example, the Web page may be configured such that a region is overlaid upon each element that is colored or shaded based upon the age of the element. Colored or shaded borders might also be applied to the Web page elements that indicate the age of each Web page element. The age data might also be utilized to modify the Web page such that the frequency at which each page element has been changed will be visually presented when the Web page is rendered. The age data might also be correlated to other Web page statistics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: IMDb.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Murray Chapman
  • Patent number: 8606948
    Abstract: A logically centralized system or service, such as a cloud-based content management service, enables intelligent communication between disparate devices. Such communication enables content such as applications and data to be synchronized between various devices, where the synchronization takes into account the capabilities of each device to provide versions and/or formats of that content that are appropriate for each device. A user purchasing an additional device, for example, can have various applications and other content automatically installed or copied over to the additional device, but with versions or formats that take advantage of, and are appropriate for, the capabilities of that additional device. Further, the intelligent communication via a logically centralized service can enable such devices to interact even though those devices might utilize different protocols and/or formats, and might otherwise not be able to communicate or have ever have been tested together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Z. Evans, Luis Felipe Cabrera, Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Peter N. DeSantis
  • Publication number: 20130110957
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fine level access control over message content in an electronic messaging system. Access criteria associated with the message content define requirements that a user must satisfy in order to perform specified actions on message content. The user's complete profile is examined at run time and compared to access criteria to make a real time decision about the level of access that a user should have to message content. Depending on the access criteria associated with content, stronger authentication or weaker authentication of the user profile information may be performed on the user profile to determine the level of access that should be granted to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Pratik S. Dave
  • Patent number: 8312097
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fine level access control over message content in an electronic messaging system. Access criteria associated with the message content define requirements that a user must satisfy in order to perform specified actions on message content. The user's complete profile is examined at run time and compared to access criteria to make a real time decision about the level of access that a user should have to message content. Depending on the access criteria associated with content, stronger authentication or weaker authentication of the user profile information may be performed on the user profile to determine the level of access that should be granted to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: IMDb.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Pratik S. Dave
  • Patent number: 8266008
    Abstract: Techniques are described for facilitating a supply of used items on behalf of an entity that desires to acquire such used items, such as a merchant that sells used items to customers. The used items are obtained based on interactions with recipients who receive items that are sold or otherwise provided by one or more merchants (or other suppliers of items), such as by supplying appropriate information and materials to the recipients along with the items. In some situations, when an item is delivered or otherwise supplied to a recipient by a merchant, the merchant also supplies information to the recipient that indicates an offer from a used item acquirer entity to re-acquire the item from the recipient (such as after the recipient has used the item) and shipping materials for use in returning the item to an indicated destination if the recipient accepts the offer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Paul G. Nordstrom
  • Publication number: 20120079095
    Abstract: A logically centralized system or service, such as a cloud-based content management service, enables intelligent communication between disparate devices. Such communication enables content such as applications and data to be synchronized between various devices, where the synchronization takes into account the capabilities of each device to provide versions and/or formats of that content that are appropriate for each device. A user purchasing an additional device, for example, can have various applications and other content automatically installed or copied over to the additional device, but with versions or formats that take advantage of, and are appropriate for, the capabilities of that additional device. Further, the intelligent communication via a logically centralized service can enable such devices to interact even though those devices might utilize different protocols and/or formats, and might otherwise not be able to communicate or have ever have been tested together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Z. Evans, Luis Felipe Cabrera, Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Peter N. DeSantis
  • Publication number: 20120079276
    Abstract: Intelligent content delivery enables content to be delivered to different devices in formats appropriate for those devices based on the capabilities of those devices. A user might access the same piece of content on two different devices, and can automatically receive a higher quality format on a device capable of playing that higher quality format. The user can purchase rights to content in any format, such that as new formats emerge or the user upgrades to devices with enhanced capabilities, the user can receive the improved formats automatically without having to repurchase the content. Further, the user can pause and resume content between devices even when those devices utilize different formats, and can access content on devices not otherwise associated with the user, receiving content in formats that are appropriate for those unknown devices even if the user has not previously accessed content in those formats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Evans, Luis Felipe Cabrera, Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Peter N. DeSantis
  • Publication number: 20120079606
    Abstract: Intelligent content delivery enables content to be delivered to different devices in formats appropriate for those devices based on the capabilities of those devices. A user might access the same piece of content on two different devices, and can automatically receive a higher quality format on a device capable of playing that higher quality format. The user can purchase rights to content in any format, such that as new formats emerge or the user upgrades to devices with enhanced capabilities, the user can receive the improved formats automatically without having to repurchase the content. Further, the user can pause and resume content between devices even when those devices utilize different formats, and can access content on devices not otherwise associated with the user, receiving content in formats that are appropriate for those unknown devices even if the user has not previously accessed content in those formats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Z. Evans, Luis Felipe Cabrera, Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Peter N. DeSantis
  • Publication number: 20120079126
    Abstract: A logically centralized system or service, such as a cloud-based content management service, enables intelligent communication between disparate devices. Such communication enables content such as applications and data to be synchronized between various devices, where the synchronization takes into account the capabilities of each device to provide versions and/or formats of that content that are appropriate for each device. A user purchasing an additional device, for example, can have various applications and other content automatically installed or copied over to the additional device, but with versions or formats that take advantage of, and are appropriate for, the capabilities of that additional device. Further, the intelligent communication via a logically centralized service can enable such devices to interact even though those devices might utilize different protocols and/or formats, and might otherwise not be able to communicate or have ever have been tested together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Z. Evans, Luis Felipe Cabrera, Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Peter N. DeSantis
  • Publication number: 20120078997
    Abstract: Intelligent content delivery enables content to be delivered to different devices in formats appropriate for those devices based on the capabilities of those devices. A user might access the same piece of content on two different devices, and can automatically receive a higher quality format on a device capable of playing that higher quality format. The user can purchase rights to content in any format, such that as new formats emerge or the user upgrades to devices with enhanced capabilities, the user can receive the improved formats automatically without having to repurchase the content. Further, the user can pause and resume content between devices even when those devices utilize different formats, and can access content on devices not otherwise associated with the user, receiving content in formats that are appropriate for those unknown devices even if the user has not previously accessed content in those formats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Z. Evans, Luis Felipe Cabrera, Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Peter N. DeSantis
  • Patent number: 8073740
    Abstract: Techniques are described for facilitating a supply of used items on behalf of an entity that desires to acquire such used items, such as a merchant that sells used items to customers. The used items are obtained based on interactions with recipients who receive items that are sold or otherwise provided by one or more merchants (or other suppliers of items), such as by supplying appropriate information and materials to the recipients along with the items. In some situations, when an item is delivered or otherwise supplied to a recipient by a merchant, the merchant also supplies information to the recipient that indicates an offer from a used item acquirer entity to re-acquire the item from the recipient (such as after the recipient has used the item) and shipping materials for use in returning the item to an indicated destination if the recipient accepts the offer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Paul G. Nordstrom
  • Patent number: 7805431
    Abstract: A system for generating a display of a tag options to a user wishing to tag an item includes a computer-implemented database for storing information related to various tags. Upon receiving a request for tags for an item, the system evaluates each tag associated with the item, and selects tag options to be displayed to the user based on the evaluations of the tags. The group of selected tags is displayed to the user in an order based on the evaluations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hilliard Bruce Siegel
  • Patent number: 7610382
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for programmatically substituting synonyms into distributed text content. A synonym substitution mechanism may programmatically replace selected words in textual data with synonyms for the selected words. The modification to an excerpt performed by the synonym substitution mechanism may not significantly alter the meaning of the excerpt to a human reader. By replacing one or more selected words in an excerpt with synonyms for the words, illicit copies of the excerpt may be recognized by comparing a copy of the excerpt to the original. Particular permutations of synonym substitutions may be provided in excerpts to particular requestors. The particular permutations may be recorded and used to determine a requestor as the source of a copy of the excerpt. Synonym substitution may make programmatic excerpt chaining difficult by substituting different synonyms for the same word(s) in an overlapping portion of two adjacent excerpts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hilliard Bruce Siegel
  • Publication number: 20080114778
    Abstract: A system for generating a display of a tag options to a user wishing to tag an item includes a computer-implemented database for storing information related to various tags. Upon receiving a request for tags for an item, the system evaluates each tag associated with the item, and selects tag options to be displayed to the user based on the evaluations of the tags. The group of selected tags is displayed to the user in an order based on the evaluations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventor: Hilliard Bruce Siegel