Patents by Inventor Jeff Ayars

Jeff Ayars 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: 11783378
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to improve generation of electronic communications. The method may include providing a plurality of content slots each configured to receive content. The method may also include maintaining a database comprising a plurality of content generators, and determining, using a processor, one of the plurality of content generators for providing content to each of the plurality of content slots. The determining the one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators may include providing a first content generator of the plurality of content generators with a set of selection parameters, and receiving a first bid for one of the plurality of content slots from the first content generator. The first content generator may determine the bid based at least in part on the set of selection parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Groupon, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Ayars, Ruslan Gilfanov, Jeffrey A. Holden, John Mark Nickels, Pete Prokopowicz, Daniel M. Roarty, David Thacker
  • Publication number: 20220383359
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to improve generation of electronic communications. The method may provide a plurality of content slots each configured to receive content, the content comprising at least one of promotion content or non-promotion content. The method may also include maintaining a database comprising a plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators, and determining, using a processor, one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators for respectively supplying corresponding promotion content or non-promotion content to each of the plurality of content slots. The determining the one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators may include determining selection parameters, and scoring the plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators based at least in part on the selection parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Jeff Ayars, Ruslan Gilfanov, Jeff Holden, John M. Nickels, Pete Prokopowicz, Dan Roarty, David Thacker
  • Patent number: 11308511
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to improve generation of electronic communications. The method may provide a plurality of content slots each configured to receive content, the content comprising at least one of promotion content or non-promotion content. The method may also include maintaining a database comprising a plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators, and determining, using a processor, one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators for respectively supplying corresponding promotion content or non-promotion content to each of the plurality of content slots. The determining the one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators may include determining selection parameters, and scoring the plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators based at least in part on the selection parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: GROUPON, INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Ayars, Ruslan Gilfanov, Jeff Holden, John M. Nickels, Pete Prokopowicz, Dan Roarty, David Thacker
  • Publication number: 20210272165
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to improve generation of electronic communications. The method may include providing a plurality of content slots each configured to receive content. The method may also include maintaining a database comprising a plurality of content generators, and determining, using a processor, one of the plurality of content generators for providing content to each of the plurality of content slots. The determining the one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators may include providing a first content generator of the plurality of content generators with a set of selection parameters, and receiving a first bid for one of the plurality of content slots from the first content generator. The first content generator may determine the bid based at least in part on the set of selection parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Jeff AYARS, Ruslan GILFANOV, Jeffrey A. HOLDEN, John Mark NICKELS, Pete PROKOPOWICZ, Daniel M. ROARTY, David THACKER
  • Patent number: 10984455
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to improve generation of electronic communications. The method may include providing a plurality of content slots each configured to receive content. The method may also include maintaining a database comprising a plurality of content generators, and determining, using a processor, one of the plurality of content generators for providing content to each of the plurality of content slots. The determining the one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators may include providing a first content generator of the plurality of content generators with a set of selection parameters, and receiving a first bid for one of the plurality of content slots from the first content generator. The first content generator may determine the bid based at least in part on the set of selection parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Groupon, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Ayars, Ruslan Gilfanov, Jeffrey A. Holden, John Mark Nickels, Pete Prokopowicz, Daniel M. Roarty, David Thacker
  • Publication number: 20200043032
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to improve generation of electronic communications. The method may provide a plurality of content slots each configured to receive content, the content comprising at least one of promotion content or non-promotion content. The method may also include maintaining a database comprising a plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators, and determining, using a processor, one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators for respectively supplying corresponding promotion content or non-promotion content to each of the plurality of content slots. The determining the one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators may include determining selection parameters, and scoring the plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators based at least in part on the selection parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Jeff Ayars, Ruslan Gilfanov, Jeff Holden, John M. Nickels, Pete Prokopowicz, Dan Roarty, David Thacker
  • Patent number: 10423977
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to improve generation of electronic communications. The method may provide a plurality of content slots each configured to receive content, the content comprising at least one of promotion content or non-promotion content. The method may also include maintaining a database comprising a plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators, and determining, using a processor, one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators for respectively supplying corresponding promotion content or non-promotion content to each of the plurality of content slots. The determining the one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators may include determining selection parameters, and scoring the plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators based at least in part on the selection parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: GROUPON, INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Ayars, Ruslan Gilfanov, Jeff Holden, John M. Nickels, Pete Prokopowicz, Dan Roarty, David Thacker
  • Patent number: 10387902
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to improve generation of electronic communications. The method may provide a plurality of content slots each configured to receive content, the content comprising at least one of promotion content or non-promotion content. The method may also include maintaining a database comprising a plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators, and determining, using a processor, one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators for respectively supplying corresponding promotion content or non-promotion content to each of the plurality of content slots. The determining the one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators may include determining selection parameters, and scoring the plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators based at least in part on the selection parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: GROUPON, INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Ayars, Ruslan Gilfanov, Jeff Holden, John M. Nickels, Pete Prokopowicz, Dan Roarty, David Thacker
  • Patent number: 10373210
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to improve generation of electronic communications. The method may provide a plurality of content slots each configured to receive content, the content comprising at least one of promotion content or non-promotion content. The method may also include maintaining a database comprising a plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators, and determining, using a processor, one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators for respectively supplying corresponding promotion content or non-promotion content to each of the plurality of content slots. The determining the one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators may include determining selection parameters, and scoring the plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators based at least in part on the selection parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: GROUPON, INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Ayars, Ruslan Gilfanov, Jeff Holden, John M. Nickels, Pete Prokopowicz, Dan Roarty, David Thacker
  • Patent number: 8027365
    Abstract: A method and computer program product for processing a locally-stored, specific media data file portion to generate a first normalized packetized stream. A remotely-sourced, specific media data stream is processed to generate a second normalized packetized stream. At least a portion of the first normalized packetized stream and at least a portion of the second normalized packetized stream are combined, using a packet loss tolerant stitching algorithm, to generate a loss-compensated media data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: RealNetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Milko Boic, Jeff Ayars, Greg Wright
  • Patent number: 7694006
    Abstract: A method and computer program product for receiving a plurality of media data file portions on a client electronic device from a remote distribution server computer. Each media data file portion is associated with a media data stream. A user is allowed to select a specific media data file portion for rendering. The specific media data file portion is chosen from the plurality of media data file portions. Upon the user selecting the specific media data file portion, at least a portion of the specific media data file portion is rendered and a specific media data stream associated with the specific media data file portion is obtained from an on-demand media server computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: RealNetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Milko Boic, Jeff Ayars, Greg Wright
  • Publication number: 20090028188
    Abstract: A method and computer program product for processing a locally-stored, specific media data file portion to generate a first normalized packetized stream. A remotely-sourced, specific media data stream is processed to generate a second normalized packetized stream. At least a portion of the first normalized packetized stream and at least a portion of the second normalized packetized stream are combined, using a packet loss tolerant stitching algorithm, to generate a loss-compensated media data stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: RealNetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Milko Boic, Jeff Ayars, Greg Wright
  • Publication number: 20090031007
    Abstract: A method and computer program product for receiving a plurality of media data file portions on a client electronic device from a remote distribution server computer. Each media data file portion is associated with a media data stream. A user is allowed to select a specific media data file portion for rendering. The specific media data file portion is chosen from the plurality of media data file portions. Upon the user selecting the specific media data file portion, at least a portion of the specific media data file portion is rendered and a specific media data stream associated with the specific media data file portion is obtained from an on-demand media server computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: RealNetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Milko Boic, Jeff Ayars, Greg Wright