Patents by Inventor John B. Forbes

John B. Forbes 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: 9524355
    Abstract: A method for automatically presenting digital content to a user of a computer computes task-related metadata from data which may include i) a most recent event record, ii) a most recent specification received from the user of a task being performed by the user, iii) an automatic prediction of the current task being executed by the user, iii) past event records and associated task identifiers stored in a database and/or iv) content in resources associated with a given task. The task-related metadata is communicated to a digital content service provider. Digital content relevant to the user based on the task-related metadata is then selected, sent to the computer, and presented to the user. Rules and filters control the metadata going out and the content coming in, allowing automatic adaptation based on the current task, characteristics of the content, and other factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: MOZY, INC.
    Inventors: John B. Forbes, Paul Maritz, Jonathan L. Herlocker, Thomas G. Dletterich
  • Patent number: 8706748
    Abstract: Methods for using task-related information to enhance digital searching are provided. A task-oriented user activity system maintains task-related information about resources accessed by a user and current user task. This task-related information is used to enhance search queries to include task-related search criteria that improve relevance of search results. The task-related information can also be used to include task-related metadata in search engine index, e.g., by storing the metadata in the index or by storing it in resources which are subsequently indexed. Task-related information can also be used to enhance search results by filtering and ranking results to increase relevance with respect to a user's current task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: DECHO Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Herlocker, Thomas G. Dietterich, John B. Forbes, Paul Maritz
  • Patent number: 8126888
    Abstract: Methods for using task-related information to enhance digital searching are provided. A task-oriented user activity system maintains task-related information about resources accessed by a user and current user task. This task-related information is used to enhance search results by filtering and ranking results to increase relevance with respect to a user's current task. The task-related information can also be used to include task-related metadata in search engine index, e.g., by storing the metadata in the index or by storing it in resources which are subsequently indexed. Task-related information can also be used to enhance search results by enhancing search queries to include task-related search criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: DECHO, Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Herlocker, Thomas G. Dietterich, John B. Forbes, Paul Maritz
  • Patent number: 8117198
    Abstract: Methods for using task-related information to enhance digital searching are provided. A task-oriented user activity system maintains task-related information about resources accessed by a user and current user task. This task-related information is used to include task-related metadata in search engine index, e.g., by storing the metadata in the index or by storing it in resources which are subsequently indexed. Task-related information can also be used to enhance search results by filtering and ranking results to increase relevance with respect to a user's current task and/or to enhance search queries to include task-related search criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Decho Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Herlocker, Thomas G. Dietterich, John B. Forbes, Paul Maritz
  • Publication number: 20110258676
    Abstract: An interactive video subscription service is disclosed. The interactive video subscription service has a web based application. The web based application has a main transmission source, a secondary transmission source, and at least one tertiary transmission source. The main transmission source, the secondary transmission source and at least one tertiary transmission source has video and audio signals. Wherein the main transmission source is controllable by a broadcaster, and the web based application is viewable by a plurality of subscribers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: James A. Gaskins, III, John B. Forbes, Dee D. McHenry, Edwin Henry Meyne
  • Publication number: 20090157617
    Abstract: Methods for using task-related information to enhance digital searching are provided. A task-oriented user activity system maintains task-related information about resources accessed by a user and current user task. This task-related information is used to enhance search queries to include task-related search criteria that improve relevance of search results. The task-related information can also be used to include task-related metadata in search engine index, e.g., by storing the metadata in the index or by storing it in resources which are subsequently indexed. Task-related information can also be used to enhance search results by filtering and ranking results to increase relevance with respect to a user's current task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Herlocker, Thomas G. Dietterich, John B. Forbes, Paul Maritz
  • Publication number: 20090157653
    Abstract: Methods for using task-related information to enhance digital searching are provided. A task-oriented user activity system maintains task-related information about resources accessed by a user and current user task. This task-related information is used to enhance search results by filtering and ranking results to increase relevance with respect to a user's current task. The task-related information can also be used to include task-related metadata in search engine index, e.g., by storing the metadata in the index or by storing it in resources which are subsequently indexed. Task-related information can also be used to enhance search results by enhancing search queries to include task-related search criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Herlocker, Thomas G. Dietterich, John B. Forbes, Paul Maritz
  • Publication number: 20090157729
    Abstract: Methods for using task-related information to enhance digital searching are provided. A task-oriented user activity system maintains task-related information about resources accessed by a user and current user task. This task-related information is used to include task-related metadata in search engine index, e.g., by storing the metadata in the index or by storing it in resources which are subsequently indexed. Task-related information can also be used to enhance search results by filtering and ranking results to increase relevance with respect to a user's current task and/or to enhance search queries to include task-related search criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Herlocker, Thomas G. Dietterich, John B. Forbes, Paul Maritz
  • Publication number: 20080177726
    Abstract: A method for automatically presenting digital content to a user of a computer computes task-related metadata from data which may include i) a most recent event record, ii) a most recent specification received from the user of a task being performed by the user, iii) an automatic prediction of the current task being executed by the user, iii) past event records and associated task identifiers stored in a database and/or iv) content in resources associated with a given task. The task-related metadata is communicated to a digital content service provider. Digital content relevant to the user based on the task-related metadata is then selected, sent to the computer, and presented to the user. Rules and filters control the metadata going out and the content coming in, allowing automatic adaptation based on the current task, characteristics of the content, and other factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: John B. Forbes, Paul Maritz, Jonathan L. Herlocker, Thomas G. Dletterich