Patents by Inventor Joseph Spears

Joseph Spears 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: 11099024
    Abstract: Predicting the future location of a user based on predicting the route that the user might take is disclosed. The routes used by the user in the past are indexed to generate a dictionary of routes which can be further augmented with contextual data. The prior routes are encoded within the dictionary such that each term representing a respective one of the prior routes comprises a collection of unique identifiers wherein each of the unique identifiers represents a segment of the respective one of the prior routes. Techniques of text prediction, term frequency for dictionary scores and other language processing techniques are used to predict the further route of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 10853842
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured with a configurable, generic, data-driven model, in which properties of social networking sites/applications are stored and used in communicating offer-related messages via social networking sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 10419379
    Abstract: Systems and methods configured to program processing logic of related events via the use of autonomous components connected via a message board, a graphical user interface for specifying a workflow among selected autonomous components, where each of the autonomous components is configured to process a pre-determined type of events, and the autonomous components are configured to monitor a message board for relevant messages, retrieve respective messages from the message board, process the retrieved messages independent of other autonomous components, and provide processing results via posting messages on the message board. The messages posted on the message board identify the relevant workflows to cause the autonomous components to process data in accordance with the workflows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Ilker Celikyilmaz, Joseph Spears
  • Patent number: 10360591
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to represent offer rules based on requirements for the detection of predefined types of events, and actions scheduled to be performed in response to the detection of each occurrence of the events. The events are processed independently from each other and are linked via prerequisite conditions to formulate the requirements of an offer campaign. In one embodiment, the requirements for the detection of the events are specified based on predetermined types of events, including a first type for an event specified for interaction with a first user when the first user performs an action as a result of a referral from a second user, and a second type for an event specified for interaction with the second user in response to the first user performing the action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Mark Carlson, Joseph Spears, Patrick Stan
  • Publication number: 20190220894
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured with a configurable, generic, data-driven model, in which properties of social networking sites/applications are stored and used in communicating offer-related messages via social networking sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Publication number: 20190222962
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for route prediction. A method includes generating a route dictionary comprising a plurality of routes, generating a route prediction for a route partially traversed by a user based on the route dictionary and a context of the user, generating at least one location of interest based on the route prediction, monitoring an actual route of the user continuing from the route partially traversed, recording an accuracy of the route prediction based on the actual route of the user, determining that the actual route does not match the route prediction based on the accuracy, in response to determining that the actual route does not match the route prediction, determining if the actual route matches an existing route stored in the route dictionary, in response to determining that the actual route matches the existing route, and updating a count associated with the existing route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 10290018
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured with a configurable, generic, data-driven model, in which properties of social networking sites/applications are stored and used in communicating offer-related messages via social networking sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 10285008
    Abstract: Selection of offers, locations or merchants based on their distances from a portion of a user's route and their affinity for the user is disclosed. A route employed by a user for travelling to a destination is obtained and segmented at identified vertices. Locations that are proximate to the route segments are determined. The proximate locations are further analyzed to obtain their specific distances from a selected portion such as the user's origin or destination or any route segment. Location based services are associated with those proximate locations that are closest to the selected portion on the user's route or those with the better utility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Publication number: 20180149486
    Abstract: Predicting the future location of a user based on predicting the route that the user might take is disclosed. The routes used by the user in the past are indexed to generate a dictionary of routes which can be further augmented with contextual data. The prior routes are encoded within the dictionary such that each term representing a respective one of the prior routes comprises a collection of unique identifiers wherein each of the unique identifiers represents a segment of the respective one of the prior routes. Techniques of text prediction, term frequency for dictionary scores and other language processing techniques are used to predict the further route of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 9921072
    Abstract: Predicting the future location of a user based on predicting the route that the user might take is disclosed. The routes used by the user in the past are indexed to generate a dictionary of routes which can be further augmented with contextual data. The prior routes are encoded within the dictionary such that each term representing a respective one of the prior routes comprises a collection of unique identifiers wherein each of the unique identifiers represents a segment of the respective one of the prior routes. Techniques of text prediction, term frequency for dictionary scores and other language processing techniques are used to predict the further route of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Publication number: 20170303088
    Abstract: Selection of offers, locations or merchants based on their distances from a portion of a user's route and their affinity for the user is disclosed. A route employed by a user for travelling to a destination is obtained and segmented at identified vertices. Locations that are proximate to the route segments are determined. The proximate locations are further analyzed to obtain their specific distances from a selected portion such as the user's origin or destination or any route segment. Location based services are associated with those proximate locations that are closest to the selected portion on the user's route or those with the better utility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 9736646
    Abstract: Selection of offers, locations or merchants based on their distances from a portion of a user's route and their affinity for the user is disclosed. A route employed by a user for travelling to a destination is obtained and segmented at identified vertices. Locations that are proximate to the route segments are determined. The proximate locations are further analyzed to obtain their specific distances from a selected portion such as the user's origin or destination or any route segment. Location based services are associated with those proximate locations that are closest to the selected portion on the user's route or those with the better utility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Publication number: 20160371733
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to represent offer rules based on requirements for the detection of predefined types of events, and actions scheduled to be performed in response to the detection of each occurrence of the events. The events are processed independently from each other and are linked via prerequisite conditions to formulate the requirements of an offer campaign. In one embodiment, the requirements for the detection of the events are specified based on predetermined types of events, including a first type for an event specified for interaction with a first user when the first user performs an action as a result of a referral from a second user, and a second type for an event specified for interaction with the second user in response to the first user performing the action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Mark Carlson, Joseph Spears, Patrick Stan
  • Publication number: 20160323711
    Abstract: Selection of offers, locations or merchants based on their distances from a portion of a user's route and their affinity for the user is disclosed. A route employed by a user for travelling to a destination is obtained and segmented at identified vertices. Locations that are proximate to the route segments are determined. The proximate locations are further analyzed to obtain their specific distances from a selected portion such as the user's origin or destination or any route segment. Location based services are associated with those proximate locations that are closest to the selected portion on the user's route or those with the better utility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 9477967
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to represent offer rules based on requirements for the detection of predefined types of events and actions scheduled to be performed in response to the detection of each occurrence of the events. The events are independent from each other in processing and are linked via prerequisite conditions and/or ineligibility conditions to formulate the requirements of an offer campaign. In one embodiment, the ineligibility of a user, participating in the offer campaign, to meet the requirements of a first event leads to the monitoring of a second event that has a prerequisite condition formulated based on the ineligibility of the user to meet the requirements of the first event; and the second event provides an alternative path within the offer campaign when the user cannot meet the requirements of the first event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 9466075
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to represent offer rules based on requirements for the detection of predefined types of events, and actions scheduled to be performed in response to the detection of each occurrence of the events. The events are processed independently from each other and are linked via prerequisite conditions to formulate the requirements of an offer campaign. In one embodiment, the requirements for the detection of the events are specified based on predetermined types of events, including a first type for an event specified for interaction with a first user when the first user performs an action as a result of a referral from a second user, and a second type for an event specified for interaction with the second user in response to the first user performing the action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Mark Carlson, Joseph Spears, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 9439036
    Abstract: Selection of offers, locations or merchants based on their distances from a portion of a user's route and their affinity for the user is disclosed. A route employed by a user for travelling to a destination is obtained and segmented at identified vertices. Locations that are proximate to the route segments are determined. The proximate locations are further analyzed to obtain their specific distances from a selected portion such as the user's origin or destination or any route segment. Location based services are associated with those proximate locations that are closest to the selected portion on the user's route or those with the better utility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 9332396
    Abstract: Systems and methods to track locations of a mobile device as a function of time and extract routes traversed by the mobile device, frequencies of the routes, and travel time periods of the routes. The route information is organized as a route dictionary. In response to an indication of a recently completed route, the information of the recently completed route is used in the route dictionary to look up a most likely route for the next trip and the predicted time of the next trip. Location-based data items are selected based on the predicted route for the next trip, sorted based on closeness to the route and affinity to the user of the mobile device for transmission to the mobile device. Top selected data items are scheduled to be transmitted to the mobile device in a time window before the predicted time of the next trip to avoid distracting the user (e.g., from driving) while the user is on the trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventor: Joseph Spears
  • Publication number: 20150287077
    Abstract: System and method configured to store data defining merchant groups, data associating transaction terminals with merchant groups, and data associating offers with merchant groups. Each of the merchant has one or more transaction terminals configured to process payments via a payment processing network. When a transaction being processed in the payment processing network is detected to be relevant to offers, the transaction data is augmented/enriched with data identifying one or more merchant groups to which a transaction terminal that initiates the transaction is associated. Offer rules are applied to the transaction data that is augmented with merchant group data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Ilker Celikyilmaz, Joseph Spears, Muhammad Bassam Adil Khan, Kalpana Jogi, Darpan Dewan
  • Publication number: 20150288637
    Abstract: Systems and methods configured to program processing logic of related events via the use of autonomous components connected via a message board, a graphical user interface for specifying a workflow among selected autonomous components, where each of the autonomous components is configured to process a pre-determined type of events, and the autonomous components are configured to monitor a message board for relevant messages, retrieve respective messages from the message board, process the retrieved messages independent of other autonomous components, and provide processing results via posting messages on the message board. The messages posted on the message board identify the relevant workflows to cause the autonomous components to process data in accordance with the workflows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Ilker Celikyilmaz, Joseph Spears