Patents by Inventor Lauri E. Bortscheller

Lauri E. Bortscheller 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: 6606619
    Abstract: A computer-implemented process identifies specific nodes within a browse tree or other hierarchical browse structure based on historical actions of online users, and calls such nodes to the attention of users during navigation of the browse structure. The system and method are particularly useful for assisting users in locating popular products and/or product categories within a catalog of an online merchant, but may be used in connection with browse structures used to locate other types of items. In one embodiment, node popularity levels are determined periodically (e.g., once per day) based on user activity data that represents users' affinities for such nodes (items and/or item categories). Popular nodes are called to the attention of users, preferably by automatically “elevating” such nodes for display within the browse tree. The node elevation process may also be used to elevate nodes that are predicted to be of interest to a particular user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Amazon.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruben E. Ortega, Joel R. Spiegel, Lauri E. Bortscheller
  • Publication number: 20030050916
    Abstract: A computer-implemented process identifies specific nodes within a browse tree or other hierarchical browse structure based on historical actions of online users, and calls such nodes to the attention of users during navigation of the browse structure. The system and method are particularly useful for assisting users in locating popular products and/or product categories within a catalog of an online merchant, but may be used in connection with browse structures used to locate other types of items. In one embodiment, node popularity levels are determined periodically (e.g., once per day) based on user activity data that represents users' affinities for such nodes (items and/or item categories). Popular nodes are called to the attention of users, preferably by automatically “elevating” such nodes for display within the browse tree. The node elevation process may also be used to elevate nodes that are predicted to be of interest to a particular user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Ruben E. Ortega, Joel R. Spiegel, Lauri E. Bortscheller
  • Patent number: 6489968
    Abstract: A computer-implemented process identifies popular nodes (items and/or item categories) within a browse tree or other hierarchial browse structure based on historical actions of online users, and calls such nodes to the attention of users during navigation of the browse tree. The system and method are particularly useful for assisting users in locating popular products and/or product categories within a catalog on an online merchant, but may be used with browse structures for navigating other types of content. Node popularity levels are determined periodically (e.g. once per day) based on recent user activity data that reflects users' affinities for specific nodes. Popular nodes are called to the attention of users, preferably by automatically “elevating” such nodes for display within the browse tree. The node elevation process may also be used to elevate nodes that are predicted to be of interest to a user, regardless of node popularity levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Amazon.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruben E. Ortega, Joel R. Spiegel, Lauri E. Bortscheller
  • Patent number: 6466918
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method are provided for identifying popular nodes within a browse tree or other hierarchical browse structure based on historical actions of online users, and for calling such nodes to the attention of users during navigation of the browse tree. The system and method are particularly useful for assisting users in locating popular products and/or product categories within a catalog of an online merchant, but may be used in connection with browse structures used to locate other types of items. Node popularity levels are determined periodically (e.g., once per day) based on recent user activity data that represents users' affinities for such nodes. Such activity data may include, for example, the number of times each item was purchased, and/or the number of times each category was selected for display, within a selected period of time. Popular nodes are called to the attention of users by automatically “elevating” the nodes for display within the browse tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Amazon. com, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel R. Spiegel, Lauri E. Bortscheller, Ruben E. Ortega