Patents by Inventor Mark E. Rolston

Mark E. Rolston 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).

  • Publication number: 20160117068
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating and delivering wrapped packages of cards are disclosed. With wrap packages, each card is selectively authored to include (i) media content, (ii) application functionality and/or (iii) e-commerce related services. In addition, the cards can be authored in one or more linear sequences so that the media content conveys a “narrative” or “story” that unfolds as the wrap is consumed. Thus, the viewer is enticed to engage and use the application and/or e-commerce functionality, all within the context of the narrative story. In addition, wrap packages are portable objects that can be saved and readily distributed similar to electronic messages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, Ian McFARLAND, John M. GARRIS, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN
  • Publication number: 20160117611
    Abstract: Creating and delivering an e-ticket digital companion wrap package in response to the sale or distribution of e-ticket(s) for an event. With e-ticket wrap packages, the cards are selectively authored to include (i) the e-ticket(s), (ii) media content, (iii) application functionality and/or (iv) e-commerce related services. In addition, the cards are authored in one or more linear sequences. With e-ticket digital companion wrap packages, the user experience when browsing is largely dictated by the author/ticket seller, not the ticket purchaser/holder. As a result, digital companion wrap packages have the unique ability to present to the viewer a palette of services, functions and experiences, related to the event and/or performance that the ticket holder will be attending. Further, in certain non-exclusive embodiments, the media of the cards can authored to provide a “story-book” like experience that unfolds as the individual cards are browsed in the one or more sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN
  • Publication number: 20160104219
    Abstract: Creating and delivering a digital companion in response to the sale and/or lease of a product and/or service. The digital companion is delivered in the form of a wrapped package of cards. With wrap packages, each card is selectively authored to include (i) media content, (ii) application functionality and/or (iii) e-commerce related services. In addition, the cards are authored in one or more linear sequences. With digital companion wrap packages, the user experience when browsing is largely dictated by the author/retailer, not the customer. As a result, digital companion wrap packages have the unique ability to convey a “story”, with an intertwined a palette of services, functions and experiences included therein, that unfolds as the individual cards are browsed in the one or more sequences, similar to the turning of the pages of a book.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN
  • Publication number: 20160103820
    Abstract: An authoring tool for authoring wrap packages of cards. The authoring tool includes a set of tools that enable an author to create a new card of a wrap selected from a variety of card templates. In various embodiments, the card templates include textual, video, image/photo, document, gallery, chat, location/GPS, transact, appointment, and end-of-wrap card templates. When a particular card template is selected, the template is then duplicated to create the new card. Thereafter, the author may author the card to include various components, content, attributes, layouts, styles triggers and/or behaviors. As the cards of the wrap are created, the authoring tool provides the author with the ability to order the sequence of the cards. The authoring tool thus enables authors to selectively create wrap packages that include media that conveys a narrative story and application functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Jared L. FICKLIN, Mark E. ROLSTON, Matthew J. SANTONE, Jon Stevens, Eric J. WICKS
  • Publication number: 20160103586
    Abstract: A system of tools and components that enable wrap users to interact with a wrap package infrastructure, creating and improving a wrap user experience. The system and components include a wrap authoring tool, a wrap runtime viewer, a wrap asset management tool, and a wrap library. Through these tools and components, wrap users (i) contact and interact with the wrap infrastructure and (ii) are empowered with the ability to author, receive, distribute, share, view, consume, categorize, organize and distribute wrap packages, which together, enhance and define the overall wrap user experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, Kunal K. BHASIN, John M. GARRIS, Jared L. FICKLIN, Mark E. ROLSTON
  • Publication number: 20160103794
    Abstract: A variety of data structures, components, runtime viewers and methods are described for defining, delivering and rendering wrapped packages of cards in a manner that is particularly well suited, but not limited to, display on mobile devices. Each card may selectively include media content, and a palette of application functionality and/or supporting e-commerce related services. The cards of the wrap packages are ideally threaded together into one or more linear sequences, and authored to convey a book-like narrative that unfolds as the cards are sequentially browsed. In addition, the wrap packages are portable objects that are readily distributed, similar to other electronic messages, through e-mail, messaging, social-media, or via a variety of other electronic communication platforms. As a result, wrap packages are consumable, sharable and savable objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, Ian McFARLAND, John M. GARRIS, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN, Matthew J. SANTONE, Jon STEVENS
  • Publication number: 20160104201
    Abstract: Wrap packages of cards that integrate content and native advertising. When a wrapped package is created, the cards are selectively authored to include media content, native advertisement(s) and application functionality, typically but not necessarily, supporting e-commerce. In addition, the cards are authored into one or more linear sequences. As a result, when the wrap is consumed, the user experiences is a revealing of the media content, with the advertisement(s) and functionality intertwined therein, as the cards are sequentially browsed, analogous to the turning of the pages of a book or magazine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN
  • Publication number: 20160103797
    Abstract: An authoring tool for authoring wrap packages of cards. The authoring tool includes a set of tools that enable an author to create a new card of a wrap selected from a variety of card templates. In various embodiments, the card templates include textual, video, image/photo, document, gallery, chat, widgets, global components, location/GPS, transact, appointment, and end-of-wrap card templates. When a particular card template is selected, the template is then duplicated to create the new card. Thereafter, the author may author the card to include various components, content, attributes, layouts, styles triggers and/or behaviors. As the cards of the wrap are created, the authoring tool provides the author with the ability to order the sequence of the cards. The authoring tool thus enables authors to selectively create wrap packages that include media that conveys a narrative story and application functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Jared L. FICKLIN, Mark E. ROLSTON, Matthew J. SANTONE, Jon Stevens, Eric J. WICKS
  • Publication number: 20160104116
    Abstract: Creating and delivering an employee handbook, to employees of an organization, in the form of an interactive wrap package of cards. When the wrapped package is created, the cards are authored to include (a) one or more linear sequences, including a wide variety of employee-related multimedia content, such as organizational policies and/or procedures, (b) a palette of application functionality embedded, in one or more of the cards, providing two-way interaction between the employer and employee, and/or (c) at least one acknowledgement card requiring that the employee provide an electronic acknowledgement that certain policies and/or procedures have been reviewed and accepted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN
  • Publication number: 20160104202
    Abstract: Creating and delivering advertisements within wrapped packages of cards, which selectively include (i) media content, including advertisement(s) for item(s) available for purchase, (ii) application functionality and/or (iii) e-commerce related transactional services. By defining the sequence order in which the cards are navigated when consumed, wraps may deliver advertisements in the context of a “story” or “narrative”, which unfolds as the cards are sequentially browsed, similar to the turning of the pages of a book or magazine. Ads thus become more compelling. In addition, with built-in transactional functionality, advertised Item(s) can be immediately purchased without having to exit the wrap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian MCFARLAND, Jon STEVENS, Francis C. LI, Dana A. LEVINE, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN, Sylvio H. DROUIN
  • Publication number: 20160104080
    Abstract: Creating and delivering a wrap package of cards as a digital companion to the release of a movie. When the wrapped package is created, the cards are preferably authored to include (i) one or more linear sequences intended to convey a book-like narrative including preferably a wide variety of multimedia content related to the movie and (ii) a palette of application functionality and/or e-commerce services. As a result, during consumption, the viewer experiences the unfolding of the narrative as the cards are sequentially browsed. With the application functionality and e-commerce services interwoven within the narrative, the wrap package has the unique ability to deliver multimedia content, interactively engage viewers, and enable the viewers to immediate participate in e-commerce, such as by purchasing tickets and other movie-related merchandise, all while consuming the wrap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN
  • Publication number: 20160103805
    Abstract: A variety of data structures, components, runtime viewers and methods are described for defining, delivering and rendering wrapped packages of cards in a manner particularly well suited, but not limited to, display on mobile devices. Each card may selectively include media content, a palette of application functionality and/or supporting e-commerce related services. A wrap descriptor, composed of a plurality of card descriptors defines the structure, layout and content of a set of cards that constitute the wrap. The wrap descriptor may take the form of a JSON data object. A runtime viewer that executes on the rendering computing device may be used to transform the wrap descriptor into a runtime instance of the wrap that includes the content and functionality defined by the descriptor. In some implementations, the runtime viewer creates an object graph, which may then be converted to an object model suitable for rendering on the consuming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, Ian McFARLAND, John M. GARRIS, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN, Matthew J. SANTONE, Jon STEVENS
  • Publication number: 20160103577
    Abstract: A vehicle manual wrap package for a vehicle including (a) a vehicle card identifying the vehicle, (b) one or more informational card(s) for providing media content pertinent to the vehicle, including a user manual describing operation and features of the vehicle and (c) an application function card, embedding or associating therewith, an application function for providing interaction between a representative of the vehicle manufacturer and an an owner of the vehicle when consuming the wrap package. In addition, the cards of the vehicle manual wrap package are further configured to be rendered in one or more sequences at runtime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN
  • Publication number: 20160104211
    Abstract: A method for using analytics to define and deliver wrap packages of cards with insight content. The method includes the steps of generating insight content by applying analytics to a set of data, inserting or associating the insight content into one or more content component container(s) included in a set of cards of a wrap package, and generating a wrap descriptor for the wrap package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Jared L. FICKLIN, Mark E. ROLSTON, Kunal K. BHASIN
  • Publication number: 20160103795
    Abstract: A variety of data structures, components, runtime viewers and methods are described for defining, delivering and rendering wrapped packages of cards in a manner that is particularly well suited, but not limited to, display on mobile devices. Each card may selectively include media content, and a palette of application functionality and/or supporting e-commerce related services. The cards of the wrap packages are ideally threaded together into one or more linear sequences, and authored to convey a book-like narrative that unfolds as the cards are sequentially browsed. In addition, the wrap packages are portable objects that are readily distributed, similar to other electronic messages, through e-mail, messaging, social-media, or via a variety of other electronic communication platforms. As a result, wrap packages are consumable, sharable and savable objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, Ian McFARLAND, John M. GARRIS, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN, Matthew J. SANTONE, Jon STEVENS
  • Publication number: 20160103565
    Abstract: A variety of data structures, components, runtime viewers and methods are described for defining, delivering and rendering wrapped packages of cards in a manner particularly well suited, but not limited to, display on mobile devices. Each card may selectively include media content, a palette of application functionality and/or supporting e-commerce related services. The cards are arranged to be browsed in a first linear direction. The wrap package may also include a gallery card having a plurality of gallery items. The gallery items associated with a gallery card are not arranged to all be viewed simultaneously within a card display frame. The gallery card is arranged to be browsed in a linear direction that is different than the direction that the cards of the wrap are browsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, Ian McFARLAND, John M. GARRIS, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN, Eric J. WICKS
  • Publication number: 20160103791
    Abstract: An authoring tool for authoring wrap packages of cards. The authoring tool includes a set of tools that enable an author to create a new card of a wrap selected from a variety of card templates. In various embodiments, the card templates include textual, video, image/photo, document, gallery, chat, location/GPS, transact, appointment, and end-of-wrap card templates. When a particular card template is selected, the template is then duplicated to create the new card. Thereafter, the author may author the card to include various components, content, attributes, layouts, styles triggers and/or behaviors. As the cards of the wrap are created, the authoring tool provides the author with the ability to order the sequence of the cards. The authoring tool thus enables authors to selectively create wrap packages that include media that conveys a narrative story and application functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Jared L. FICKLIN, Mark E. ROLSTON, Matthew J. SANTONE, Jon Stevens, Eric J. WICKS
  • Publication number: 20160103651
    Abstract: Creating and delivering digital music, along with related multimedia content, in the form of a wrapped package of cards. When a particular wrapped package of cards is created, the cards are selectively authored to include the digital music optionally along with a palette of related multimedia content, application functionality and/or e-commerce related services. In addition, the cards are threaded together into one or more linear sequences intended to convey a book-like experience that unfolds as the cards are sequentially browsed. As a result, the recipient has the ability to experience both the music and the related media content, including partaking in the provided application functionality and e-commerce services, as the as the cards of the wrap are browsed in the one or more linear sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN
  • Publication number: 20160103587
    Abstract: A system of tools and components that enable wrap users to interact with a wrap package infrastructure, creating and improving a wrap user experience. The system and components include a wrap authoring tool, a wrap runtime viewer, a wrap asset management tool, and a wrap library. Through these tools and components, wrap users (i) contact and interact with the wrap infrastructure and (ii) are empowered with the ability to author, receive, distribute, share, view, consume, categorize, organize and distribute wrap packages, which together, enhance and define the overall wrap user experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, Kunal K. BHASIN, John M. GARRIS, Jared L. FICKLIN, Mark E. ROLSTON
  • Publication number: 20160104206
    Abstract: Creating and delivering a wrap package of cards that includes media content, discount coupon(s), voucher(s), promotion(s), and/or loyalty program(s) for the purchase of goods and/or services and application functionality for implementing an e-commerce related transaction related to the goods or services. The individual cards of the wrap package are also threaded together into one or more linear sequences. Thus when consumed, the user experience when browsing the wrap is largely dictated by the author, not the viewer. Wrap packages thus have the unique ability to convey a book-like user experience that unfolds as the cards are sequentially browsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. GREENBERG, John M. GARRIS, Ian McFARLAND, Mark E. ROLSTON, Jared L. FICKLIN