Patents by Inventor Mingzhe Zhuang

Mingzhe Zhuang 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: 20240078591
    Abstract: Based on orders fulfilled by shoppers of an online concierge system, the online concierge system identifies items in an order that are difficult to find in a warehouse in which the order is fulfilled. When a shopper obtains a difficult to find item from the warehouse, the online concierge system prompts the shopper to provide information for finding the difficult to find item in the warehouse. The online concierge system stores the information for finding the difficult to find item from the shopper in association with the difficult to find item and with the warehouse. Subsequently, when a different shopper is fulfilling an order from the warehouse including the difficult to find item, the online concierge system displays the information for finding the difficult to find item in the warehouse to the different shopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Mingzhe Zhuang, Camille van Horne, Christopher Rudnick, Benjamin Knight, Chris Jenkins, Viktoriya Andonova, Djordje Gluhovic, Riddhima Sejpal, Maksim Golivkin, Sharath Rao Karikurve
  • Publication number: 20240020751
    Abstract: An online concierge system receives two types of orders, one of which requires fulfillment in a specific time interval, while the other can be fulfilled anytime up to a specific time interval. A machine learning model, trained on historical data about available shoppers in discrete time intervals, is used to predict how many shoppers will be available to fulfill orders in each time interval. For each time interval, the system retrieves the relevant orders of both types and creates candidate groups including orders of both types. For each group, the system determines a fulfillment cost based on items in the orders. The candidate group with the lowest cost is selected, and the orders in the selected group are sent to devices of available shoppers in that interval, prompting the shoppers to view and fulfill the orders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Jagannath Putrevu, Zi Wang, Site Wang, Houtao Deng, Yijia Chen, Mingzhe Zhuang, Ji Chen, Deepak Tirumalasetty
  • Patent number: 11854063
    Abstract: Based on orders fulfilled by shoppers of an online concierge system, the online concierge system identifies items in an order that are difficult to find in a warehouse in which the order is fulfilled. When a shopper obtains a difficult to find item from the warehouse, the online concierge system prompts the shopper to provide information for finding the difficult to find item in the warehouse. The online concierge system stores the information for finding the difficult to find item from the shopper in association with the difficult to find item and with the warehouse. Subsequently, when a different shopper is fulfilling an order from the warehouse including the difficult to find item, the online concierge system displays the information for finding the difficult to find item in the warehouse to the different shopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
    Inventors: Mingzhe Zhuang, Camille Van Horne, Christopher Rudnick, Benjamin Knight, Chris Jenkins, Victoriya Andonova, Djordje Gluhovic, Riddhima Sejpal, Maksim Golivkin, Sharath Rao Karikurve
  • Patent number: 11803894
    Abstract: An online concierge system allows users to order items within discrete time intervals later than a time when an order was received. The online concierge system allocates a specified percentage of an estimated number of shoppers during a discrete time interval to fulfilling orders received before the discrete time interval. An order may include a flag authorizing flexible fulfillment of the order along with a discrete time interval, which allows the order to be fulfilled earlier than the identified discrete time interval. The online concierge system generates groups of multiple orders authorizing flexible fulfillment and determines a cost for fulfilling different groups of orders. The online concierge system identifies a group of orders authorizing flexible fulfillment having a minimum cost for fulfillment by a shopper, allowing for more allocation of shoppers by enabling grouping of orders identifying different discrete time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
    Inventors: Jagannath Putrevu, Zi Wang, Site Wang, Houtao Deng, Yijia Chen, Mingzhe Zhuang, Ji Chen, Deepak Tirumalasetty
  • Publication number: 20220292580
    Abstract: An online concierge system allows users to order items within discrete time intervals later than a time when an order was received. The online concierge system allocates a specified percentage of an estimated number of shoppers during a discrete time interval to fulfilling orders received before the discrete time interval. An order may include a flag authorizing flexible fulfillment of the order along with a discrete time interval, which allows the order to be fulfilled earlier than the identified discrete time interval. The online concierge system generates groups of multiple orders authorizing flexible fulfillment and determines a cost for fulfilling different groups of orders. The online concierge system identifies a group of orders authorizing flexible fulfillment having a minimum cost for fulfillment by a shopper, allowing for more allocation of shoppers by enabling grouping of orders identifying different discrete time intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Jagannath Putrevu, Zi Wang, Site Wang, Houtao Deng, Yijia Chen, Mingzhe Zhuang, Ji Chen, Deepak Tirumalasetty
  • Publication number: 20200219171
    Abstract: Based on orders fulfilled by shoppers of an online concierge system, the online concierge system identifies items in an order that are difficult to find in a warehouse in which the order is fulfilled. When a shopper obtains a difficult to find item from the warehouse, the online concierge system prompts the shopper to provide information for finding the difficult to find item in the warehouse. The online concierge system stores the information for finding the difficult to find item from the shopper in association with the difficult to find item and with the warehouse. Subsequently, when a different shopper is fulfilling an order from the warehouse including the difficult to find item, the online concierge system displays the information for finding the difficult to find item in the warehouse to the different shopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Mingzhe Zhuang, Camille Van Horne, Christopher Rudnick, Benjamin Knight, Chris Jenkins, Vicky Andonova, Djordje Gluhovic, Riddhima Sejpal, Maksim Golivkin, Sharath Rao
  • Patent number: 10447780
    Abstract: Methods, systems and techniques for synchronizing content, such as a file, between one or more clients and one or more servers are provided. Example embodiments provide a Cross-File Differential Content Synchronization System (CDCSS) to synchronize files between remote systems in a nearly instantaneous manner without necessitating the transfer of the entire contents of a file. These components cooperate to transfer only the differences in data content wherever possible to a recipient system by providing a patch mechanism that instructs the recipient to build the modified or new data content based upon content it already has access to. In addition, in one embodiment the CDCSS synchronization solution provides a client-based index, rather than a server-based index, for tracking patches and files, which reduces the amount of computational and I/O overhead on the server and which does not require a negotiation between a client and a server to provide an update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Grzegorz Calkowski, Mingzhe Zhuang
  • Patent number: 10191965
    Abstract: Methods, systems and techniques for managing revisions of documents in a collaborative, multiuser document store are provided. Example embodiments provide an Automated Document Revision Management Server (“ADRMS”) to automatically cluster and remove revisions of file content for easy navigation and management. Revisions are trimmed when necessary to conserve storage space. The ADRMS creates logical clusters of revisions based upon some measure of their similarities. That is, revisions that are similar and can be represented by the latest revision in the cluster formulate one cluster, and those that are markedly dissimilar are placed in a different cluster. The logic used to cluster revisions accounts for time-based factors, content-based factors, and context-based factors to determine whether a revision is incremental and can be grouped in the same cluster or is significant enough to warrant a new cluster. Revisions may be trimmed based upon age and/or available space by a revision trimming component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Grzegorz Calkowski, Mingzhe Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20160359972
    Abstract: Methods, systems and techniques for synchronizing content, such as a file, between one or more clients and one or more servers are provided. Example embodiments provide a Cross-File Differential Content Synchronization System (CDCSS) to synchronize files between remote systems in a nearly instantaneous manner without necessitating the transfer of the entire contents of a file. These components cooperate to transfer only the differences in data content wherever possible to a recipient system by providing a patch mechanism that instructs the recipient to build the modified or new data content based upon content it already has access to. In addition, in one embodiment the CDCSS synchronization solution provides a client-based index, rather than a server-based index, for tracking patches and files, which reduces the amount of computational and I/O overhead on the server and which does not require a negotiation between a client and a server to provide an update.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Grzegorz CALKOWSKI, Mingzhe ZHUANG
  • Patent number: 9418072
    Abstract: Methods, systems and techniques for synchronizing content, such as a file, between one or more clients and one or more servers are provided. Example embodiments provide a Cross-File Differential Content Synchronization System (CDCSS) to synchronize files between remote systems in a nearly instantaneous manner without necessitating the transfer of the entire contents of a file. These components cooperate to transfer only the differences in data content wherever possible to a recipient system by providing a patch mechanism that instructs the recipient to build the modified or new data content based upon content it already has access to. In addition, in one embodiment the CDCSS synchronization solution provides a client-based index, rather than a server-based index, for tracking patches and files, which reduces the amount of computational and I/O overhead on the server and which does not require a negotiation between a client and a server to provide an update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Grzegorz Calkowski, Mingzhe Zhuang
  • Patent number: 9355116
    Abstract: Methods, systems and techniques for synchronizing content, such as a file, between one or more clients and one or more servers are provided. Example embodiments provide a Cross-File Differential Content Synchronization System (CDCSS) to synchronize files between remote systems in a nearly instantaneous manner without necessitating the transfer of the entire contents of a file. These components cooperate to transfer only the differences in data content wherever possible to a recipient system by providing a patch mechanism that instructs the recipient to build the modified or new data content based upon content it already has access to. In addition, in one embodiment the CDCSS synchronization solution provides a client-based index, rather than a server-based index, for tracking patches and files, which reduces the amount of computational and I/O overhead on the server and which does not require a negotiation between a client and a server to provide an update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Grzegorz Calkowski, Mingzhe Zhuang
  • Patent number: 9292507
    Abstract: Methods, systems and techniques for managing revisions of documents in a collaborative, multiuser document store are provided. Example embodiments provide an Automated Document Revision Management Server (“ADRMS”) to automatically cluster and remove revisions of file content for easy navigation and management. Revisions are trimmed when necessary to conserve storage space. The ADRMS creates logical clusters of revisions based upon some measure of their similarities. That is, revisions that are similar and can be represented by the latest revision in the cluster formulate one cluster, and those that are markedly dissimilar are placed in a different cluster. The logic used to cluster revisions accounts for time-based factors, content-based factors, and context-based factors to determine whether a revision is incremental and can be grouped in the same cluster or is significant enough to warrant a new cluster. Revisions may be trimmed based upon age and/or available space by a revision trimming component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Grzegorz Calkowski, Mingzhe Zhuang
  • Patent number: 9008611
    Abstract: A system and method for providing prepaid billing for users of an instant messaging system. A method includes determining whether a prepaid account balance associated with an IM client request satisfies a pre-determined criteria, establishing a regular IM session if the prepaid account satisfies the criteria, and establishing a limited IM session if the prepaid account does not satisfy the criteria. The system includes a prepaid account screener operable to determine whether a prepaid account balance satisfies the criteria, establish a regular IM session if the prepaid account satisfies the criteria, and establish a limited IM session if the prepaid account does not satisfy the criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Unwired Planet, LLC
    Inventors: Madhukar Narayan Thakur, Mingzhe Zhuang, Francisco Jose Kattan
  • Publication number: 20150052100
    Abstract: Methods, systems and techniques for managing revisions of documents in a collaborative, multiuser document store are provided. Example embodiments provide an Automated Document Revision Management Server (“ADRMS”) to automatically cluster and remove revisions of file content for easy navigation and management. Revisions are trimmed when necessary to conserve storage space. The ADRMS creates logical clusters of revisions based upon some measure of their similarities. That is, revisions that are similar and can be represented by the latest revision in the cluster formulate one cluster, and those that are markedly dissimilar are placed in a different cluster. The logic used to cluster revisions accounts for time-based factors, content-based factors, and context-based factors to determine whether a revision is incremental and can be grouped in the same cluster or is significant enough to warrant a new cluster. Revisions may be trimmed based upon age and/or available space by a revision trimming component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Grzegorz CALKOWSKI, Mingzhe ZHUANG
  • Publication number: 20150052135
    Abstract: Methods, systems and techniques for managing revisions of documents in a collaborative, multiuser document store are provided. Example embodiments provide an Automated Document Revision Management Server (“ADRMS”) to automatically cluster and remove revisions of file content for easy navigation and management. Revisions are trimmed when necessary to conserve storage space. The ADRMS creates logical clusters of revisions based upon some measure of their similarities. That is, revisions that are similar and can be represented by the latest revision in the cluster formulate one cluster, and those that are markedly dissimilar are placed in a different cluster. The logic used to cluster revisions accounts for time-based factors, content-based factors, and context-based factors to determine whether a revision is incremental and can be grouped in the same cluster or is significant enough to warrant a new cluster. Revisions may be trimmed based upon age and/or available space by a revision trimming component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Grzegorz CALKOWSKI, Mingzhe ZHUANG
  • Publication number: 20140250067
    Abstract: Methods, systems and techniques for synchronizing content, such as a file, between one or more clients and one or more servers are provided. Example embodiments provide a Cross-File Differential Content Synchronization System (CDCSS) to synchronize files between remote systems in a nearly instantaneous manner without necessitating the transfer of the entire contents of a file. These components cooperate to transfer only the differences in data content wherever possible to a recipient system by providing a patch mechanism that instructs the recipient to build the modified or new data content based upon content it already has access to. In addition, in one embodiment the CDCSS synchronization solution provides a client-based index, rather than a server-based index, for tracking patches and files, which reduces the amount of computational and I/O overhead on the server and which does not require a negotiation between a client and a server to provide an update.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: VMware, INC.
    Inventors: Grzegorz CALKOWSKI, Mingzhe ZHUANG
  • Publication number: 20140250066
    Abstract: Methods, systems and techniques for synchronizing content, such as a file, between one or more clients and one or more servers are provided. Example embodiments provide a Cross-File Differential Content Synchronization System (CDCSS) to synchronize files between remote systems in a nearly instantaneous manner without necessitating the transfer of the entire contents of a file. These components cooperate to transfer only the differences in data content wherever possible to a recipient system by providing a patch mechanism that instructs the recipient to build the modified or new data content based upon content it already has access to. In addition, in one embodiment the CDCSS synchronization solution provides a client-based index, rather than a server-based index, for tracking patches and files, which reduces the amount of computational and I/O overhead on the server and which does not require a negotiation between a client and a server to provide an update.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: VMWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Grzegorz CALKOWSKI, Mingzhe ZHUANG
  • Publication number: 20140080441
    Abstract: A system and method for providing prepaid billing for users of an instant messaging system. A method includes determining whether a prepaid account balance associated with an IM client request satisfies a pre-determined criteria, establishing a regular IM session if the prepaid account satisfies the criteria, and establishing a limited IM session if the prepaid account does not satisfy the criteria. The system includes a prepaid account screener operable to determine whether a prepaid account balance satisfies the criteria, establish a regular IM session if the prepaid account satisfies the criteria, and establish a limited IM session if the prepaid account does not satisfy the criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: UNWIRED PLANET, LLC
    Inventors: Madhukar Narayan Thakur, Mingzhe Zhuang, Francisco Jose Kattan
  • Patent number: 8626117
    Abstract: A system and method for providing prepaid billing for users of an instant messaging system. A method includes determining whether a prepaid account balance associated with an IM client request satisfies a pre-determined criteria, establishing a regular IM session if the prepaid account satisfies the criteria, and establishing a limited IM session if the prepaid account does not satisfy the criteria. The system includes a prepaid account screener operable to determine whether a prepaid account balance satisfies the criteria, establish a regular IM session if the prepaid account satisfies the criteria, and establish a limited IM session if the prepaid account does not satisfy the criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Unwired Planet, LLC
    Inventors: Madhukar Narayan Thakur, Mingzhe Zhuang, Francisco Jose Kattan
  • Publication number: 20120046011
    Abstract: A system and method for providing prepaid billing for users of an instant messaging system. A method includes determining whether a prepaid account balance associated with an IM client request satisfies a pre-determined criteria, establishing a regular IM session if the prepaid account satisfies the criteria, and establishing a limited IM session if the prepaid account does not satisfy the criteria. The system includes a prepaid account screener operable to determine whether a prepaid account balance satisfies the criteria, establish a regular IM session if the prepaid account satisfies the criteria, and establish a limited IM session if the prepaid account does not satisfy the criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Madhukar Narayan Thakur, Mingzhe Zhuang, Francisco Jose Kattan