Patents by Inventor Robert Mills

Robert Mills 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: 9424357
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for predictive page loading. Text entered by a user into a search query form is captured. If an evaluation of the size of the captured text or identity of characters in the captured text in accordance with a confidence criteria indicates that the confidence criteria is met, a speculative search query is provided to a server. The speculative search query includes a selected suggested search term. A received plurality of speculative search results is rendered in a hidden portion of a browser window. In response to receiving a user instruction to execute a committed search query that includes the at least one selected suggested search term, at least a portion of the received plurality of speculative search results is rendered in a visible portion of the browser window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Blair L. Hotchkies, Michael L. Brundage, Pongsakorn Teeraparpwong, Jason P. Patrikios, Sarah E. Williams, Brent Robert Mills, Alexandru I. Indrei, Daniel R. Parshall, John M. Nilles, Sikandar Saifullah
  • Patent number: 9405841
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing dynamic and category specific search suggestions are provided. According to one embodiment, a partial search query entered by a user can be used to determine a set of relevant search queries, which can be displayed as search suggestions within a search query suggestion window. Each query in the list can be associated with at least one specific category. According to various embodiments, the set of relevant queries and associated categories are dynamically updated as the user modifies the partial search query. Furthermore, each category is selectable by the user such that a detailed list of items associated only with the selected category can be displayed to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Amacker, Blair L. Hotchkies, Daniel R. Parshall, Brent Robert Mills, Anil A. Sewani, Daniel E. Rose, Alexandru I. Indrei, Jason P. Patrikios
  • Patent number: 9380332
    Abstract: A method is described for selecting and caching a video advertisement to be presented on a client device. The method may include determining customer interests for an individual customer, selecting a video advertisement based upon the customer's interests and providing the video advertisement to a client device so that the video advertisement may be cached on the client device and may be available to display to a customer when a customer selects video content to play on the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Robert Mills, Cyrus Khoshnevisan, Dan Catalin Teodorescu
  • Patent number: 9305090
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for predictive page loading. A number of speculative search queries are provided to a server. Each speculative search query includes one of a plurality of suggested keywords. The number of speculative search queries is based on the number of suggested keywords. Responses corresponding to the speculative search queries are obtained. Each response includes a corresponding plurality of speculative search results. A portion of speculative search results from more than one of the responses is rendered in a hidden portion of a browser window. The portion of the speculative search results is rendered in a visible portion of the browser window in response to receiving a user instruction to execute a committed search query that includes a suggested keyword in one of the speculative queries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair L. Hotchkies, Michael L. Brundage, Pongsakorn Teeraparpwong, Jason P. Patrikios, Sarah E. Williams, Brent Robert Mills, Alexandru I. Indrei, Daniel R. Parshall, John M. Nilles, Sikandar Saifullah
  • Patent number: 9303885
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the humidity of an indoor space is disclosed. The system features a desiccant wheel which rotates sequentially through a plurality of distinct process air streams in order to optimize desiccant moisture adsorption at the process side of the desiccant wheel. This moisture is then deposited on the regeneration side of the wheel upstream of a cooling coil, increasing the dew point of the air entering the coil. The latent capacity and operational temperature of the coiling coil will be increased as a result, thus enhancing the dehumidification performance of the cooling coil and the overall efficiency of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: NOVELAIRE TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Terry Parker, Robert Mills
  • Patent number: 9299030
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for predictive network page loading. Content corresponding to a network request is obtained. A next network page associated with the obtained page content is predicted. If the prediction is confident relative to a predetermined confidence threshold, then a first network page is generated. The first network page includes the page content corresponding to the network request and a portion of content for the predicted network page. The generated first network page is provided to a client. A request for another network page is received. If the another network page in the request corresponds to the predicted next network page, a second network page is generated. The second network page includes the remainder of the content for the predicted page content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair L. Hotchkies, Michael L. Brundage, Pongsakorn Teeraparpwong, Jason P. Patrikios, Sarah E. Williams, Brent Robert Mills, Alexandru I. Indrei, Daniel R. Parshall, John M. Nilles, Sikandar Saifullah
  • Patent number: 9169648
    Abstract: A monolithic spiral design roof pipe flashing having a spiraled base. A spiraled boot is continuously disposed upon the base. The boot defines an inner recess and has annular upper lip defining a spiral conduit. The upper lip further has an angular rim. The base, the boot, and the upper lip are monolithically formed of a molded elastomeric hydrophobic polymer substance and are configured to flex from a closed spiral configuration to an open spiral configuration to create a gap between an exterior surface and an interior surface proximal a shared continuous outer edge of the base, the boot, and the upper lip through which the roof pipe is inserted and fitted within the conduit. Upon release of the flex, the gap closes with the pipe being disposed within the conduit and with an overlap of the exterior and interior surfaces for water tight and flush contact therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventor: Robert Mills
  • Patent number: 8988450
    Abstract: Effective color-aware search of a collection of content associated with one or more images is enabled. Content and/or its associated images may be automatically associated with representative palette colors in a suite of color palettes. Color palettes may be of a variety of types and have a hierarchical structure in which lower levels enable increasingly subtle distinctions between shades of color. Color palette hierarchies may be effectively presented, and appropriate portions emphasized based on associated search result sets. Search result sets may be refined and/or reordered in accordance with color palette selections and/or representative confidences of color palette selections for items at least referenced therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Max L. Kanter, Sachin B. Singh, Michel Goldstein, Carl N. Meister, David Charles Couvrette, Walter Manching Tseng, Blair L. Hotchkies, Sarah E. Williams, Sikander Saifullah, Sean P. Forde, John M. Nilles, Jason P. Patrikios, Brent Robert Mills, Alexandru I. Indrei, Paul Daniel Jaye, Daniel R. Parshall
  • Publication number: 20150070348
    Abstract: A graphical system is disclosed comprising: a lofted graph comprising a one or more slices arranged on a path. Said one or more slices connected to one another by lofting them together. Each of said one or more slices separated from one another by a cycle distance. A one or more period values each associated with a one or more cycle values. Said one or more slices representing a one or more values at said cycle value. Said one or more values comprising a datum at said cycle value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Teresa HAYES, Roger HAYES, Shannon Lance Warren, Robert Mills
  • Patent number: 8949677
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for detecting anomalies in time series data. At least one anomaly is detected in a time series that is derived from a corresponding metric observed from a computing system. The time series is non-stationary time series or heteroskedastic. The detected anomaly is correlated with at least one of a plurality of external events affecting the computing system. A magnitude is assigned to the detected anomaly. The detected one anomaly, the assigned magnitude, and the correlated at least one external event are reported to a client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Brundage, Brent Robert Mills
  • Patent number: 8880547
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for generating search results when a search string fails to return results as entered. In a representative example, a failure of a first query generated from a search string to identify at least a predefined threshold number of items from among a plurality of items in a data store is detected in a computing device. A plurality of altered versions of the search string is generated in the computing device. A submission of a plurality of second queries to the data store is implemented, where each of the second queries corresponds to one of the altered versions of the search string. A presentation is generated to be rendered of at least two separate groups of items resulting from corresponding ones of the second queries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Robert Mills, Daniel R. Parshall, Blair L. Hotchkies, Jason P. Patrikios, Paul Daniel Jaye, Dan Catalin Teodorescu, Jennica Jane Pounds, Luis Alejandro Acosta, David Aaron Lichterman
  • Patent number: 8828128
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the humidity of an indoor space is disclosed. The system features a desiccant wheel which rotates sequentially through a plurality of distinct process air streams in order to optimize desiccant moisture adsorption at the process side of the desiccant wheel. This moisture is then deposited on the regeneration side of the wheel upstream of a cooling coil, increasing the dew point of the air entering the coil. The latent capacity and operational temperature of the coiling coil will be increased as a result, thus enhancing the dehumidification performance of the cooling coil and the overall efficiency of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Novelaire Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Terry Parker, Robert Mills
  • Patent number: 8694529
    Abstract: A collection of items may be categorized according to a category hierarchy. A search of the items may be explicitly associated with a particular category in the hierarchy or else unassociated. A set of refinements may be available, for example, to help narrow the search. Refinements may be applicable to items in linked categories. Refinements may be surfaced based at least in part on linked categories associated with the search. Refinements may be surfaced when the search is unassociated with a particular category. For example, a possibly relevant set of categories may be determined. Refinements may be surfaced according to a variety of ordering criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair L. Hotchkies, Daniel R. Parshall, Jason P. Patrikios, Brent Robert Mills, Dan Catalin Teodorescu, Jennica Jane Pounds, Paul Daniel Jaye, David Aaron Lichterman
  • Patent number: 8587604
    Abstract: Effective color-aware search of a collection of content associated with one or more images is enabled. Content and/or its associated images may be automatically associated with representative palette colors in a suite of color palettes. Color palettes may be of a variety of types and have a hierarchical structure in which lower levels enable increasingly subtle distinctions between shades of color. Color palette hierarchies may be effectively presented, and appropriate portions emphasized based on associated search result sets. Search result sets may be refined and/or reordered in accordance with color palette selections and/or representative confidences of color palette selections for items at least referenced therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Max L. Kanter, Sachin B. Singh, Michel Goldstein, Carl N. Meister, David Charles Couvrette, Walter Manching Tseng, Blair L. Hotchkies, Sarah E. Williams, Sikandar Saifullah, Sean P. Forde, John M. Nilles, Jason P. Patrikios, Brent Robert Mills, Alexandru I. Indrei, Paul Daniel Jaye, Daniel R. Parshall
  • Patent number: 8577879
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments providing navigational aids within item search results. A pool of items is generated in a computing resource in response to a search query and a search context. At least one network page is encoded for rendering by a client. The at least one network page includes a ranked list of at least a portion of the items. The ranked list includes a navigational aid when a relevance score associated with the navigational aid meets a threshold. The relevance score is computed relative to respective relevance scores associated with items in the ranked list. The navigational aid has at least a same prominence within the ranked list as an item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair L. Hotchkies, Daniel R. Parshall, Jason P. Patrikios, Brent Robert Mills, Dan Catalin Teodorescu, Jennica Jane Pounds, Paul Daniel Jaye, Kaigene Jennifer Lin, David Aaron Lichterman, Luis Alejandro Acosta
  • Patent number: 8576241
    Abstract: Effective color-aware search of a collection of content associated with one or more images is enabled. Content and/or its associated images may be automatically associated with representative palette colors in a suite of color palettes. Color palettes may be of a variety of types and have a hierarchical structure in which lower levels enable increasingly subtle distinctions between shades of color. Color palette hierarchies may be effectively presented, and appropriate portions emphasized based on associated search result sets. Search result sets may be refined and/or reordered in accordance with color palette selections and/or representative confidences of color palette selections for items at least referenced therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Max L Kanter, Sachin B. Singh, Michel Goldstein, Carl N. Meister, David Charles Couvrette, Walter Manching Tseng, Blair L. Hotchkies, Sarah E. Williams, Sikandar Saifullah, Sean P. Forde, John M. Nilles, Jason P. Patrikios, Brent Robert Mills, Alexandru I. Indrei, Paul Daniel Jaye, Daniel R. Parshall
  • Patent number: 8301504
    Abstract: A system and method for allowing a user to schedule pickup of an ordered item provides a user interface having user interface elements for allowing a user to specify a frequency with which an order is it to be picked up, for informing a user as to availability of the item for pickup, and/or for allowing a user to request that an item be held in reserve for pickup within a given period of time, such as 24 hours. Frequency options provided to the user for selection when scheduling an order for pickup may include a one-time frequency, a daily frequency, a weekly frequency, a monthly frequency, and user specified dates. The information as to availability of the item for pickup is determined considering a time of order and real-time stocking information for the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventors: Sanjana Swamy, Karen S. Holtman, Arnold S. Eroles, James Yu, Robert Mills, Daniel Levine, Jim Huppert, Daniel S. Grimm, Shailesh Prakash
  • Patent number: D686032
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Virco Mfg. Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Glass, Robert Mills
  • Patent number: D686439
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Virco Mfg. Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Glass, Robert Mills
  • Patent number: D766639
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Vicro Mfg. Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Glass, Robert Mills