Patents by Inventor Sean Nolan

Sean Nolan 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: 20070088609
    Abstract: Content is selected for display at a client computer communicating over a computer network by determining a relevance score for content of a document at a server computer for delivery to a requesting client computer, determining at least one valuation for the content from each of two or more supplemental content sources, generating a productivity score for each of the supplemental content sources in accordance with the corresponding content valuation for the supplemental content source, selecting the supplemental content source having the greatest productivity score, and serving the document and supplemental content from the selected supplemental content source for delivery to the requesting client computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Applicant: Medio Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Reller, Sean Nolan, Michael Libes, John Crim
  • Publication number: 20070027779
    Abstract: A multi-merchant purchasing system is configured to identify downloadable products selected by a user for purchase. The identified downloadable products are offered by multiple merchants. The multi-merchant purchasing system enables the user to purchase all of the downloadable products in a single transaction. The multi-merchant purchasing system may also be configured to receive purchase information from the merchant applications and maintains the purchase information for the user in a locker. The multi-merchant purchasing system may further be configured to accept product license information from third party merchants not fully participating in the multi-merchant purchasing system. More specifically, a third party merchant may store product license information related to a user in the multi-merchant purchasing system such that the user may connect to the multi-merchant purchasing system at any time and manage all the user's product licenses in one central location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Vikram Bhambri, Jascha Kaykas-Wolff, Leonard Peterson, Raj Biyani, Sean Nolan, Anne Warren, Christopher Vigna, Kenneth McNamee
  • Publication number: 20070022017
    Abstract: A multi-merchant purchasing system is configured to identify downloadable products selected by a user for purchase. The identified downloadable products are offered by multiple merchants. The multi-merchant purchasing system enables the user to purchase all of the downloadable products in a single transaction. Specifically, the multi-merchant purchasing system determines payment information associated with the user and, with minimum user-interaction, sends the payment information to applications associated with the merchants for processing. The multi-merchant purchasing system may also be configured to receive purchase information from the merchant applications and maintains the purchase information for the user in a locker. The multi-merchant purchasing system may further be configured to automatically download and install the purchased product onto the user's computing device through a software assistant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Vikram Bhambri, Susan Warren, Matthew Hempey, Raj Biyani, Sean Nolan
  • Publication number: 20060294203
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for electronic session management are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user is connected to a server when initiating a session. Until a predetermined period of time passes without any activity from the user, the user is connected to the same server even if the initial connection with the server is broken. During that time, information related to the user is stored in volatile memory of the server. In one embodiment, a one or more searches are performed and the results of the searches are stored on the servers. When a user performs one of the searches the results are retrieved without repeating the searches. Thus, commonly performed searches can be provided in a more efficient manner as compared to performing the searches multiple times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventor: Sean Nolan
  • Patent number: 7099925
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for electronic session management are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user is connected to a server when initiating a session. Until a predetermined period of time passes without any activity from the user, the user is connected to the same server even if the initial connection with the server is broken. During that time, information related to the user is stored in volatile memory of the server. In one embodiment, a one or more searches are performed and the results of the searches are stored on the servers. When a user performs one of the searches the results are retrieved without repeating the searches. Thus, commonly performed searches can be provided in a more efficient manner as compared to performing the searches multiple times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Drugstore.com
    Inventor: Sean Nolan
  • Publication number: 20060167811
    Abstract: A multi-merchant purchasing system is configured to identify downloadable products selected by a user for purchase. The identified downloadable products are offered by multiple merchants. The multi-merchant purchasing system enables the user to purchase all of the downloadable products in a single transaction. Specifically, the multi-merchant purchasing system determines payment information associated with the user and, with minimum user-interaction, sends the payment information to applications associated with the merchants for processing. The multi-merchant purchasing system may also be configured to receive purchase information from the merchant applications and maintains the purchase information for the user in a locker. The multi-merchant purchasing system may further be configured to automatically download and install the purchased product onto the user's computing device through a software assistant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Vikram Bhambri, Deirdre Walsh, Paul Sausville, Raj Biyani, Thomas Button, Sean Nolan, Susan Warren, Matthew Hempey
  • Publication number: 20060167812
    Abstract: A multi-merchant purchasing system is configured to identify downloadable products selected by a user for purchase. The identified downloadable products are offered by multiple merchants. The multi-merchant purchasing system enables the user to purchase all of the downloadable products in a single transaction. Specifically, the multi-merchant purchasing system determines payment information associated with the user and, with minimum user-interaction, sends the payment information to applications associated with the merchants for processing. The multi-merchant purchasing system may also be configured to receive purchase information from the merchant applications and maintains the purchase information for the user in a locker. The multi-merchant purchasing system may further be configured to automatically download and install the purchased product onto the user's computing device through a software assistant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Vikram Bhambri, Deidre Walsh, Paul Sausville, Raj Biyani, Thomas Button, Sean Nolan, Susan Warren, Matthew Hempey
  • Publication number: 20060167810
    Abstract: A multi-merchant purchasing system is configured to identify downloadable products selected by a user for purchase. The identified downloadable products are offered by multiple merchants. The multi-merchant purchasing system enables the user to purchase all of the downloadable products in a single transaction. Specifically, the multi-merchant purchasing system determines payment information associated with the user and, with minimum user-interaction, sends the payment information to applications associated with the merchants for processing. The multi-merchant purchasing system may also be configured to receive purchase information from the merchant applications and maintains the purchase information for the user in a locker. The multi-merchant purchasing system may further be configured to automatically download and install the purchased product onto the user's computing device through a software assistant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Vikram Bhambri, Deirdre Walsh, Paul Sausville, Raj Biyani, Thomas Button, Sean Nolan, Susan Warren, Matthew Hempey
  • Publication number: 20060167819
    Abstract: A multi-merchant purchasing system is configured to identify downloadable products selected by a user for purchase. The identified downloadable products are offered by multiple merchants. The multi-merchant purchasing system enables the user to purchase all of the downloadable products in a single transaction. Specifically, the multi-merchant purchasing system determines payment information associated with the user and, with minimum user-interaction, sends the payment information to applications associated with the merchants for processing. The multi-merchant purchasing system may also be configured to receive purchase information from the merchant applications and maintains the purchase information for the user in a locker. The multi-merchant purchasing system may further be configured to automatically download and install the purchased product onto the user's computing device through a software assistant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Vikram Bhambri, Deirdre Walsh, Paul Sausville, Raj Biyani, Thomas Button, Sean Nolan, Susan Warren, Matthew Hempey
  • Publication number: 20060167809
    Abstract: A multi-merchant purchasing system is configured to identify downloadable products selected by a user for purchase. The identified downloadable products are offered by multiple merchants. The multi-merchant purchasing system enables the user to purchase all of the downloadable products in a single transaction. Specifically, the multi-merchant purchasing system determines payment information associated with the user and, with minimum user-interaction, sends the payment information to applications associated with the merchants for processing. The multi-merchant purchasing system may also be configured to receive purchase information from the merchant applications and maintains the purchase information for the user in a locker. The multi-merchant purchasing system may further be configured to automatically download and install the purchased product onto the user's computing device through a software assistant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Vikram Bhambri, Deirdre Walsh, Paul Sausville, Raj Biyani, Thomas Button, Sean Nolan, Susan Warren, Matthew Hempey
  • Patent number: 6947900
    Abstract: On-line purchasing of products from an electronic commerce (e.g., a Web page) seller is assisted by providing users with a list of previously purchased products. The list of products can be used for simplified reordering of a product previously purchased. In one embodiment, the list is categorized based on, for example, product type, purchase date, etc. Additional product information can also be provided when a product is selected from the list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Drugstore.Com
    Inventors: Joseph Giordano, III, Sean Nolan
  • Publication number: 20050091106
    Abstract: A system for use on computer servers on a network serving client computers for selecting an advertisement to be presented among a plurality of possible advertisement candidates based on key words. When a client computer requests a document from a server on the network, the system considers words contained within the document and compares them to a set of key words for each possible advertisement of a plurality of possible advertisements. The system selects an advertisement to be presented with the information where a key word associated with the advertisement matches one or more words in the document. If more than one advertisement qualifies, the system considers a price value of each advertisement and a relevance score for each word, which is a function of proximity to the start of the document, to determine which advertisement will be presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: William Reller, Sean Nolan
  • Publication number: 20050027797
    Abstract: A distributed directory service for an on-line services network comprises multiple, separate services, referred to as “Directory Service Providers,” running on respective groups of application servers. Each Directory Service Provider stores and provides access to a respective hierarchical directory structure, with nodes of the directory structures representing the various on-line services and other content entities which may be accessed by end users of the network. Junction point nodes are used to provide user-transparent links between the different directory structures, so that the directory structures appear to end users as a single, hierarchical directory. A common application program interface (API) is implemented by all Directory Service Providers, allowing client applications running on computers of end users to access the different directory structures using a common set of software methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ramon San Andres, David Sanderman, Sean Nolan
  • Publication number: 20050027795
    Abstract: A distributed directory service for an on-line services network comprises multiple, separate services, referred to as “Directory Service Providers,” running on respective groups of application servers. Each Directory Service Provider stores and provides access to a respective hierarchical directory structure, with nodes of the directory structures representing the various on-line services and other content entities which may be accessed by end users of the network. Junction point nodes are used to provide user-transparent links between the different directory structures, so that the directory structures appear to end users as a single, hierarchical directory. A common application program interface (API) is implemented by all Directory Service Providers, allowing client applications running on computers of end users to access the different directory structures using a common set of software methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ramon San Andres, David Sanderman, Sean Nolan
  • Publication number: 20050027796
    Abstract: A distributed directory service for an on-line services network comprises multiple, separate services, referred to as “Directory Service Providers,” running on respective groups of application servers. Each Directory Service Provider stores and provides access to a respective hierarchical directory structure, with nodes of the directory structures representing the various on-line services and other content entities which may be accessed by end users of the network. Junction point nodes are used to provide user-transparent links between the different directory structures, so that the directory structures appear to end users as a single, hierarchical directory. A common application program interface (API) is implemented by all Directory Service Providers, allowing client applications running on computers of end users to access the different directory structures using a common set of software methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ramon San Andres, David Sanderman, Sean Nolan
  • Publication number: 20050021660
    Abstract: A distributed directory service for an on-line services network comprises multiple, separate services, referred to as “Directory Service Providers,” running on respective groups of application servers. Each Directory Service Provider stores and provides access to a respective hierarchical directory structure, with nodes of the directory structures representing the various on-line services and other content entities which may be accessed by end users of the network. Junction point nodes are used to provide user-transparent links between the different directory structures, so that the directory structures appear to end users as a single, hierarchical directory. A common application program interface (API) is implemented by all Directory Service Providers, allowing client applications running on computers of end users to access the different directory structures using a common set of software methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ramon San Andres, David Sanderman, Sean Nolan
  • Publication number: 20020091576
    Abstract: On-line purchasing of products from an electronic commerce (e.g., a Web page) seller is assisted by providing users with a list of previously purchased products. The list of products can be used for simplified reordering of a product previously purchased. In one embodiment, the list is categorized based on, for example, product type, purchase date, etc. Additional product information can also be provided when a product is selected from the list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: JOSEPH GIORDANO, SEAN NOLAN
  • Patent number: 5923846
    Abstract: A system for posting and downloading messages and files from a bulletin board system is described. The system allows a user to retrieve a message from a bulletin board system and then selectively download files which are represented within the message as objects, which may be visually presented to a user as icons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Gage, Lindsay Harris, Sean Nolan