Patents by Inventor STEVE BALLON

STEVE BALLON 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).

  • Aiding search-result selection using visually branded elements
    Patent number: 8769399
    Abstract: Computer-storage media, methods, and systems for formatting and surfacing a badge are provided. The badge represents a graphical region presented in visual association with a search result on a web-results page. The format of the badge is initially dictated by a template that is automatically generated. Upon collecting performance information, a website owner is granted permission to alter the template and appearance of the badge, via a publisher portal. During interaction with the publisher portal, the website owner is prompted to provide feedback in order to manage parameters of the badge, such as uploading a visual representation of a logo, trademark, or other branded element, or specifying a type of metadata to be imported to the graphical region. Accordingly, the badge operates to improve a users' ability to distinguish between search results on the web-results page and assists users in confidently deciding upon and selecting a relevant search result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Marantz, Alec John Berntson, Darwin Kengo Yamamoto, Christina Marie Koehn, Steve Ballon, Keith Alan Regier, Brian Macdonald, Steven Tullis, Steven Macbeth, Rodney Coleman Edwards
  • AIDING SEARCH-RESULT SELECTION USING VISUALLY BRANDED ELEMENTS
    Publication number: 20130007587
    Abstract: Computer-storage media, methods, and systems for formatting and surfacing a badge are provided. The badge represents a graphical region presented in visual association with a search result on a web-results page. The format of the badge is initially dictated by a template that is automatically generated. Upon collecting performance information, a website owner is granted permission to alter the template and appearance of the badge, via a publisher portal. During interaction with the publisher portal, the website owner is prompted to provide feedback in order to manage parameters of the badge, such as uploading a visual representation of a logo, trademark, or other branded element, or specifying a type of metadata to be imported to the graphical region. Accordingly, the badge operates to improve a users' ability to distinguish between search results on the web-results page and assists users in confidently deciding upon and selecting a relevant search result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: DANIEL MARANTZ, ALEC JOHN BERNTSON, DARWIN KENGO YAMAMOTO, CHRISTINA MARIE KOEHN, STEVE BALLON, KEITH ALAN REGIER, BRIAN MACDONALD, STEVEN TULLIS, STEVEN MACBETH, RODNEY COLEMAN EDWARDS