Patents by Inventor Steven J. Hanks

Steven J. Hanks 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: 9098541
    Abstract: Embodiments facilitate greater flexibility in definition of user segments for targeted advertising, by employing indexed semantic user profiles. Semantic user profiles are built through extraction of online user behavior data such as user search queries and page views, and include user interest information that is inferred based on user behavior. Semantic user profiles are then indexed to facilitate search for a set of users that fit specified semantic search terms. Search results for semantic profiles are ranked according to a ranking model developed through machine learning. In some embodiments, building and indexing of semantic profiles and learning of the ranking model is performed offline to facilitate more efficient online processing of queries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jun Yan, Ning Liu, Lei Ji, Steven J. Hanks, Qing Xu, Zheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20140012842
    Abstract: Embodiments facilitate greater flexibility in definition of user segments for targeted advertising, by employing indexed semantic user profiles. Semantic user profiles are built through extraction of online user behavior data such as user search queries and page views, and include user interest information that is inferred based on user behavior. Semantic user profiles are then indexed to facilitate search for a set of users that fit specified semantic search terms. Search results for semantic profiles are ranked according to a ranking model developed through machine learning. In some embodiments, building and indexing of semantic profiles and learning of the ranking model is performed offline to facilitate more efficient online processing of queries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Yan, Ning Liu, Lei Ji, Steven J. Hanks, Qing Xu, Zheng Chen
  • Patent number: 8533188
    Abstract: Embodiments facilitate greater flexibility in definition of user segments for targeted advertising, by employing indexed semantic user profiles. Semantic user profiles are built through extraction of online user behavior data such as user search queries and page views, and include user interest information that is inferred based on user behavior. Semantic user profiles are then indexed to facilitate search for a set of users that fit specified semantic search terms. Search results for semantic profiles are ranked according to a ranking model developed through machine learning. In some embodiments, building and indexing of semantic profiles and learning of the ranking model is performed offline to facilitate more efficient online processing of queries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Yan, Ning Liu, Lei Ji, Steven J. Hanks, Qing Xu, Zheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20130097028
    Abstract: Systems and method are provided for conducting an auction to match an advertising payload to an available advertising impression. In the auction, a dynamic floor price is provided. The dynamic floor price provides a way for a publisher to incorporate the internal value of the available impression into the auction process, while still allowing the publisher to maximize the value of the available impression by exposing the impression to bids from outside parties. The dynamic floor price can be calculated based on both internal valuations of an available impression as well as external valuations derived from feedback from prior auctions. To facilitate determination of a dynamic floor prices, advertisers and available impressions can be categorized into various segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: PENG HAN, STEVEN J. HANKS, ERIK J. HANSON, ROBERT PAUL GORMAN, XIAOBIN DONG, QING XU
  • Publication number: 20130073546
    Abstract: Embodiments facilitate greater flexibility in definition of user segments for targeted advertising, by employing indexed semantic user profiles. Semantic user profiles are built through extraction of online user behavior data such as user search queries and page views, and include user interest information that is inferred based on user behavior. Semantic user profiles are then indexed to facilitate search for a set of users that fit specified semantic search terms. Search results for semantic profiles are ranked according to a ranking model developed through machine learning. In some embodiments, building and indexing of semantic profiles and learning of the ranking model is performed offline to facilitate more efficient online processing of queries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Yan, Ning Liu, Lei Ji, Steven J. Hanks, Qing Xu, Zheng Chen
  • Patent number: 7792841
    Abstract: Methods and systems for extraction and summarization of sentiment information related to a particular research subject are disclosed. A method includes accessing sources of information that contain sentiment information that is related to the research subject and extracting the sentiment information from the sources of information as opinions related to the research subject. Opinion categories related to features of the research subject are identified. From this information a summarization of the sentiment information that is related to the particular research subject that includes the identified opinion categories is generated. Subsequently, access is provided to the summarization for graphical presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ian A. McAllister, Christoph R. Ponath, Ling Bao, Steven J. Hanks
  • Publication number: 20070282867
    Abstract: Methods and systems for extraction and summarization of sentiment information related to a particular research subject are disclosed. A method includes accessing sources of information that contain sentiment information that is related to the research subject and extracting the sentiment information from the sources of information as opinions related to the research subject. Opinion categories related to features of the research subject are identified. From this information a summarization of the sentiment information that is related to the particular research subject that includes the identified opinion categories is generated. Subsequently, access is provided to the summarization for graphical presentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ian A. McAllister, Christoph R. Ponath, Ling Bao, Steven J. Hanks