Patents by Inventor Thomas Alan Nielsen

Thomas Alan Nielsen 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).

  • Systems and methods for indicating a user state in a social network
    Patent number: 9564025
    Abstract: Methods and Systems for determining a user state for a member of a social network are described. According to one embodiment, a method comprising receiving in a network of associated users user state information for a first user, wherein the network of associated users comprises user established relationships between users, determining a current user state for the first user; and outputting to a second user the user state information based at least in part on the current user state and a relationship based permission status is set forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Alan Nielsen
  • Systems and methods for indicating a user state in a social network
    Patent number: 9332080
    Abstract: Methods and Systems for determining a user state for a member of a social network are described. According to one embodiment, a method comprising receiving in a network of associated users user state information for a first user, wherein the network of associated users comprises user established relationships between users, determining a current user state for the first user; and outputting to a second user the user state information based at least in part on the current user state and a relationship based permission status is set forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Alan Nielsen
  • Methods and systems for controlling access to relationship information in a social network
    Patent number: 8489516
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling access to relationship information in a social network are described. One described method comprises receiving a request from an observer for relationship information indicating at least a first relationship between a target in a social network and a second entity in the social network, identifying at least a first privacy rule for the first relationship, and outputting at least part of the relationship information to the observer if the first privacy rule is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Alan Nielsen, Ellen Spertus, Alexandre Drobychev
  • Methods and systems for controlling access to relationship information in a social network
    Patent number: 8429090
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling access to relationship information in a social network are described. One described method comprises receiving a request from an observer for relationship information indicating at least a first relationship between a target in a social network and a second entity in the social network, identifying at least a first privacy rule for the first relationship, and outputting at least part of the relationship information to the observer if the first privacy rule is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Alan Nielsen, Ellen Spertus, Alexandre Drobychev
  • Micro-payment system architecture
    Patent number: 8290867
    Abstract: A micro-payment system has buyers, sellers, and a broker. The buyers establish accounts with the broker and provide payment information allowing the broker to invoice the buyers. The sellers establish accounts with the brokers and specify terms for accessing items, including electronic content, available from the sellers. The sellers also provide payment information that allows the broker to credit the sellers for sales of the items. The broker aggregates the buyers' micro-payment purchases and invoices the buyers. The broker also aggregates the sellers' micro-payment sales and credits the sellers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Alan Nielsen, John Dominick Piscitello, Arturo E. Crespo, Louis Vincent Perrochon, Benjamin Chan-Bin Ling, Georges Harik
  • Micro-payment system architecture
    Patent number: 8108306
    Abstract: A micro-payment system has buyers, sellers, and a broker. The buyers establish accounts with the broker and provide payment information allowing the broker to invoice the buyers. The sellers establish accounts with the brokers and specify terms for accessing items, including electronic content, available from the sellers. The sellers also provide payment information that allows the broker to credit the sellers for sales of the items. The broker aggregates the buyers' micro-payment purchases and invoices the buyers. The broker also aggregates the sellers' micro-payment sales and credits the sellers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Alan Nielsen, John Dominick Piscitello, Arturo E. Crespo, Louis Vincent Perrochon, Benjamin Chan-Bin Ling, Georges Harik
  • Systems and methods for indicating a user state in a social network
    Patent number: 8019875
    Abstract: Methods and Systems for determining a user state for a member of a social network are described. According to one embodiment, a method comprising receiving in a network of associated users user state information for a first user, wherein the network of associated users comprises user established relationships between users, determining a current user state for the first user; and outputting to a second user the user state information based at least in part on the current user state and a relationship based permission status is set forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Alan Nielsen
  • Controlling access to profile information in a social network
    Patent number: 7949611
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling access to relationship information in a social network are described. One described method comprises receiving a request from an observer for relationship information indicating at least a first relationship between a target in a social network and a second entity in the social network, identifying at least a first privacy rule for the first relationship, and outputting at least part of the relationship information to the observer if the first privacy rule is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Symantec Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Alan Nielsen, Ellen Spertus, Alexandre Drobychev
  • Methods and systems for controlling access to relationship information in a social network
    Patent number: 7716140
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling access to relationship information in a social network are described. One described method comprises receiving a request from an observer for relationship information indicating at least a first relationship between a target in a social network and a second entity in the social network, identifying at least a first privacy rule for the first relationship, and outputting at least part of the relationship information to the observer if the first privacy rule is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Alan Nielsen, Ellen Spertus, Alexandre Drobychev