Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Sullivan

Thomas J. Sullivan 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: 20220401025
    Abstract: Detecting user contact with one or more electrodes of a physiological signal sensor can be used to ensure physiological signals measured by the physiological signal sensor meet waveform characteristics (e.g., of a clinically accurate physiological signal). In some examples, a mobile and/or wearable device can comprise sensing circuitry, stimulation circuitry, and processing circuitry. The stimulation circuit can drive one or more stimulation signals on one or more electrodes, the resulting signal(s) can be measured (e.g., by the sensing circuitry), and the processing circuitry can determine whether a user is in contact with the electrode(s). Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, mobile and/or wearable device can comprise saturation detection circuitry, and the processing circuitry can determine whether the sensing circuitry is saturated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Chad A. BOSSETTI, Thomas J. SULLIVAN, Xiaoyu GUO, Paras SAMSUKHA, Anirban CHATTERJEE
  • Patent number: 11532003
    Abstract: Endogenous and exogenous variables associated with an item for sale by an affiliate may be displayed to a user of an affiliate decision-making tool. In response to the user selecting one of the endogenous variables, the affiliate decision-making tool may compute a number of introductions, a number of leads, and a number of sales for each of a plurality of possible values of the endogenous variable. The computation may be done utilizing a display position algorithm. A visualization of effects of setting the endogenous variable at different levels may be presented. The user may interact with the display position algorithm to vary one or more of the plurality of possible values of the endogenous variable such that the affiliate is eligible or disqualified to be displayed by an intermediary in response to a search for the item by a visitor of a network site owned and operated by the intermediary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: TrueCar, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Swinson, Jason McBride, Isaac Lemon Laughlin, Thomas J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 11532001
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments for the aggregation and analysis of vehicle prices via a geo-specific model. Data may be collected at various geo-specific levels such as a ZIP-Code level to provide greater data resolution. Data sets taken into account may include demarcation point data sets and data sets based on vehicle transactions. A demarcation point data set may be based on consumer market factors that influence car-buying behavior. Vehicle transactions may be classified into data sets for other vehicles having similar characteristics to the vehicle. A geo-specific statistical pricing model may then be applied to the data sets based on similar characteristics to a particular vehicle to produce a price estimation for the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: TrueCar, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Swinson, Param Pash Kaur Dhillon, Thomas J. Sullivan, Xingchu Liu
  • Patent number: 11526912
    Abstract: Contextual data may be generated from assets in asset portfolios using metadata enrichment services. A recommendation engine may generate a set of recommended assets for presentation in a content stream based on the contextual data. Brand safety may be implemented using a brand safety policy that uses the contextual data as indicators of potentially offensive content. Advertisements included in the content stream may also be targeted based on the contextual data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: IRIS.TV INC.
    Inventors: Field J. Garthwaite, Thomas J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 11526922
    Abstract: Assets in an asset portfolio are evaluated using historical data and, optionally, additional other measurable characteristics for the assets in the asset portfolio. Each asset is assigned a valuation that represents past consumption and expected future consumption of the asset. The valuation is used to create recommended sets of assets from the asset portfolio. The recommended sets of assets are sent to user devices for consumption which is further monitored for accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: IRIS.TV INC.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20220366399
    Abstract: A computerized system for activating, issuing and otherwise managing transactions and activities pertaining to stored-value cards over a communications network. A central information database is provided for storing stored-value cardholder and card purchaser information received directly from respective stored-value cardholders and card purchasers PCs through a universal central processor via respective communication gateways. The central processor is coupled for communication realtime to multiple unaffiliated stored-value card processing networks normally operated by respective hosts. Each network includes a stored-value card processor coupled to a stored-value card database and multiple respective merchant communication devices. The central processor is programmed for managing the activation and issuance of transactions and activities for the stored-value card through the respective unaffiliated networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: Blackhawk Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, J. Simmons Graves
  • Patent number: 11478193
    Abstract: Detecting user contact with one or more electrodes of a physiological signal sensor can be used to ensure physiological signals measured by the physiological signal sensor meet waveform characteristics (e.g., of a clinically accurate physiological signal). In some examples, a mobile and/or wearable device can comprise sensing circuitry, stimulation circuitry, and processing circuitry. The stimulation circuit can drive one or more stimulation signals on one or more electrodes, the resulting signal(s) can be measured (e.g., by the sensing circuitry), and the processing circuitry can determine whether a user is in contact with the electrode(s). Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, mobile and/or wearable device can comprise saturation detection circuitry, and the processing circuitry can determine whether the sensing circuitry is saturated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chad A. Bossetti, Thomas J. Sullivan, Xiaoyu Guo, Paras Samsukha, Anirban Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 11429954
    Abstract: A computerized system for activating, issuing and otherwise managing transactions and activities pertaining to stored-value cards over a communications network. A central information database is provided for storing stored-value cardholder and card purchaser information received directly from respective stored-value cardholders and card purchasers PCs through a universal central processor via respective communication gateways. The central processor is coupled for communication realtime to multiple unaffiliated stored-value card processing networks normally operated by respective hosts. Each network includes a stored-value card processor coupled to a stored-value card database and multiple respective merchant communication devices. The central processor is programmed for managing the activation and issuance of transactions and activities for the stored-value card through the respective unaffiliated networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Blackhawk Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, J. Simmons Graves
  • Publication number: 20220270119
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed provide a system, method, and computer program product for identifying consumer items more likely to be bought by an individual user. In some embodiments, a collaborative filter may be used to rank items based on the degree to which they match user preferences. The collaborative filter may be hierarchical and may take various factors into consideration. Example factors may include the similarity among items based on observable features, a summary of aggregate online search behavior across multiple users, the item features determined to be most important to the individual user, and a baseline item against which a conditional probability of another item being selected is measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, Michael D. Swinson
  • Patent number: 11419550
    Abstract: Detecting user contact with one or more electrodes of a physiological signal sensor can be used to ensure physiological signals measured by the physiological signal sensor meet waveform characteristics (e.g., of a clinically accurate physiological signal). In some examples, a mobile and/or wearable device can comprise sensing circuitry, stimulation circuitry, and processing circuitry. The stimulation circuit can drive one or more stimulation signals on one or more electrodes, the resulting signal(s) can be measured (e.g., by the sensing circuitry), and the processing circuitry can determine whether a user is in contact with the electrode(s). Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, mobile and/or wearable device can comprise saturation detection circuitry, and the processing circuitry can determine whether the sensing circuitry is saturated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chad A. Bossetti, Thomas J. Sullivan, Xiaoyu Guo, Paras Samsukha, Anirban Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 11361331
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for identifying items more likely to be selected by an individual user as a next hop in a search path. Probability metrics are maintained for items, the probability metrics indicating frequencies with which users have selected each item as a next hop after viewing another item. Responsive to the user viewing a baseline item, a probability of selection as a next hop is determined for each of a plurality of items based on the probability metrics. The items are ranked according to the probabilities of selection and presented to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: TrueCar, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, Michael D. Swinson
  • Publication number: 20220058694
    Abstract: Contextual data may be generated from assets in asset portfolios using metadata enrichment services. A recommendation engine may generate a set of recommended assets for presentation in a content stream based on the contextual data. Brand safety may be implemented using a brand safety policy that uses the contextual data as indicators of potentially offensive content. Advertisements included in the content stream may also be targeted based on the contextual data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Field J. Garthwaite, Thomas J. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20210342871
    Abstract: Endogenous and exogenous variables associated with an item for sale by an affiliate may be displayed to a user of an affiliate decision-making tool. In response to the user selecting one of the endogenous variables, the affiliate decision-making tool may compute a number of introductions, a number of leads, and a number of sales for each of a plurality of possible values of the endogenous variable. The computation may be done utilizing a display position algorithm. A visualization of effects of setting the endogenous variable at different levels may be presented. The user may interact with the display position algorithm to vary one or more of the plurality of possible values of the endogenous variable such that the affiliate is eligible or disqualified to be displayed by an intermediary in response to a search for the item by a visitor of a network site owned and operated by the intermediary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Michael D. Swinson, Jason McBride, Isaac Lemon Laughlin, Thomas J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 11132702
    Abstract: Endogenous and exogenous variables associated with an item for sale by an affiliate may be displayed to a user of an affiliate decision-making tool. In response to the user selecting one of the endogenous variables, the affiliate decision-making tool may compute a number of introductions, a number of leads, and a number of sales for each of a plurality of possible values of the endogenous variable. The computation may be done utilizing a display position algorithm. A visualization of effects of setting the endogenous variable at different levels may be presented. The user may interact with the display position algorithm to vary one or more of the plurality of possible values of the endogenous variable such that the affiliate is eligible or disqualified to be displayed by an intermediary in response to a search for the item by a visitor of a network site owned and operated by the intermediary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: TrueCar, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Swinson, Jason McBride, Isaac Lemon Laughlin, Thomas J. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20210073789
    Abstract: A computerized system for activating, issuing and otherwise managing transactions and activities pertaining to stored-value cards over a communications network. A central information database is provided for storing stored-value cardholder and card purchaser information received directly from respective stored-value cardholders and card purchasers PCs through a universal central processor via respective communication gateways. The central processor is coupled for communication realtime to multiple unaffiliated stored-value card processing networks normally operated by respective hosts. Each network includes a stored-value card processor coupled to a stored-value card database and multiple respective merchant communication devices. The central processor is programmed for managing the activation and issuance of transactions and activities for the stored-value card through the respective unaffiliated networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, J. Simmons Graves
  • Publication number: 20210042774
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments for the aggregation and analysis of vehicle prices via a geo-specific model. Data may be collected at various geo-specific levels such as a ZIP-Code level to provide greater data resolution. Data sets taken into account may include demarcation point data sets and data sets based on vehicle transactions. A demarcation point data set may be based on consumer market factors that influence car-buying behavior. Vehicle transactions may be classified into data sets for other vehicles having similar characteristics to the vehicle. A geo-specific statistical pricing model may then be applied to the data sets based on similar characteristics to a particular vehicle to produce a price estimation for the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Michael D. Swinson, Param Pash Kaur Dhillon, Thomas J. Sullivan, Xingchu Liu
  • Patent number: 10881307
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relate s to blood pressure monitoring. In some embodiments, methods and devices for measuring a mean arterial pressure and/or for monitoring blood pressure changes of a user are provided. Blood pressure measured by one or more pressure sensors may be adjusted using one or more correction factors. The use of the one or more correction factors disclosed herein may allow for more compact, convenient, and/or accurate wearable blood pressure measurement devices and methods. In particular, wrist-worn devices may be provided which are less bulky than current devices and may facilitate more frequent and accurate blood pressure monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, Ravi K. Narasimhan, Rui Qiao, Derek Park-Shing Young, Robert K. Montgomery, II, Mohsen Mollazadeh, Zijing Zeng, Vasco D. Polyzoev, Richard C. Kimoto
  • Patent number: 10872331
    Abstract: A computerized system for activating, issuing and otherwise managing transactions and activities pertaining to stored-value cards over a communications network. A central information database is provided for storing stored-value cardholder and card purchaser information received directly from respective stored-value cardholders and card purchasers PCs through a universal central processor via respective communication gateways. The central processor is coupled for communication realtime to multiple unaffiliated stored-value card processing networks normally operated by respective hosts. Each network includes a stored-value card processor coupled to a stored-value card database and multiple respective merchant communication devices. The central processor is programmed for managing the activation and issuance of transactions and activities for the stored-value card through the respective unaffiliated networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Blackhawk Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, J. Simmons Graves
  • Patent number: 10849555
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relate s to blood pressure monitoring. In some embodiments, methods and devices for measuring a mean arterial pressure and/or for monitoring blood pressure changes of a user are provided. Blood pressure measured by one or more pressure sensors may be adjusted using one or more correction factors. The use of the one or more correction factors disclosed herein may allow for more compact, convenient, and/or accurate wearable blood pressure measurement devices and methods. In particular, wrist-worn devices may be provided which are less bulky than current devices and may facilitate more frequent and accurate blood pressure monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, Ravi K. Narasimhan, Rui Qiao, Derek Park-Shing Young, Robert K. Montgomery, II, Mohsen Mollazadeh, Zijing Zeng, Vasco D. Polyzoev, Richard C. Kimoto
  • Publication number: 20200367767
    Abstract: A pulse transit time is measured non-invasively and used to calculate a blood pressure value. A method of determining one or more blood pressure values includes propagating an alternating drive current through a thorax of a subject via electrodes located on a wrist-worn device. Resulting voltage levels of the subject are sensed by the wrist-worn device. The voltage levels are processed to detect when a volume of blood is ejected from the left ventricle. Output from a pulse arrival sensor coupled to the wrist-worn device is processed to detect when a blood pressure pulse generated by ejection of the volume of blood from the left ventricle arrives at the wrist. A pulse transit time (PTT) for transit of the blood pressure pulse from the left ventricle to the wrist is calculated. One or more blood pressure values for the subject are determined based on the PTT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, Wren Nancy Dougherty, Richard C. Kimoto, Erno Klaassen, Ravi K. Narasimhan, Stephen J. Waydo, Todd K. Whitehurst, Derek Park-Shing Young, Santiago Quijano, Zijing Zeng