Patents by Inventor William T. Semple

William T. Semple 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: 20170032421
    Abstract: A system, method and software medium, send merchant alerts to a traveler. A traveler alert server receives at least one bid defining one or more keywords and a corresponding alert from each of a plurality of merchants. The traveler alert server receives location data defining a current location of the traveler from a location aware device (LAD). The corresponding alerts are ordered by performing a generalized second-price (GSP) auction based upon the location data, a merchant location of each of the plurality of merchants, and the at least one bid of each of the plurality of merchants. The ordered corresponding alerts are sent to the LAD for display to the traveler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventor: William T. Semple
  • Patent number: 8296335
    Abstract: Methods for advertising information include: displaying user-selectable category and geographic vicinity information at a port; and, at a database that is not at the same location as the port; responding to user input at the port to display, at the port, advertising information that is associated with a user-selected category and geographic vicinity. Methods for updating advertising information in a database include: storing advertising information about a plurality of places in the database; updating the advertising information from a first port connected to the database through the Internet; and responding, at the database, to user inputs at a second port connected to the database through the Internet, to display updated advertising information at the second port. Advertisements can be tagged to items of interest and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Civix-DDI, LLC
    Inventors: W. Lincoln Bouve, William T. Semple, Steven W. Oxman
  • Publication number: 20020169541
    Abstract: A user can access a common database from a remote communications port, at any qualified location, to generate a map or other positional information which locates selected items of interest, e.g., businesses, stores, architectural sites, and the like. The database contains information representing the items of interest, including, for each of the items of interest, positional coordinates, a geographic vicinity, and a selected category. The positional coordinates discretely locate the vicinity, while the vicinity specifies the exact locations of the items of interest in the selected category. For example, a user in New York can select the display of sporting shops in the area surrounding Chicago O'Hara International Airport selectively. A user can also access a port and display locations of items of interest within the same vicinity as the user and relative to the user's position. The database can be modified from qualified remote locations to change, or add to, the information therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: W. Lincoln Bouve, William T. Semple, Steven W. Oxman
  • Patent number: 6415291
    Abstract: A user can access a common database from a remote communications port, at any qualified location, to generate a map or other positional information which locates selected items of interest, e.g., businesses, stores, architectural sites, and the like. The database contains information representing the items of interest, including, for each of the items of interest, positional coordinates, a geographic vicinity, and a selected category. The positional coordinates discretely locate the vicinity, while the vicinity specifies the exact locations of the items of interest in the selected category. For example, a user in New York can select the display of sporting shops in the area surrounding Chicago O'Hara International Airport selectively. A user can also access a port and display locations of items of interest within the same vicinity as the user and relative to the user's position. The database can be modified from qualified remote locations to change, or add to, the information therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Civix-DDI, LLC
    Inventors: W. Lincoln Bouve, William T. Semple, Steven W. Oxman
  • Patent number: 6408307
    Abstract: A user can access a common database from a remote communications port, at any qualified location, to generate a map or other positional information which locates selected items of interest, e.g., businesses, stores, architectural sites, and the like. The database contains information representing the items of interest, including, for each of the items of interest, positional coordinates, a geographic vicinity, and a selected category. The positional coordinates discretely locate the vicinity, while the vicinity specifies the exact locations of the items of interest in the selected category. For example, a user in New York can select the display of sporting shops in the area surrounding Chicago O'Hara International Airport selectively. A user can also access a port and display locations of items of interest within the same vicinity as the user and relative to the user's position. The database can be modified from qualified remote locations to change, or add to, the information therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Civix-DDI, LLC
    Inventors: William T. Semple, Lincoln Bouve, Steven W. Oxman
  • Patent number: 6385622
    Abstract: A user can access a common database from a remote communications port, at any qualified location, to generate a map or other positional information which locates selected items of interest, e.g., businesses, stores, architectural sites, and the like. The database contains information representing the items of interest, including, for each of the items of interest, positional coordinates, a geographic vicinity, and a selected category. The positional coordinates discretely locate the vicinity, while the vicinity specifies the exact locations of the items of interest in the selected category. For example, a user in New York can select the display of sporting shops in the area surrounding Chicago O'Hara International Airport selectively. A user can also access a port and display locations of items of interest within the same vicinity as the user and relative to the user's position. The database can be modified from qualified remote locations to change, or add to, the information therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventors: W. Lincoln Bouve, William T. Semple, Steven W. Oxman
  • Publication number: 20020032674
    Abstract: A user can access a common database from a remote communications port, at any qualified location, to generate a map or other positional information which locates selected items of interest, e.g., businesses, stores, architectural sites, and the like. The database contains information representing the items of interest, including, for each of the items of interest, positional coordinates, a geographic vicinity, and a selected category. The positional coordinates discretely locate the vicinity, while the vicinity specifies the exact locations of the items of interest in the selected category. For example, a user in New York can select the display of sporting shops in the area surrounding Chicago O'Hara International Airport selectively. A user can also access a port and display locations of items of interest within the same vicinity as the user and relative to the user's position. The database can be modified from qualified remote locations to change, or add to, the information therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: WILLIAM T. SEMPLE, LINCOLN BOUVE, STEVEN W. OXMAN
  • Publication number: 20010054036
    Abstract: A user can access a common database from a remote communications port, at any qualified location, to generate a map or other positional information which locates selected items of interest, e.g., businesses, stores, architectural sites, and the like. The database contains information representing the items of interest, including, for each of the items of interest, positional coordinates, a geographic vicinity, and a selected category. The positional coordinates discretely locate the vicinity, while the vicinity specifies the exact locations of the items of interest in the selected category. For example, a user in New York can select the display of sporting shops in the area surrounding Chicago O'Hara International Airport selectively. A user can also access a port and display locations of items of interest within the same vicinity as the user and relative to the user's position. The database can be modified from qualified remote locations to change, or add to, the information therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: W. Lincoln Bouve, William T. Semple, Steven W. Oxman
  • Publication number: 20010021930
    Abstract: A user can access a common database from a remote communications port, at any qualified location, to generate a map or other positional information which locates selected items of interest, e.g., businesses, stores, architectural sites, and the like. The database contains information representing the items of interest, including, for each of the items of interest, positional coordinates, a geographic vicinity, and a selected category. The positional coordinates discretely locate the vicinity, while the vicinity specifies the exact locations of the items of interest in the selected category. For example, a user in New York can select the display of sporting shops in the area surrounding Chicago O'Hara International Airport selectively. A user can also access a port and display locations of items of interest within the same vicinity as the user and relative to the user's position. The database can be modified from qualified remote locations to change, or add to, the information therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: W. Lincoln Bouve, William T. Semple, Steven W. Oxman
  • Patent number: 6085177
    Abstract: The invention provides internet access through an automatic teller machine. A local processor interfaces with the machine's internal processor to facilitate communication to the World Wide Web. A communication subsystem, e.g., a modem or data communication card, provides for direct coupling to the Internet. Internal memory stores web browsing software and users can initiate web access through commands through a user interface, e.g., a keyboard. The invention further provides for controlling the web access at the banking institution which owns the machine. Individuals withdrawing money, therefore, can be charged for the Internet access time automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Civic-DDI, LLC
    Inventors: Deborah K. Semple, William T. Semple, Curtis A. Vock
  • Patent number: 5682525
    Abstract: A user can access a common database from a remote communications port, at any qualified location, to generate a map or other positional information which locates selected items of interest, e.g., businesses, stores, architectural sites, and the like. The database contains information representing the items of interest, including, for each of the items of interest, positional coordinates, a geographic vicinity, and a selected category. The positional coordinates discretely locate the vicinity, while the vicinity specifies the exact locations of the items of interest in the selected category. For example, a user in New York can select the display of sporting shops in the area surrounding Chicago O'Hara International Airport selectively. A user can also access a port and display locations of items of interest within the same vicinity as the user and relative to the user's position. The database can be modified from qualified remote locations to change, or add to, the information therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Civix Corporation
    Inventors: W. Lincoln Bouve, William T. Semple, Steven W. Oxman