Patents Issued in May 2, 2017
  • Patent number: 9639808
    Abstract: There is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for attribute estimation. The process includes: extracting, for each user, feature quantities of plural pieces of image information that are associated with attributes of the user; integrating the extracted feature quantities for each user; and performing learning, input of the learning being an integrated feature quantity that has been obtained as a result of integration for each user, output of the learning being one attribute, and generating a learning model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaojun Ma, Yukihiro Tsuboshita, Noriji Kato
  • Patent number: 9639809
    Abstract: A computing device identifies outliers. Support vectors, Lagrange constants, a center threshold value, an upper control limit value, and a lower control limit value are received that define a normal operating condition of a system. The center threshold value, the upper control limit value, and the lower control limit value are computed from the vectors and the Lagrange constants. A first plurality of observation vectors is received for a predefined window length. A window threshold value and a window center vector are computed. A window distance value is computed between the window center vector and the support vectors. Based on comparisons between the computed values and the received values, the first plurality of observation vectors is identified as an outlier relative to the normal operating condition of the system. When the first plurality of observation vectors are identified as the outlier, an alert is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SAS Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Deovrat Vijay Kakde, Sergiy Peredriy, Arin Chaudhuri, Anya M. McGuirk
  • Patent number: 9639810
    Abstract: An information processing device performs data communication with a server through a predetermined network, and transmits a result of reviewing a review target to the server. The information processing device executes, in accordance with an operation of a user, execution processing of any review target which is selected from a plurality of review targets, and updates and stores an execution history of the review target. The information processing device extracts a reviewable review target from the plurality of review targets based on the stored execution history of each review target. The information processing device generates review information reviewing at least one extracted review target in accordance with an operation of the user, and transmits the review information to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Iwata, Kiyoshi Mizuki, Kei Uramoto
  • Patent number: 9639811
    Abstract: A method for identifying a simulated social media account history is provided. The method may include querying a social media identification information (“social media ID”) to determine whether the account history includes one or more parameters that indicate whether the social media ID is related to an automated entity or a human entity. The parameters may include at least one of less than a threshold number of friends on the account. The parameters may include more than a threshold frequency of historic ticket purchases per unit time. The parameters may also include disparate location of historic ticket purchases per unit time. The parameters may also include a historic record of less than a threshold reaction time to a plurality of ticket offers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SONGKICK.COM B.V.
    Inventors: Callum Merriman, Joshua C. Block
  • Patent number: 9639812
    Abstract: A system and method for accommodating disrupted travelers utilizing scoring and optimization techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.
    Inventors: Tuell Coleman Green, Ande Murali, Steven D. Leist, James Tullos Diamond
  • Patent number: 9639813
    Abstract: A method and device determines an optimization solution for an optimization problem. The method includes receiving the optimization problem having cost functions and variables in which each of the cost functions has a predetermined relationship with select ones of the variables. The method includes generating a first message for each of the cost functions for each corresponding variable based upon the respective predetermined relationship and a second message for each of the variables for each corresponding cost function based upon the respective predetermined relationship. The method includes generating a disagreement variable for each corresponding pair of variables and cost functions measuring a disagreement value between the first and second beliefs. The method includes repeating steps (b), (c), and (d) until a consensus is formed between the first and second messages until the optimization solution is determined based upon the consensus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Yedidia, Nate Derbinsky, Jose Bento Ayres Pereira, Veit Elser
  • Patent number: 9639814
    Abstract: Techniques are described for automatically selecting default dimensions of multidimensional data for publication. A computer-implemented system, for example, includes a data store having multidimensional data. The multidimensional data includes one or more data cubes having dimensions. The system further includes a publish module for accessing the data store and publishing the multidimensional data associated with the data cubes. The publish module selects a default dimension for publication for each of the data cubes based on attributes of the dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Gould, Mark Antrobus, Thomas Legault
  • Patent number: 9639815
    Abstract: Managing processes in an Enterprise Intelligence (‘EI’) assembly of an EI framework, including: for each executing EI assembly in the EI framework, in real time: tracking, by the process state transition manager, the present state of processes of each executing EI assembly; analyzing, by the process state transition manager, the present state; and storing, by the process state transition manager, results of the state analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Francis X. Reddington, Neil Sahota
  • Patent number: 9639816
    Abstract: A survey data structure is described that specifies how to administer a survey to each of a group of people. The data structure contains an entry that specifies text that poses a fabrication gauge question for which a percentage of the population who can accurately answer the fabrication gauge question affirmatively is known. The data structure further contains a plurality of entries that each specify text posing an unlikely question for which the percentage of the population who can accurately answer the unlikely question affirmatively is small. The data structure specifies how to conduct a survey that serves as a basis for determining which people to whom the survey is administered are responding truthfully to the survey.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Lightspeed, LLC
    Inventors: Mitchell Eggers, Eli Drake
  • Patent number: 9639817
    Abstract: A method for remotely recording Web usage by a panelist includes receiving at a remote processor, a command from a local client to display a Web page; identifying the local client and the panelist operating the local client; accessing the Web page; rendering the Web page in a remote browser; sending an image of the Web page to a local browser of the local client; and recording Web usage metrics associated with a display of the image on the local browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Google, Inc.
    Inventor: Simon Michael Rowe
  • Patent number: 9639818
    Abstract: An event type generator may provide a training set for classifying documents with respect to an event type. The event type generator may include a request handler to receive the event type and at least one example document, a text analyzer to extract first entities from the at least one example document, and a result manager to execute a first search against an indexed corpus of documents, to obtain first search results, and further to receive at least one selected document from the first search results. The request handler may extract second entities from the at least one selected document, and execute a second search against the indexed corpus of documents, to obtain second search results. The event type generator may thus provide the at least one example document, the first search results, and the second search results as the training set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventor: Mohammad Shami
  • Patent number: 9639819
    Abstract: A delivery server includes: an update unit configured to update a remaining gas amount on a basis of a gas usage obtained based on comparison between a plurality of sets of meter indication data when receiving a set of meter indication data, included in the plurality of sets of meter indication data, of a gas meter configured to detect the gas usage in a gas cylinder; a prediction unit configured to predict a prospective remaining gas amount on a basis of a change in a past gas usage obtained based on comparison between the past gas usages consumed in the gas cylinder; and a determination unit configured to determine a date on which the predicted remaining gas amount reaches a predetermined value as a delivery date of the gas cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Nippon Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Wada, Shingo Dekamo
  • Patent number: 9639820
    Abstract: Techniques are provided that produce a risk profile consisting of a risk score and trends of risk scores across devices and sensors in a machine-to-machine (M2M) or Internet of things (IOT) environment. For example, a device is assigned a risk score which is based on baseline factors such as expected network packets between two devices, normal network packets, access to critical devices, authorized access requests from one device to another device, normal communications to a device, and the critical ports of a device; access to and conflicts across physical, logical, and operational systems; historical and current usage of these systems, and anomalies from normal behavior patterns. Techniques encompass risk management by computing a risk score in a timely fashion in accordance with an architecture that enables achieving the required scaling necessitated by the huge number of devices in the machine-to-machine (M2M) or Internet of things (IOT) environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Alert Enterprise
    Inventors: Subrat Narendra Singh, Srinivasa Kakkera, Kiu Li, Prathap Sakala
  • Patent number: 9639821
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media. A method includes receiving virtual mail piece data and receiving a mail piece, the mail piece having machine-readable indicia on an exterior surface. The method includes decoding the indicia to produce a mail piece identifier and identifying a recipient of the mail piece using the mail piece identifier. The method includes retrieving subscription preferences from a recipient database according to the identified recipient. The method includes electronically sending a virtual mail piece to the recipient, the virtual mail piece corresponding to the mail piece, the virtual mail piece data, and the subscription preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Stanley Wayne Sipe, Michael O. Norris
  • Patent number: 9639822
    Abstract: A method and system of processing a mailing label through a postal service are provided. The method includes causing, by a computer system associated with a postage provider, a mailing label for mailing a mail piece to be generated, the mailing label including a tracking mark; receiving, by the computer system associated with the postage provider an indication that the tracking mark is detected when the mail piece is inducted in the mail stream or during transit of the mail piece in the mail stream; and creating, by the computer system associated with the postage provider, a record of a transaction for an amount of postage based on the received indication that the tracking mark is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: PSI SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Harry T. Whitehouse
  • Patent number: 9639823
    Abstract: An electric product which includes a recognition device obtaining information about a food item to be added to a storage compartment, and a display unit displaying information about a food item stored in the storage compartment. The electric product further includes a memory unit storing the information about the food item stored in the storage compartment, and a control unit controlling the display unit. The recognition device obtains information about a food item to be added. The control unit stores the information about the food to be added in the memory unit and displays the information about the food added to the memory unit on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyoungjun Park, Jongmi Choi, Museung Kim, Yanghwan Kim
  • Patent number: 9639824
    Abstract: Containers for an inventory system can be formed from a set of container segments bounded by container partitions. The container segments can be coupled end to end to one another and include receiving features for receiving partitions therein. A segment can separate from an adjacent segment in response to receiving a partition in a receiving feature at an end of one of the segments, or in response to interaction with decoupler distinct from the partition. Containers of differing lengths can be provided by using partitions to bound different numbers of interconnected segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremiah David Brazeau
  • Patent number: 9639825
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system receives a request sent by a device to authorize an operation. The system initiates display of an image encoding a challenge code to allow the device to capture the image and extract the challenge code. The device calculates a response using the challenge code and a seed, and sends the response to the system. In certain examples, the device may send the request over a first channel and the response over a second channel distinct from the first channel. In other examples, the device displays the response and a user inputs the response into a computing system to send to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory B. Roth, Nathan R. Fitch, Graeme D. Baer
  • Patent number: 9639826
    Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile terminal including executing, via a controller of the mobile terminal, an application; displaying, via a display unit of the mobile terminal, a display screen including information output by the executing application; displaying, via the display unit, a memo writing window on the display screen including the information output by the executing application; receiving, via the controller, a memo written in the memo writing window; linking, via the controller, the written memo to the information displayed in the display screen when the memo was written in the memo writing window; storing, via a memory of the mobile terminal, the linked memo and information; and re-displaying the memo linked with the information on the display screen if the application is re-executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Ilbyoung Yi, Byoungkwon Lee
  • Patent number: 9639827
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a plurality of member profiles in a social networking service are obtained, each member profile identifying a member and listing one or more skills the corresponding member has explicitly added to the member profile, the one or more skills indicating a proficiency by the member in the corresponding skill. A members-skills matrix is formed with members on one axis of the matrix and skills on another axis of the matrix, wherein each cell in the matrix is assigned a first value if the corresponding member explicitly lists the corresponding skill in the corresponding member profile and a second value if the corresponding member does not explicitly list the corresponding skill in the corresponding member profile. The members-skills matrix is factorized into a members matrix and a skills matrix in k-dimensional latent space, and then the dot product of the members matrix and the skills matrix is computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation
    Inventors: Jia Li, Dhruv Arya, Shakti Dhirendraji Sinha, Viet Thuc Ha, Deepak Agarwal
  • Patent number: 9639828
    Abstract: Generally, embodiments of the invention are directed to methods, computer readable media, servers and systems for enabling merchants to use hosted order pages (HOPs) and/or silent order posts (SOPs) and thereby avoid handling payment information and the costs associated Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance, while at the same time utilize third-party fraud detection screens and thereby avoid costs associated with fraudulent transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Lisa Anderson, Sonny Truong
  • Patent number: 9639829
    Abstract: A method for making a location-based automatic payment includes receiving an automatic payment instruction that designates a payee account. The automatic payment instruction is associated with a payer account in a database. A payment location is received and associated with the automatic payment request in the database. A payer device that is associated with the payer account is determined to be in the payment location and, in response, a payment request is sent over a network to make a payment from the payer account to the payee account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventor: Frank Anthony Nuzzi
  • Patent number: 9639830
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems, methods and devices for electronic bill presentment and payment are disclosed. Such embodiments include receiving one or more instructions from a biller at a remote computer server. Further, the remote computer server implements an electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP) workflow configuration module and provisions, using the EBPP workflow configuration module, one or more configuration parameters for the biller based on the one or more received instructions. In addition, embodiments include configuring, dynamically an EBPP workflow based on the one or more received instructions and provisioned configuration parameters using the EBPP workflow configuration module. The configuring of the EBPP workflow includes generating a state machine implementing the EBPP workflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Aliaswire, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Rodriguez, Hossein Mohsenzadeh
  • Patent number: 9639831
    Abstract: A method (400, 500) and a system (100) of conducting transactions for acquisition of virtual items. The method can include receiving from a user (108) a request to acquire the virtual item. Responsive to an identity indicator (112) that is exclusively unique to an identity confirmation device (110) being communicated from the identity confirmation device, a determination can be made whether the identity indicator corresponds to the user. Responsive to determining that the identity indicator corresponds to the user, the virtual item can be provided to the user. The method also can include receiving from a user a request to acquire the virtual item, receiving from an identity confirmation device an identity indicator exclusively unique to the identity confirmation device, and communicating the request and the identity indicator from the client device to a server (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Charles P. Schultz, Jose C. Lacal, Von A. Mock, Arnold W. Pittler
  • Patent number: 9639832
    Abstract: Techniques for implementing software licensing in a massive parallel processing environment on the basis of the actual use of licensed software instances are disclosed. In one embodiment, rather than using a license server or a node-locked license strategy, each use of a licensed software instance is monitored and correlated with a token. A store of tokens is maintained within the licensing system and a token is consumed after each instance successfully executes. Further, a disclosed embodiment also allows jobs that execute multiple software instances to complete execution, even if an adequate number of tokens does not exist for each remaining software instance. Once the license tokens are repurchased and replenished, any overage consumed from previous job executions may be reconciled. In this way, token-based licensing can be adapted to large scale computing environments that execute jobs of large and unpredictable sizes, while the cancellation of executing jobs may be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jerrold M. Heyman, Michael L. Nelson, Andrew G. Tonkin
  • Patent number: 9639833
    Abstract: A commodity sales data processing apparatus comprises a wireless communication section; an input section configured to input commodity specification information specifying a commodity; a determination unit configured to determine whether or not wireless communication with a portable terminal of a customer is established; and a communication unit configured to wirelessly transmit information for the display of settlement information based on the commodity specification information input from the input section on the portable terminal from the wireless communication section to the portable terminal on condition that the determination unit determines that wireless communication with the portable terminal is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota Konishi
  • Patent number: 9639834
    Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for suspending and resuming transactions through wireless beacon communications. A merchant may set up a wireless beacon with employee devices. The beacons may connect to a user's device and assist the employee with determining and suspending a transaction for the user. Based on the connections between the user's device and a wireless beacon attached to an employee device, the employee device may receive an identifier for the user. The identifier may also be received from a previous check-in by the user. The employee or a user may scan one or more items that the user may wish to purchase. A transaction may be generated using the scan and may be associated with the user's identifier. Later the transaction may be recalled using the user's identifier or a transaction code identifying the transaction. Payment information for the user may also be associated with the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventor: Mobeen Syed
  • Patent number: 9639835
    Abstract: A method and system include receiving a payment authorization request that comprises payment data and a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) associated with a mobile device; verifying the MSISDN by comparing MSISDN to a subscriber database; generating a message to verify a payment transaction, after the MSISDN is validated; receiving the verification message at the mobile device; verifying the payment transaction by transmitting a mobile personal identification number (PIN) associated with the MSISDN in response to the verification message; generating an authorization message indicating the payment transaction is one of approved or declined; and transmitting the authorization message. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: MasterCard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Akshat Gupta, Ricardo Pareja
  • Patent number: 9639836
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to digital wallet management. Embodiments initiate presentation of a digital wallet management interface, comprising initiating presentation of at least one digital wallet; and initiating presentation of at least one representation of at least one payment credential and at least one indication of which of the at least one digital wallets are associated with each of the at least one payment credentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Laura Corinne Bondesen, Jason P. Blackhurst, Scott Lee Harkey, William Blakely Belchee, Tammy L. Brunswig
  • Patent number: 9639837
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, processes, computer program code and means for conducting transactions are described which allow a first party to a transaction to identify a second party to a transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin Laracey
  • Patent number: 9639838
    Abstract: Fraud risk is monitored in financial transactions. Biometric information is received over the communications interface configured to exchange data with multiple distinct financial institutions. The received biometric information is compared with a database of biometric information to identify an individual. A fraud-detection analysis is performed on the financial transaction information associated with the individual. The financial transaction information associated with the individual is identified as suspicious in accordance with a result of the fraud-detection analysis. The biometric parameters associated with the individual are designated as associated with suspicious financial activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Early Warning Services, LLC
    Inventors: Julie McNelley, Glen Sgambati, Sathish Anickode
  • Patent number: 9639839
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first memory unit for storing a non-payment application, a first processor, a fingerprint sensing unit and a security element including a second memory unit and a second processor. The second memory unit stores a payment application and user fingerprint information. When the second processor executes the payment application, the fingerprint sensing unit captures a fingerprint image of a user's finger and the second processor transmits the fingerprint image to the first processor via a secure channel. The first processor calculates biometric characteristics of the fingerprint image to generate to-be-recognized fingerprint information which is transmitted to the second processor via the secure channel. When the second processor determines that the to-be-recognized fingerprint information matches the user fingerprint information, the second processor generates an authentication signal for a payment transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Egis Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Jung-Chien Lee, Chieh-Pin Su
  • Patent number: 9639840
    Abstract: A payment settlement terminal device includes a housing that has a first surface having an operation display surface, a second surface at the opposite side of the operation display surface, and a step portion formed on one end side of the second surface in parallel with the end edge of one end side. A length of the housing in thickness direction in the one end side adjacent to the step portion is greater than a length of the housing in thickness direction in the other end side of the step portion, and a non-secure area not having tamper-resistance at the one end side of the housing and a secure area having the tamper-resistance at the other end side of the housing. A payment settlement terminal device is provided, in which the security can be ensured and the user can easily perform the payment settlement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Ninomiya
  • Patent number: 9639841
    Abstract: In one example, a method for promoting learned discourse in online forums includes posting forum content on a forum server and providing access to users to the content through an I/O module. The method further includes receiving a comment from a user and analyzing the comment from the user to produce an a priori score for the comment. A portable certificate of status is accepted from the user and used to produce a posteriori score for the comment. A system for promoting learned discourse in online forums is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen B. Heppe, Kenan G. Heppe
  • Patent number: 9639842
    Abstract: A system and method for accommodating disrupted travelers utilizing scoring and optimization techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.
    Inventors: Tuell Coleman Green, Murali Ande, Steven D. Leist, James Tullos Diamond
  • Patent number: 9639843
    Abstract: A mobile computerized apparatus for use with a roadside assistance program to assist in identifying a service provider, such as a tow truck, is disclosed. The apparatus transmits relevant information to a remote server. The server in turn provides information about a plurality of service providers available to service the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company
    Inventors: Tara Cavallaro Kozlowski, Ryan M. Briggs, Imran Iqbal
  • Patent number: 9639844
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus of identifying a website user are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Limited
    Inventors: Guli Lin, Depin Chen, Zhiqiang Chen
  • Patent number: 9639845
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing displaying time of online advertisements. Upon receiving a search request including one or more search terms, a search engine may identify a list of search results and display the search results on one side of a result page. The search engine may also obtain a list of advertisements and display the list of advertisements on the other side of the result page. When a user scrolls down to look at search results at a lower portion of the result page, the list of advertisements may be moved down, following the movement of the screen, so that at least a part of the list of advertisements may keep being displayed on the current screen. Since the online advertisements are visible to the user for a longer time, there are more opportunities for the online advertisements to get the user's attention, and consequently more opportunities for the user to click on an advertisement. As a result, the efficiency of online advertising may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventor: Shan-Bin Chris Chan
  • Patent number: 9639846
    Abstract: An arrangement for providing targeted content includes data repositories storing information from which targeted content may be selected. The data repositories store at least one contextual relationship graph. The arrangement also includes an input/output interface through which a request for targeted content is made. The arrangement further includes a controller that receives the request for targeted content and selects targeted content using the contextual relationship graph. The controller further provides the selected targeted content through the input/output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: RICHRELEVANCE, INC.
    Inventors: Tyler Kohn, David Selinger, Michael James DeCourcey
  • Patent number: 9639847
    Abstract: A system and a method for measuring and monitoring effectiveness of on-line advertising are provided. The system and method provide a code attached to, for example, an advertising banner of a company that may advertise goods and/or services of the company. The code provides a signal to a server when the banner is viewed on a computer of a user. Cookie data is transferred by the server to the computer of the user providing information related to viewing of the advertising banner. Surveys are further presented to users to obtain information related to the effectiveness of the advertising for both exposed users and control users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: DYNAMICLOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Nyhan, Ronit Aviv
  • Patent number: 9639848
    Abstract: Based on historical data describing product sales or other types of transactions, indicator scores may be calculated for users who have purchased, reviewed, or otherwise consumed products, the indicator scores based on subsequent diffusion of the products. Measured, current activities of the scored users with regard to another product may then be employed to develop a diffusion model that predicts the future sales of the other product over time. The diffusion model may be employed to determine product pricing, marketing, distribution, or acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Belle, Patrick Ludvig Bajari, Jeffrey Paul Helbling, Kelly Christina Paulson, Ana Maria Mocanu, Vikram Sathyanarayana Anbazhagan
  • Patent number: 9639849
    Abstract: A method of allocating shelves includes obtaining shopping paths of customers in a supermarket, classifying the plurality of customers into a plurality of customer classes based on the shopping paths of the plurality of customers, determining one or more shopping paths adopted by more customers in the plurality of customer classes as frequent shopping paths of a class of customers of the plurality of customer classes, calculating a see-buy rate of a commodity for each of the plurality of customer classes based on shopping lists and the frequent shopping paths of the plurality of customers, calculating a location for a set of commodities when total expected benefits for the set of commodities are maximized during a certain period of time. The total expected benefits include a sum of an expected benefit for each commodity in the set of commodities based on the see-buy rate and the frequent shopping paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hong Bo Li, Wei Wang, Hong Wei Ding, Jin Dong
  • Patent number: 9639850
    Abstract: Systems and associated methods for incentivizing content engagement are described. Embodiments provide a recommended feature application to offer premier/recommended content. This can take place at a variety of times, for example during the primary content selection interface display, as well as offering said content interactively as an overlay during the conclusion of a piece of content. Embodiments employ a weighted process for selecting a recommended feature based on one or more stored preference files. The recommended feature application can be utilized across titles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Ashbrook, Kyle Prestenback, Evan Acosta, Brian Kwan, David Jessen
  • Patent number: 9639851
    Abstract: Multiple copies of the same coupon are delivered to a consumer simultaneously via different delivery channels. After one copy of the coupon has been presented in connection with a transaction and used, the coupon is marked as used with respect to all delivery channels for that consumer. Different copies of the coupon can have different coupon identifiers, for example when delivered through different channels. Consumers also can access such multichannel coupons without having to login each time they wish to access their coupons from multiple channels. In one implementation, each consumer has a user profile. A promotion is associated with that consumer's user profile. Each user profile also is associated with different channel identifiers representing communication channels to deliver instances of the promotion to the consumer. Each delivered instance of the promotion includes a coupon identifier associated with the promotion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: CodeBroker, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Slavin, Pero Smrzlic
  • Patent number: 9639852
    Abstract: Provided is a method and a GUI-based software application that acts as a wallet with network interconnectivity for enabling a user to securely and seamlessly conduct transactions with his or her online financial transaction program by means of a computer or a wireless handheld device without having to depend on an Internet browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Gak Wee Low, Salil Mody
  • Patent number: 9639853
    Abstract: Devices, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media for a redemption header for merchant offers, such as online coupons, are provided. In some embodiments, an offers website may provide offers, such as online coupons, in a browser executing on a user device. When a user selects an online coupon, the browser is redirected to a merchant website associated with the online coupon and a coupon code value is copied to a clipboard. Additionally, a redemption header having the coupon code and instructions is added in the merchant webpage. A webpage element for the redemption header, such as an inline frame, is created in the merchant webpage and the redemption header is provided based on an offer identifier stored in a browser-accessible storage item such as a cookie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: RetailMeNot, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas James Shiffert, Michael Paul Cravey, Jagjit Singh Bath
  • Patent number: 9639854
    Abstract: A system with an associated method for preloading advertisements by a server to a user's device is disclosed. In response to inquiries made by members of a user group, the system presents advertisements to the members and keeps a record of these presentations. Next, the system identifies those advertisements which have been frequently presented to the members, and preloads the identified advertisements on the device of a user who belongs to the user group. Subsequently, upon receiving a specific inquiry from the user's device, the system determines a response to the specific inquiry. When the determined response contains one of the preloaded advertisements, the system sends an instruction to the user's device to present the preloaded advertisement to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Sundar Balasubramanian, Michael McSherry, Eric Jun Fu, Daniel Hendrick, Deepankar Katyal, David J. Kay
  • Patent number: 9639855
    Abstract: A system and with an associated method for preloading advertisements from a server to a user's device is disclosed. In response to inquiries made by members of a user group, user devices of the members present advertisements to the members and the server keeps a record of these presentations. Next, the server identifies those advertisements which have been frequently presented to the members, and preloads the identified advertisements to the device of a user who belongs to the user group. Subsequently, upon receiving a specific inquiry by the user's device, the server determines a response to the specific inquiry. When the determined response contains one of the preloaded advertisements, the server sends an instruction to the user's device to present the preloaded advertisement to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Sundar Balasubramanian, Michael McSherry, Eric Jun Fu, Daniel Hendrick, Deepankar Katyal, David J. Kay
  • Patent number: 9639856
    Abstract: A method, performed by a computer device, may include obtaining a viewing history, associated with a customer, from a set-top box associated with the customer, wherein the viewing history relates a particular television channel to a duration time associated with the particular television channel. The method may further include determining a keyword, associated with the customer, based on the obtained viewing history; calculating a keyword score for the keyword based on the obtained viewing history; selecting an advertisement, associated with the keyword, based on the calculated keyword score; and providing the selected advertisement to the set-top box associated with the customer, based on selecting the advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Anand N. Sankaran, Amitkumar Singh, Nishanth Madichetti, Jubish C. Parambath, Anil K. Guntupalli, Lisa A. Caputo, Govinda R. Yenda
  • Patent number: 9639857
    Abstract: An approach is provided for presenting a user interface and associating one or more commenting information with on one or more content items detected in one or more media items. Further, a user may associate one or more commenting information related to a point of interest/object wherein one or more content items associated with the point of interest/object may be retrieved and aggregated with the one or more commenting information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Petri Matti Olavi Piippo, Jan Peter Erik Eskolin, Jussi Severi Uusitalo, Tero Juhani Hakala