Discount Or Incentive (e.g., Coupon, Rebate, Offer, Upsale, Etc.) Patents (Class 705/14.1)
  • Patent number: 10176496
    Abstract: Audience segmentation can be based on a viewing angle of a user viewing a video of a multi-angle viewing environment. During playback, a sequence of the user-controlled viewing angles of the video are recorded. The sequence represents the viewing angle of the user at a given point in time. Based on the sequences of several users, a predominant sequence of viewing angles of the video is determined. One or more audience segment tags are assigned to the predominant sequence of viewing angles. During subsequent playbacks of the video, the sequence(s) of user-controlled viewing angles of the video are recorded. The recorded sequence(s) of the subsequent user(s) are compared to the predominant sequence of viewing angles of the video, and the subsequent user(s) are assigned to an audience segment based on the comparison and the corresponding audience segment tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Adobe Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Duggal, Niraj Gupta, Piyush Gupta, Raman Gupta
  • Patent number: 10176488
    Abstract: Sensitivity to incentive changes of survey participant may be computed and analyzed. Participants and one or more attributes associated with the participants may be identified. The participants may be clustered into one or more clusters according to the one or more attributes. An incentive amount to be given to a participant in a cluster of said one or more clusters may be perturbed by performing random perturbation computation. The incentive may be distributed to the participant. One or more responses of the participant may be monitored. Individual incentive sensitivity representing incentive sensitivity of responsiveness of the participant per incentive change may be computed based on the monitoring. Incentive amount computation may be dynamically adjusted responsive to determining that the individual incentive sensitivity changed by a predefined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tian-Jy Chao, Younghun Kim
  • Patent number: 10170108
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are described herein for placing secondary content into a break of unknown duration in a stream of primary content. In one aspect, the described techniques may include streaming a segment of primary content, for example, by a reduce capability client device, such as a mobile device or tablet. The device may receive information indicative of a break in the streaming of the primary content. The device may play secondary content based on receiving the information indicative of the break. The device may determine when a next segment of the primary content is available, and begin streaming the next segment of the primary content upon detecting that the second segment of the primary content is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Aaron Miller, Jason D. Justman, Lora Clark Bouchard, Michael Ellery Bouchard, Kevin James Cotlove, Mathew Keith Gitchell, Stacia Lynn Haisch, Jonathan David Kersten, Matthew Karl Marchio, Peter Arthur Pulliam, George Allen Smith, Todd Christopher Tibbetts
  • Patent number: 10169793
    Abstract: A method, a computer program product, and a computer system for determining buying online and picking up in store. A computer receives from a shopper a request for buying online and picking up in store. The computer parses stores carrying an item purchased online and connections of the shopper in a social network. The computer provides the shopper with a list of one or more connections for picking up the item for the shopper. The computer sends to one of the one or more connections a token for picking up the item and information of a store where the item is picked up, after the shopper chooses the one of the one or more connections for picking up the item. The computer sends to the shopper a notification, after the item is picked up by the one of the one or more connections for picking up the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jialin Li, Pradeep K. Nanjundaswamy, Leho Nigul
  • Patent number: 10140623
    Abstract: A service provider may receive merchant analytics information from a plurality of merchant devices. In some examples, the service provider may generate a model based at least in part on the merchant analytics information, the model including a core set of features for predicting a merchant metric associated with a merchant. The service provider may detect a lift in an observed value of the merchant metric based at least in part on a residual value of the merchant metric at a location of the lift, and add an additional feature to the model to cause a predicted value of the merchant metric to correspond to the observed value of the merchant metric at the location of the lift. The service provider may further send information associated with the feature to a merchant device associated with the merchant. As an example, the information may include a prediction for the merchant metric and/or a recommendation for improving the business of the merchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Levon J. Lloyd, Nader Al-Naji, Matthew Ivor Lloyd
  • Patent number: 10136187
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for presenting a suggestion to watch videos are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, a method for presenting a suggestion to watch videos is provided, the method comprising: receiving, from a user device, a message that includes a link to a video; determining whether the link has been selected; in response to determining that the link has not been selected, determining a probability value that indicates a likelihood that a user associated with the user device would be interested in viewing the video; in response to determining that the probability value is greater than a predetermined threshold value, determining a time to suggest that the user view the video based at least in part on information relating to movement of the user device; and causing a suggestion to view the video to be presented in a suggestion interface on the user device at the determined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Courtney Hampson, Jason Robert Richard Sanio
  • Patent number: 10114999
    Abstract: Embodiments include technologies for applying dynamic occlusions to barcodes, which include determining a dynamic occlusion to be applied to a barcode, generating an object for displaying a series of images of the barcode with the dynamic occlusion, where the barcode is to be scannable at least once based on the series of images to be displayed, and providing the object for access by the mobile device. In specific embodiments, the dynamic occlusion includes a modification to a first portion of the barcode to create a first image of a modified barcode. In further specific embodiments, the object, when displayed for a first time period, is to render the first image of the modified barcode for at least a first interval occurring within the first time period. The first portion of the barcode is unscannable during the first interval and is at least partially scannable during one or more other intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Koupon Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Burke, Brian Alexander Reinhart
  • Patent number: 10116612
    Abstract: A referrer device configured to perform operations such as detecting an electronic request to provide information from an information source to a contact communication device. The contact data for a contact associated with the contact communication device is accessible by the referrer device. However, the contact data is not accessible by the information source. The operations can further include encoding a referral container file with programming instructions configured to, upon execution by a processor of the contact communication device, cause the contact communication device to electronically request the information from the information source via a communications network without providing the contact data to the information source. The operations can further include embedding the referral container file in an electronic message and transmitting, via a network communication interface of the referrer device, the electronic message to the contact communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: GROUPON, INC.
    Inventors: James F. Kramer, Paul C. Ning
  • Patent number: 10110612
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for managing a user's contact data which use evolving sequential sets of rules where the applicability of each set depends upon adherence or proper application of a prior set. In an embodiment, an initial set of restrictions are generated based on input from a first user, the restrictions relating to contact made by a second user to the first user. These initial restrictions are subsequently modified in response to the second user contacting the first user based on the contact made and a characteristic of the contact. The methods may apply to any form of contact between the first and second users and in an embodiment applies to contact made by the second user to a cellular telephone number belonging to the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Kenton Paul Anthony O'Hara, Michael Anthony Massimi, Matthew Kay, Richard Harper, James William Scott
  • Patent number: 10089533
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for using video fingerprinting to detect depiction of one or more objects of interest in video data. An object of interest may first be identified in one or more frames of video data. A system may then create a digital video fingerprint representing the one or more frames in which the object is depicted. A potentially large amount of subsequent video data may then be received or retrieved, and the system may determine that the object appears in a portion of the subsequent video data based at least in part by identifying that the digital video fingerprint at least substantially matches a portion of the subsequent video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: GumGum, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Benjamin Katz, Cambron Neil Carter, Brian Jongmin Kim
  • Patent number: 10083474
    Abstract: A network-based service may be provided for facilitating queries for a number of items, such as travel services. A user may submit a query including criteria for determining relevant items. The network-based service may be configured to generate opaque search results in response to queries, revealing sufficient detail to allow the user to confirm the relevance of the travel item, but insufficient detail to disclose the identity of the supplier. Based on the submitted query or other information, the network-based service may associate a persona with the user, such as the persona of a business or leisure traveler. The network-based service may use the persona to determine a travel item or items best suited to the user, by identifying the travel item attributes that correlate positively with preferences of the persona. The network-based service may then generate an opaque search result that reveals travel item attributes desired by the persona.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Expedia, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew James Knight
  • Patent number: 10083464
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure allow associating rendered third-party content to respective conversions. A data processing system can provide a third-party content item for rendering on a first client computing device and store information indicative of such rendering. The data processing system can detect a realization action associated with a second client computing device and correlating the realization action with the rendering of the third-party content item based on the stored information indicative of the rendering. The data processing system can then update a realization action parameter associated with the third-party content item in response to correlating the realization action with the rendering of the third-party content item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Adam Ruxton, Elizabeth Ariel Van Alstine
  • Patent number: 10078804
    Abstract: Customer management for an establishment involves operating a server that hosts system software and interacts with various computing devices over internet and wireless network gateway connections. The server communicates with devices at the establishment and customer computing devices in real-time, providing system performance updates, text messaging communications to the customer regarding table availability and marketing information and synchronizing the information communicated within the system. A computer user interface at the establishment communicates with the server and allows an establishment host to capture and transmit customer information to the server and make of the server processing requests that can include sending text message alert notifications to a customer mobile device informing of an available table and providing marketing messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: HEARTLAND PAYMENT SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Bergen Jantz, Russel Hempel
  • Patent number: 10075765
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for detecting user engagement with auxiliary content consumed by a user at a viewing device, the method comprising, at the viewing device generating requests for auxiliary content associated with media content selected by the user to be consumed; receiving auxiliary content from an auxiliary content store and playing out the auxiliary content to the user; displaying at least one user engagement element associated with the auxiliary content, the user engagement element defining an expected user activity; generating user engagement data based on the engagement of a user with the user engagement element in accordance with the expected user activity, and formulating a message to be transmitted to an auxiliary content controller, the messaging including a user identifier and the user engagement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Piksel, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Antony Shaw, Hans-Jurgen Maas
  • Patent number: 10074128
    Abstract: An onboard computing device of autonomous vehicle interacts with computers utilized by one or more merchants to enable users to pre-purchase items from the one or more merchants while en route to a destination. Merchant computing devices may employ dynamic promotions to incent the user to prep-purchase items and to reroute to a destination of the respective merchant. Once a user pre-purchases an item from a merchant, the merchant may prepare the item for the user's arrival by, for example, prepackaging the item, or manufacturing or assembling the item, while the customer is en route (i.e., before the user's autonomous vehicle arrives at the destination). The merchant computing device may send a pre-purchase confirmation to the onboard computing device of the user, which may indicate where the user's autonomous vehicle should park and/or where the pre-purchased items are being held for pick up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventors: Shay C. Colson, David A. Divine
  • Patent number: 10068244
    Abstract: A wireless device is enabled to process a transaction. In one implementation, the wireless device receives card data for a plurality of financial account cards and stores the card data in memory associated with the wireless device. The wireless device determines merchant information for the transaction and determines rewards benefit information for at least some of the plurality of financial account cards. The wireless device provides a suggestion of at least one of the plurality of financial account cards to use in the transaction based on the determined rewards benefit information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Loomis
  • Patent number: 10055782
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally set forth a two-way touch screen based communication system. One example method may include receiving an order for an item from a first touch screen device via a first network, wherein the order is associated with a first identification for a merchant, a second identification for the customer, and a negotiable parameter reflective of a preference of the customer. The method may also include making available the order for a second touch screen device of the merchant to retrieve via a second network and to display and prior to completing processing of the order, transmitting a first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the first network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: THE USUAL, INC.
    Inventor: Andy Lam
  • Patent number: 10055725
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for in-store payments. A customer identifier and a point-of-sale identifier may be received. A user payment account may be determined based on the customer identifier. The user payment account may be associated with a customer identified by the customer identifier. Transaction data may be received for a transaction for the customer created using the point-of-sale card at a point-of-sale computing device. The transaction data may include a purchase total. The transaction may be authorized. The point-of-sale card may not always be active. The point-of-sale card associated with the point-of-sale identifier may be activated after the user payment account based on the customer identifier is determined. The point-of-sale card may be deactivated after the transaction is authorized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Sprecher
  • Patent number: 10051103
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided to: receive, utilizing the touchscreen, an indication of a second touch input for trace path-based selection of a first photo of a second set of multiple of the plurality of photos in the grid; in response to the receipt of the indication of the second touch input for trace path-based selection of the first photo of the second set of multiple of the plurality of photos in the grid, cause selection of the first photo of the second set of multiple of the plurality of photos in the grid, change at least one visual aspect of the first photo of the second set of multiple of the plurality of photos in the grid, add a check mark icon to the first photo of the second set of multiple of the plurality of photos in the grid; receive, utilizing the touchscreen, an indication of a continuation of the second touch input for trace path-based selection of a second photo of the second set of multiple of the plurality of photos in the grid; and in response to the rece
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Majen Tech, LLC
    Inventors: George Andrew Gordon, Joseph A Cerrato, Ronald A Johnston, Kevin J Zilka
  • Patent number: 10043213
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the disclosed technology include systems and methods for increasing efficiency in the detection of identity-based fraud indicators associated with a loan application. A method is provided that includes receiving applicant data associated with a loan application having a plurality of applicants. The application data includes at least a name, a social security number, and a street address for each of the plurality of applicants. The method includes querying one or more databases with the applicant data; receiving a plurality of independent information in response to the querying; determining a validity indication of the applicant data; creating disambiguated applicant records; determining relationships among the disambiguated applicant records; scoring at least one parameter of the applicant data; determining one or more indicators of fraud based on the scoring; and outputting, for display, one or more indicators of fraud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: LexisNexis Risk Solutions FL Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Straub, Samantha Gwinn, Cindy Loizzo, Alex Woo Song, Marlene Thorogood, Cheri Gay Nevin, Eric Piner
  • Patent number: 10037551
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for sorting seller listings or advertisements of a seller network. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining an indicator of potential revenue for a first party from price information of a list of entities, wherein revenue generated according to the price information of at least some of the list of entities is to be split among a plurality of parties; and, sorting the list of entities into a first list based at least partially on the indicator of potential revenue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLC
    Inventors: Kelvin Ho, Ron Hirson, Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber
  • Patent number: 10033672
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method is provided, comprising: creating at least a portion of an instant messaging application that is configured to cooperate with an apparatus, the instant messaging application, when executed, configured to cause a device to: display an instant messaging interface including a communicant message user interface element and a send user interface element, and receive, from the apparatus and utilizing a communications agent on the device configured to receive incoming messages addressed to a communicant identifier associated with a user of the instant messaging application, one or more user interface elements including a first button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Sitting Man, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Paul Morris
  • Patent number: 10025807
    Abstract: Acquiring dynamic data is disclosed including extracting a search term from a search request string that is received, looking up the search term in a threshold value dictionary to acquire a dynamic threshold score corresponding to the search term, using the search term as a query condition and the dynamic threshold score corresponding to the search term as a filter condition to acquire, in an index data table, one or more corresponding pieces of index information, acquiring data information corresponding to the search term based on the index information in the index data table, and sending the data information to be displayed in a page of a website. The dynamic threshold score varies based on a characteristic factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Limited
    Inventors: Linfeng Zhang, Peng Huang, Xipu Wang, Wenbin Zheng
  • Patent number: 10026406
    Abstract: A vehicle of outputting a sound using a difference between a human's audible frequency and a pet's audible frequency, and a method of controlling the vehicle are provided. The vehicle includes a sound processor that is configured to tune and mix a sound and a sound controller that is configured to determine a sound being output as one of a first sound having a frequency within a human's audible frequency range and a second sound having a frequency beyond the human's audible frequency range. When a command for reproducing another sound other than the determined sound is received, the sound processor is configured to mix the determined sound with the other sound corresponding to the command and a speaker is then configured to output the mixed sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seok Min Oh
  • Patent number: 10019735
    Abstract: An advertisement distribution apparatus according to an embodiment includes a user information table, a determining unit, a request unit, and a distribution unit. The user information table stores user information about a user. When the advertisement distribution apparatus is accessed by a user terminal, the determining unit determines whether the user information of the user of the user terminal has been stored in the user information table. When the determining unit determines that the user information has not been stored in the storage unit, the request unit requests an information provision apparatus to transmit the user information. When the determining unit determines that the user information has not been stored in the storage unit, the distribution unit distributes advertisement content to the user terminal using the user information which is acquired from the information provision apparatus by the request unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Tajima, Koji Tsukamoto, Hidehito Gomi, Hiroshi Nishikawa, Taisuke Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 10019750
    Abstract: A method of providing coupons for shopping includes storing a shopping list in an electronic device including items for purchase via a merchant, storing electronic representations of coupons in the electronic device and associating the electronic representations of coupons with items included in the shopping list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Robert S. McIntosh
  • Patent number: 10021458
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for providing interactive electronic commerce functionality via graphical overlays on live streaming video. An indication is received that an item is featured or discussed in a live video stream. The live video stream is sent to a client. Data encoding a selectable graphical overlay is sent to the client in response to the indication. The selectable graphical overlay is configured to be rendered by the client relative to the live video stream. A selection of the selectable graphical overlay is configured to perform an interactive function relative to the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Amber Autrey Taylor, Steven Kessel, Daniel Thomas Mellott, Brent Robert Mills, Liza Marie Walsh
  • Patent number: 10002357
    Abstract: Techniques for presenting venue based services in a WLAN environment are provided. Specifically, methods that when taken alone or together, provide a device or group of devices with an efficient way of accessing venue based applications and advertisements while reducing application pollution. The present disclosure includes a system that provides a user with automatic network and application discovery while in the vicinity of a venue. If the system detects that the application is not installed in the wireless device, the venue specific application is presented to the user for download and install. The system can also recognize a user's preferences and tailor the application and advertisement provided accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL IP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Necati Canpolat, Vivek Gupta
  • Patent number: 9990643
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to: store transaction data recording transactions processed by a transaction handler; organize third party data according to community, where the third party data includes first data received from a first plurality of entities of a first community and second data received from a second plurality of entities of a second community; and responsive to a request from a merchant in the second community, present an offer of the merchant in the second community to users identified via the transaction data and the first data received from the first plurality of entities of the first community. In one embodiment, the first data provides permission from the merchant in the first community to allow the merchant in the second community to use intelligence information of the first community to identify users for targeting offers from the merchant in the second community.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Jeanette Yoder, Leigh Amaro, Ryan Hagey, Michael Steven Bankston
  • Patent number: 9984381
    Abstract: A system detects and manages customer interactions with a product being presented at a physical location. A customer tracking device detects a customer within a predefined distance of a product during a first time period. A product motion sensor detects a movement of the product while the customer is within the predefined distance of the product during the first time period. One or more processors identify and record a first price of the product during the first time period. The customer tracking device further detects the customer within the predefined distance of the product during a second time period. One or more processors further determine a second price of the product during the second time period, and then determine a lower price of the product by comparing the first price with the second price. A price transmitter transmits the lower price to the customer during the second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Burkhart, Michael P. Carlson, Theodore J. L. Shrader
  • Patent number: 9972021
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to receive an input specifying a set of users, identify a set of triggers, each of which corresponds to a set of one or more conditions which when satisfied cause transmission of a message to the set of users, rank the triggers based at least in part on transaction data of the users that was recorded by a transaction handler, and generate a ranked list of the triggers based on the ranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Jeanette Yoder, Leigh Amaro, Ryan Hagey, Michael James Gebbie, Michael Steven Bankston
  • Patent number: 9972027
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to measure the effectiveness of viewing resources, such as web-based advertisements or web pages, on electronic devices in causing transaction activity to subsequently occur at a physical location associated with the resources. A first set of data records is provided that includes a uniform resource identifier (URI) of a resource that was viewed by an electronic device, one or more physical locations, each physical location representing a physical location of the merchant associated with the URI, a date/time that the resource was viewed by the electronic device, and payment instrument indicia regarding a payment instrument which has been used for completion of a previous web-based transaction by an electronic device having the same UDID that viewed the URI of the resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: VSK Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Silvio Tavares
  • Patent number: 9973635
    Abstract: A method performed in a radio device comprising a client of a service. In accordance with an embodiment, the method comprises sending, from the radio device to the service provider, a request requesting information about whether a telecommunications operator (telco), which the radio device is connected via, provides any offer for a subscription to the service; receiving a message comprising an indication that the telco provides such an offer and an address for contacting the telco regarding said offer; sending a message by means of the received address of the telco, regarding available offers; receiving a confirmation message comprising information about an available offer for a subscription to the service; receiving an indication that the available offer is accepted; and, to the service provider, sending a message indicating that the available offer has been accepted and should be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SPOTIFY AB
    Inventors: Göran Edling, Peter Simon, Felix Bouleau, Chris Bevington
  • Patent number: 9973876
    Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus configured: to create an advertising message including a packet data unit [PDU] including information identifying an application that may be installed on the apparatus and an indication that the PDU may include an application recommendation; and to cause the advertising message to be broadcast. Another apparatus is configured: to receive an advertising message including a packet data unit [PDU] including information identifying an application that may be installed on another apparatus and an indication that the PDU may include an application recommendation; and to use the information identifying an application to provide an option to install the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Provenance Asset Group LLC
    Inventors: Canfeng Chen, Jia Liu
  • Patent number: 9967629
    Abstract: Systems, methods and media for purchasing and commenting on identified products in streamed media are provided. In one example, a method comprises receiving program content and data describing program content from a content source and identifying product-related metadata associated with the program content. The product-related metadata includes data relating to one or more products or services displayed in the program content. In one embodiment, the program content is communicated to a display device for presentation to a first user in the display device. User commentary is received from a second device and communicated to the first user while the first user is viewing the program content. Commentaries of other users, for example in a wider social group, can also be presented to the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Michael George Lenahan, Amanda Johnson, Ben Lucas Mitchell, Chahn Chung, Linda Young
  • Patent number: 9961267
    Abstract: A device may display content being captured by a personal camera associated with a user. The device may receive an indication to stream the content based on a user interaction with the device. The device may determine configuration information associated with streaming the content. The configuration information including information that identifies a streaming application associated with streaming the content, and information that identifies a social media application associated with the user. The device may provide, via the social media application, a notification that the content is to be streamed via the streaming application. The notification may be provided for viewing by a viewer associated with the social media application. The device may stream the content using the streaming application. The content may be streamed to allow the viewer to access the content via the streaming application and in real-time or near real-time relative to the capturing of the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Dietel, Brian Scott Rowley, Matthew Scott Deatrick, Denise Nicole Lyn-Shue
  • Patent number: 9954962
    Abstract: Anonymously providing purchasing analytics associated with customer to a website while the customer is accessing the website. Specifically, a financial institution, having access to a customer's transactional data, can analyze the data to determine analytical purchasing data. Once the customer authenticates themselves at a financial institution website, a networked application or the like, an anonymous cookie that is configured to identify the analytical purchasing data is generated and stored in the web browser cache. In response to the customer using the device to access a website that displays advertisements, the anonymous cookie is retrieved from the web browser cache and the analytical purchasing data is provided to the website. In specific embodiments of the invention, the website uses the analytical purchasing data of the customer to determine which of the plurality of advertisements are to be displayed to the customer while they visit the website.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason P. Blackhurst, Frederick A. Shahda, Robert L. Abbott, Alfred Hamilton
  • Patent number: 9947021
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for identifying a service need via a promotional system, and offering the service need to a third party. Promotions may be offered via a promotional system for a consumer to purchase in exchange for a discounted product or service from a provider. Demand information, which may be collected based on promotions and/or other sources. A residual demand may be calculated based on the demand information and available inventory. The residual demand may be utilized to identify a service need. The service need may be identified in a geographic area having a similar demographic to a geographic area having an associated successful promotion. A service need may be provided to a third party or provider, and may indicate the need for a new business or expansion of a current business.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: GROUPON, INC.
    Inventors: Shafiq Shariff, Tyler Jennings
  • Patent number: 9947035
    Abstract: A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium being operable to provide a shopping cart for a shopper, and segment items in the shopping cart based on the carbon footprint associated with each item. Additionally, the method may include displaying substitute or complementary items in the shopping cart for selection by the user to reduce total carbon values, and awarding carbon certificates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rick A. Hamilton, II, Ruthie D. Lyle, Paul A. Moskowitz, Clifford A. Pickover
  • Patent number: 9948496
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for optimization of data transfer to a software service. In exemplary embodiments, a computer-implemented method for determining a transit appliance for data traffic to a software service through one or more interconnected networks comprising a plurality of network appliances, comprises determining performance metrics for each of the plurality of network appliances to at least one IP address associated with the software service, and selecting a transit appliance for data transfer to the IP address, the selected transit appliance based at least in part on the performance metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Silver Peak Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Anthony Hughes, Damon John Ennis, Theodore Ernest Tedijanto, Hon Tat Ho
  • Patent number: 9940788
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for preventing replay attacks for mobile promotions associated with promotion devices. Upon the occurrence of a promotion winning event such as a designated outcome of a game played on the promotion device the user, via a software application accessible to their mobile device, forwards images of the event to a server over a network. The server determines entitlement to the promotion and analyses data associated with the images and mobile device location and time to confirm that the event is new promotion winning event. Upon such confirmation an entitlement to the promotion is awarded to the user. The foregoing prevents unscrupulous users from logging multiple claims for the same promotion winning event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin S. Lyons, Bryan M. Kelly, John Sommer
  • Patent number: 9936030
    Abstract: Described are various embodiments of a user content sharing system and method with automated external content integration. In one embodiment, a system and method are provided in which a graphical user interface (GUI) is rendered on each system users' personal communication device. The GUI produces a content selection function selecting, under user operation, user content for sharing, and a sharing platform selection function selecting, under user operation, one or more sharing platforms. The system further comprise a digital content integrator communicatively linked to the user interface to gain access to the selected user content in response to the content selection function, the integrator having access to stored external content distinct from user content. The integrator integrates the external content with the selected user content to output integrated content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Investel Capital Corporation
    Inventor: Benoit Laliberte
  • Patent number: 9930078
    Abstract: Based on information used by the external system to identify a target user, the external system generates a target user hash identifier that is communicated to the social networking system along with a message. Using information from user profiles maintained by the social networking system, the social networking system generates hash identifiers for its users and compares the target user hash identifier to the generated hash identifiers hash identifiers for social networking system users are generated. The social networking system sends the message to a user associated with a hash identifier generated from user profile information that matches the target user hash identifier. Hence, an external application may communicate with social networking system users without accessing access information about the users maintained by the social networking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Gokul Rajaram, Antonio Felipe Garcia-Martinez, Brian Thomas Boland, Nipun Mathur
  • Patent number: 9922473
    Abstract: Systems and methods for location-based automated authentication are disclosed. A system comprises a mobile device, a sensor and a backend platform. The sensor and the backend platform is in network communication. The mobile device is operable to continuously transmit Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signals comprising encrypted transitory identifiers. The sensor is operable to receive a BLE signal from the mobile device when the mobile device is within a predetermined range, and communicate over a network connection the encrypted transitory identifier comprised in the BLE signal to the backend platform. The backend platform is operable to extract a unique identifier and a changing encrypted identifier from the received encrypted transitory identifier, generate a changing encrypted identifier, and validate a user identification by comparing the generated changing encrypted identifier and the extracted encrypted transitory identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: USCONTRACTING, INC.
    Inventors: William Frederick Haworth, Kevin Austin Maynard, Jeffrey Brader Kidwell
  • Patent number: 9924464
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for identifying at least one alternate power source to provide power to a portable device during an upcoming time period of use. The method includes monitoring power parameters associated with at least one battery of the portable device and determining, based on the power parameters, whether the at least one battery that is currently coupled to the portable device is capable of powering the portable device for an entirety of an upcoming time period of use. In response to determining the at least one battery is not capable of powering the portable device for the entirety of the upcoming time period of use, identifying at least one alternate power source that may provide power for use during the upcoming time period of use. The method then includes generating and outputting a power management strategy, which utilizes the at least one alternate power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Alberto Cavallaro, Amit Kumar Agrawal, David Winkler
  • Patent number: 9916584
    Abstract: A method (and system) of assigning a sales opportunity, includes creating an assignment model based on clustering historical sales opportunities, and providing a scoring mechanism on a plurality of sales agents for automatically optimizing an assignment of at least one sales opportunity to at least one of the plurality of sales agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jamshid Abdollahi Vayghan, Philip Shilung Yu
  • Patent number: 9898746
    Abstract: A method for comparison of product information based on product codes to determine the cost per unit weight per product and hereby determine the cheapest product per unit weight is disclosed herein. The method further comprises of displaying the location information of the cheapest product within the retail store and providing navigational information for enabling the consumer to access the product easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Stuart Argue, Anthony Emile Marcar
  • Patent number: 9892456
    Abstract: Generating a sensory notification for a user of an electronic computing device includes receiving an indication at the electronic computing device that a trigger for an alert has occurred. The trigger is related to an occurrence of a trigger condition. The sensory notification associated with the trigger condition is identified. A determination is made as to whether the user is near the electronic computing device. When the indication is received that the trigger for the alert has occurred and when a determination is made that the user is near the electronic computing device, a scent corresponding to the sensory notification is caused to emanate from the electronic computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: Chris Kalaboukis, Ramanathan Ramanathan
  • Patent number: 9880256
    Abstract: Systems and methods can support coprocessing radio signals and video to identify and locate a radio transmitter. Positions and orientations for cameras and RF sensors may be maintained. An RF signature associated with the radio transmitter may be received from the RF sensors to determine an RF persona. A first physical location for the radio transmitter may be estimated according to a physical radio propagation model operating on RF signals. A video stream from one or more of the cameras may be received. An individual may be identified in the video stream using computer vision techniques. A second physical location for the radio transmitter may be estimated from the video stream. Relationships may be established between the first physical location and the second physical location and between the RF persona and the identified individual. The relationships may be presented to an operator interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Bastille Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert John Baxley, Christopher Jay Rouland, Michael Thomas Engle
  • Patent number: 9851865
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for managing an application are provided. A method of managing an electronic device includes deleting an application, detecting entering of an icon edit mode, and displaying an icon of the deleted application when in the icon edit mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-Hyun Pang, Jin-Hong Jeong, Jin-Gil Yang, Pil-Joo Yoon