User Requested Patents (Class 705/14.55)
  • Patent number: 9047340
    Abstract: A method for providing a viewable search results log to allow determination of the effectiveness of search strategies and sharing results of searches with others. The search results log reveals search strategies utilized by a human searcher with which the search results log is associated. The search results produced by at least one human searcher are stored in the search results log and presented according to a view format selected by a viewer. The search results log can be interrelated to other systems such as a blog or a search engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Inventors: Scott A. Jones, Brad Bostic, Eugene M. O'Donnell, Thomas E. Cooper
  • Publication number: 20150149283
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for automated computer based notification systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Scott A. Horstemeyer
  • Publication number: 20150149282
    Abstract: A social networking platform offering various services, such as, facilitating aggregation and management of a user's interaction on one or more social networking platforms, offering enhanced control over the level of privacy associated with the flow of user data, offering tools to customize the user's exposure to advertisement-related content on the social networking platform(s), integrating features to control aspects of how data/content is presented to and visualized by the user, empowering the user to multicast direct messages to other users without the other users having to meet certain constraints, empowering the user to create and/or join a group based on messaging threads, and the like. One or more of these enhanced services/features are associated with a powerful framework of authentication/permission model for access control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Jonathan Wolfe, Mark Weinstein
  • Publication number: 20150142568
    Abstract: A method for enabling a mobile device to generate message feedback includes: receiving user agent data from a mobile device; calling a dynamic-link library, followed by analyzing the user agent data; based on a result of the analyzing, selecting a message launching command that conforms with the mobile device, a preset port number that is associated with the advertising server, and a preset text; and transmitting to the mobile device the message launching command, the preset port number, and the preset text. The message launching command configures the mobile device to launch a messaging application for creating a feedback message in which the preset port number and the preset text are automatically loaded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Shao-Feng HSU
  • Patent number: 9037594
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques for keyword management are described. Some embodiments provide a keyword management system (“KMS”) configured to determine the effectiveness of multiple candidate keywords. In some embodiments, the KMS generates multiple candidate keywords based on an initial keyword. The KMS may then determine an effectiveness score for each of the candidate keywords, based on marketing information about those keywords. Next, the KMS may process the candidate keywords according to the determined effectiveness scores. In some embodiments, processing the candidate keywords includes applying rules that conditionally perform actions with respect to the candidate keywords, such as modifying advertising expenditures, modifying content, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Marketo, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Joseph, Adam Goldblatt
  • Publication number: 20150134452
    Abstract: A mechanism is described for facilitating dynamic and targeted advertisements for computing systems according to one embodiment. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes transmitting an indication that one or more advertisements are being played at the computing device, determining whether a user profile associated with a user of the apparatus has a sufficient amount of advertisement credits to allow the user to receive an advertisement-free experience relating to an advertisement-sponsored application, and providing the advertisement-free experience if the user profile includes the sufficient amount of advertisement credits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Gerald Shawn Williams
  • Publication number: 20150134444
    Abstract: This invention includes a method for displaying ads in a search result page comprising displaying one or more pages with only search results without ads; and displaying one or more first tabs or links in the search results page, at one or more of the four sides of the page, whereas when a user clicks or taps on a first tab or link, ads from one or more advertisers are shown, either on one or more separate pages containing only these ads or on the same page with the search results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Lusha LIANG, Ping Liang
  • Publication number: 20150134448
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems allowing a company to market and advertise its brands, products and/or services in a mobile platform by use of an application converting words and texts into logos and displaying the same. Particularly, this application allows company logos to be inserted and displayed in any mobile texts and messages whenever corresponding keywords are entered or selected by end users in a mobile communication application, such as SMS/text, IM, iMessage, and any social networking application, for example, Facebook and Twitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Want Media Group Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Tung, Isaac Cheah, Brandon Foster
  • Patent number: 9032448
    Abstract: A broadcast system provides consumers with inducement to consume portions in which they may not have an active interest, such as commercials. To dissuade consumers from leaving the vicinity of the broadcast receiver or from switching to other broadcasts while a first broadcast airs such a portion, the first broadcast is augmented by a second content entity calculated to be of interest to the consumer. Interaction is required of the consumer in order for him to receive the second content entity, which necessitates his presence and attention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Vringo Infrastructure Inc.
    Inventor: Ari Nieminem
  • Patent number: 9032018
    Abstract: The invention relates to a targeting technique for controlling the provisioning of content items, for example advertisements, to users in a mobile communications network (100). A method embodiment of the technique is performed in a provisioning server (114) in the mobile communications network and comprises the steps of receiving an indication of a content item which has been selected by a first user via a first mobile terminal (126); retrieving, from a user-related database, contact information associated with the first user, wherein the contact information indicates at least one second user (128); determining a location of a second mobile terminal of the second user; and selectively initiating, if an intended presentation area for the selected content item covers the location of the second mobile terminal, a presentation of the selected content item to the second mobile terminal (128).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Karl Quinn
  • Publication number: 20150120415
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes identifying at least a portion of an image as a taggable product appearing in the image. A tag is generated, by a computer processor, for the taggable product. The tag is associated with the identified portion of the image and includes information about the taggable product, where generating the tag converts the taggable product into a tagged product. A first ad is prioritized over a plurality of other ads for display on a web page in conjunction with the image, where the prioritization is based at least in part on the first ad being related to the tagged product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Yuk L. Chan, Christopher Cramer, Robert G. King, Deepti M. Naphade, Jairo A. Pava
  • Publication number: 20150120451
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for acquiring merchant information are provided herein. An information acquiring instruction triggered by a user is received. The information acquiring instruction is configured to acquire merchant information. Current location information of the user is required according to the information acquiring instruction. The location information and the merchant information to be acquired are sent to a server connected to a network. The server matches information according to the received location information and the merchant information. A collection of the merchant information is returned from the server. The collection of the merchant information includes information of a plurality of merchants. The information of the plurality of merchants is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: DAWEI JIANG
  • Publication number: 20150120450
    Abstract: Media code systems and methods include a media code assigned to an advertisement. The media code is a mnemonic code associated with the advertisement. A server stores the media code and content relative to the media code. Computer software is in communication with the server for entering the media code and retrieving the content. Whereby, the media code system and method provides a means for consumers to interact with the advertisement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Douglas Tinkler
  • Patent number: 9021521
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server comprising a memory to store executable instructions and a controller coupled to the memory. The controller, reponsive to executing the instructions, performs operations comprising presenting a graphical user interface enabling selectable advertisements or a selectable channel distribution service for delivery to a set top box, presenting filters for targeted delivery of advertisements to subscriber equipment based on information descriptive of the subscriber, selecting advertisements from an advertising server based on detected selections of advertisements or a detected channel distribution service preference, transmitting a globally unique identifier of the set top box to a billing server, initiating storage of the selectable advertisements at a remote advertisement delivery server, and presenting the selectable advertisements to the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Dean Debois, Frank Coppa, James D. Huffman
  • Patent number: 9015595
    Abstract: A system for serving localized advertisements receives data that defines an advertisement from an advertiser and determines a geographic location of the advertiser. The system also receives a request to serve an advertisement from a browser operated by a user and determines a geographic location associated with the user. The system communicates the advertisement to the browser if the geographic location associated with the user matches the geographic location of the advertiser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Dale Nussel, Allie K. Watfa, Jonathan Kilroy
  • Publication number: 20150106203
    Abstract: A system and method to enable a user to initiate a communication with an organization using a mobile communication device by means of a trigger system. A system and method to enable an organization to acquire a user mobile device address by means of a trigger system. A system and method to enable an organization to respond to a user by means of a trigger system and a message application server. A system and method to enable organizations to deliver mobile messages, coupons, offers and promotions to users mobile device by means of a combination of a trigger system, a message application server and an offer application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Michael L. Trioano, Mark Grindeland, Gerald Hewes, Eswar Priyadarshan, Randall Snyder
  • Publication number: 20150106202
    Abstract: A mobile station configured to communicate across a mobile wireless communication network has a plurality of retail applications installed thereon. A retail application aggregator running on the mobile station is operative to dynamically manage the retail applications and aggregate data from the retail applications. A user of the mobile station identifies retail applications to include in an application grouping, and filter parameters to associate with the application grouping and used to identify content of interest to the user. For each retail application in the grouping, the aggregator accesses the retail application to obtain information on current offers extended by a retailer associated with the application. The aggregator filters the obtained information on current offers based on the filter parameters, and provides the user with the current offers matching the filter parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: CELLCO PARTNERSHIP D/B/A VERIZON WIRELESS
    Inventors: Brigitte BASTALDO-TSAMPALIS, Ning ZHANG
  • Patent number: 9007623
    Abstract: A system for enabling at least one mobile device to communicate with at least one multi-function printer over a network, including at least one processor and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the at least one processor, wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises one or more programming instructions for: registering the at least one mobile device with a web-based service; accessing, via the at least one mobile device, a user interface program providing a plurality of Extensible Interface Platform (EIP) options and services; prioritizing, sorting, and ranking the plurality of EIP options and services based on user preference so as to create a customized mobile EIP User Interface (UI); and enabling the customized mobile EIP UI of the at least one mobile device to communicate with and be executed on the at least one multi-function printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert St. Jacques, Jr., Hua Liu
  • Patent number: 9002732
    Abstract: A computerized method and system for keeping popular advertisements active are provided. Example embodiments may include identifying one or more expiring online content from a plurality of online contents. A popularity of the one or more expiring online content may be determined; and an expiration date of the one or more expiring online content may be extended based on the popularity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventor: Sergey Petrov
  • Publication number: 20150095154
    Abstract: A device, system, memory device, and method may variously include or utilize a processor and an electronic storage. The electronic storage is configured to store social network content items, the content items including at least one sponsored content item and at least one unsponsored content item. The processor is configured to receive a request for a social network content item for display in a newsfeed of a social network interface, the newsfeed including positions, at least one of the positions being a sponsored content position, identify a content item for display in the newsfeed based, at least in part, on the request, determine a sponsored content status of the content item as identified, and cause the content item to be displayed in the sponsored content position of the newsfeed based, at least in part, on the sponsored content status being indicative of the content item being a sponsored content item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Ashvin Kannan
  • Publication number: 20150095148
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a marketplace on a computing system that allows advertisers to bid for different modes of engagement with consumers that show an interest in the goods or services offered by the advertisers. The system allows advertisers to bid for opportunities to engage with consumers via one or more publishers, the opportunities offering different modes of engagement with consumers. The modes of consumer engagement include, but are not limited to, a click or other expression of interest that leads to a referral of the consumer to an advertiser website, a call or other communication that leads to a voice connection between the consumer and the advertiser, a submission of one or more pieces of information about the consumer including a request for the advertiser to contact the consumer and/or provide content about the advertiser, and an opportunity to enter into a chat session with an advertiser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Patrick Quigley, Quang Nguyen, Todd Faucher
  • Patent number: 8995968
    Abstract: A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Millennial Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorey Ramer, Adam Soroca, Dennis Doughty
  • Patent number: 8995973
    Abstract: A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Millennial Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorey Ramer, Adam Soroca, Dennis Doughty
  • Publication number: 20150081442
    Abstract: A software-based system and method for management and display of advertisements based on personal preference information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Don Nelson, Adam Roozen
  • Patent number: 8977247
    Abstract: Application developers can request to have their applications registered for use with a content delivery platform. The operator of the content delivery platform establishes perimeters defining geographic areas, and maintains records reserving particular areas for delivery of content associated with particular sponsors. Registered applications running on mobile devices can request content from the content delivery platform. Based at least in part on the request, the content delivery platform can identify a target location, which may be the location of the mobile device, or some other location indicated in the request. A mobile device can be provided content based on the relationship of the target location to the geographic areas, so that a registered application running on a mobile device with a target location contained within a geographic area assigned to a particular sponsor will receive content related to that sponsor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventors: Ryan Hardin, Andrew Hill
  • Publication number: 20150066647
    Abstract: A method includes sending a request to a user indicating options to modify a quality of experience for one or more application flows between a radio network and a mobile node used by the user. The request indicates the user should select one of the following: declining an option to upgrade an existing service to a new service able to support the one or more application flows with a higher quality of experience than supported by the existing service; or accepting an option to upgrade the existing service to the new service. In response to receiving an indication the user selected the option to upgrade the existing service, performing one or more actions to upgrade the existing service to the new service. The option to upgrade the existing service can include an option of receiving advertisements for the new service or paying extra for the new service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Ajoy K. Singh
  • Patent number: 8973066
    Abstract: A server can receive information identifying media content to be offered to users at a discount or at a particular time of release. The offer can also include information identifying a minimum number of acceptances by users needed for the offer to be valid. During a predetermined period, if the number of acceptances has reached or exceeded the minimum number needed, the server may transmit a media stream containing the media content to the users. Furthermore, the offer may include multiple tiers of discounts and/or times of release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Hilson, Lisa Hoppes
  • Patent number: 8972280
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for controlling a public device that provides services that are shared by a plurality of users. The plurality of users may control an operation of the public device in order to provide a public service desired by the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-hyun Yoo, Jae-cheol Lee, Sang-dok Mo
  • Patent number: 8966542
    Abstract: A method includes receiving an indicator from a service provider via a network. The indicator is received with first media content and includes data to cause a selectable image to be displayed with the first media content. The selectable image indicates an availability of second media content that is different than the first media content. The method includes, in response to receipt of the indicator, displaying the selectable image with the first media content at a display device. The method further includes, in response to receiving a removal message before receiving an input indicating a selection of the selectable image, removing the selectable image from display at the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Wayne R. Howe, Fred Thomas Danner, III, John R. Mauney
  • Patent number: 8966531
    Abstract: A method of providing advertising from a central database server connected to a global computer network to distributed sites via interactive television. A representative icon is presented to a subscriber on a television screen indicating an advertisement. When a the icon is selected, an advertisement information detail is retrieved from storage in a local memory, or from the central database server and presented to the subscriber on the television screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Your Choice Interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M. Redling, Jackie Skipper Barrios
  • Patent number: 8965783
    Abstract: Particular embodiments of the present invention are related to a digital media benefit attachment mechanism for generating or attaching revenue rights and other benefits to one or more entities associated with socially distributed media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Balaji Ravindran, Chris Kalaboukis
  • Publication number: 20150046261
    Abstract: Methods for providing contextual information about communication devices and/or services. Profile information indicating a user's communication devices and/or services is stored. When profile information or a message log is displayed, the user may identify a communication device and/or service. A query inquires whether the user would like contextual information. The contextual information may be obtained from a gateway in a data network or a telecommunications manager in a telecommunication network. The contextual information is displayed. Profile information about a user's communicating partner may be stored. When the user makes an effort to communicate with the partner, a check may be made of the partner's profile information for a preferred communication device and/or service. If the user does not have a communication device and/or service corresponding to that of the communicating partner, a query may inquire whether the user would like contextual information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Patent number: 8954346
    Abstract: Serving form ads with videos is disclosed, including: receiving from a client device a request including a set of parameters associated with a video; and determining a form ad to be displayed with the video based at least in part on the set of parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Inadco, Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Walker, Patrick Mee, Hung The Duong
  • Publication number: 20150039433
    Abstract: In accordance with some of the gift messaging based customer acquisition methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media that are described herein, a message for a gift recipient is determined in connection with a gift based on input from a first network node associated with a gift giver. A message notification that includes access information for accessing the gift message is generated. The access information is associated with the message. A request that includes the access information is received from a second network node associated with the gift recipient. Responsive to the request, the message is transmitted to the second network node based on the association between the access information and the message, and auxiliary customer acquisition information is transmitted to the second network node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Neil Raina, Robert Keith Giglio, Anoop Gantayat
  • Publication number: 20150039424
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for providing automated micro-targeted advertisements to a small group of engaged users based on the users' interactions with each other. The systems and methods disclosed provide relevant advertisements to members of a small targeted online group, where the members of the group share common interests, behaviors, preferences, online activities, and the like. The advertisements include calls to action for a receiving user to consummate a transaction, which encourages product (or brand) engagement by specifically identifying friends (or other users who have an established relationship with the user) that may be interested in a product, thereby, providing an initial dialogue between the friends over the targeted product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: YAHOO! INC
    Inventors: Sundeep Narravula, Rahul Chugh, Supreeth Rao, Shivakumar Ningappa
  • Publication number: 20150025971
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for using social media to petition a company for a promotional offer. A user generates a petition that includes a request for a promotional offer from the company. The user can invite other users to join the petition using social media. The user can post the petition to social media. Other users can join the petition. The company can determine whether to offer the promotional offer based on the number of users that join the petition. The terms of the promotional offer can be based on the level of consumer interest and the number of users that join the petition. The company can offer the promotion using social media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Blake A. Shipley, Troy J. Davis, Andrew Murray, Kara Loo
  • Publication number: 20150019338
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for providing an advertising system in which a buyer generates a profile containing a list of preferred purchases or vendors. At least some of the buyer's preferred profile entries are associated with a geographic area. A mobile network is used to connect the mobile buyers and the sellers. Both the buyers' profiles and the sellers' advertisements are uploaded to the network. The network matches buyers and sellers by providing to the buyers sales advertisements that match the criteria of the uploaded buyer's profiles but without sharing buyers' unique indentifying information with the sellers. The buyer devices optionally include an ad server to filter and manage the buyer's receipt of advertisements. The sellers' offers and promotions also optionally include time-dependent information such that they expire upon the passage of a specified time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Leonard Z. Sotomayor
  • Patent number: 8924996
    Abstract: A method may include receiving a request, from a user device, associated with accessing a multi-media asset/content, identifying a location associated with the user device and identifying a profile for a subscriber associated with the user device. The method may also include determining whether the multi-media asset/content is available, identifying, based on the location, a content distribution network or network device to deliver the first multi-media asset/content, and identifying, based on the profile, advertisements associated with the multi-media content or asset. The method may further include inserting the identified advertisements into the multi-media asset/content and providing, via the identified content distribution network or network device, the multi-media asset/content to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Mohammad Reza Shafiee
  • Patent number: 8924254
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage devices for streaming data. The method includes presenting a data stream including an interactive communication and detecting feedback from the user in response to the interactive communication. If the feedback indicates a request to receive data associated with the interactive communication, the method includes buffering the data stream from a point in time associated with the feedback to yield a buffered data stream, connecting the user device to a commerce presence associated with the interactive communication temporarily and resuming playback of the buffered data stream to the user device following completion of the temporary communication between the user device and commerce presence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Alpine Audio Now, LLC
    Inventors: Marcel Barbulescu, Elan Joel Blutinger, Joseph Bous, Thomas M. Isaacson, Jeffrey N. Pollack
  • Publication number: 20140379475
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for displaying content on a vehicle with at least one display device coupled to a frame member and extending to the right or left of the license plate receiving area of the vehicle. Content can be selected and altered as desired, including based on user preferences and/or vehicle location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Ananda Sarangi
  • Publication number: 20140372200
    Abstract: A user interface that requests offer information for an offer provided by a vendor is provided to the vendor's computing device. The offer information is received from the vendor's computing device where the offer information includes a vendor privacy setting that indicates whether the offer is private. A request is received from a consumer's computing device for available offers and a user interface containing the offer is provided to the consumer's computing device. An indication that the consumer selected the offer is received and the offer and the vendor privacy setting are stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Audrey Josephine Leicher, William John Bitunjac, Natalie Victoria Doyne, Sarah Roxanne Peterson
  • Publication number: 20140372220
    Abstract: A list of offers that match search criteria provided by a searcher is retrieved and a list of social media site contacts that are linked to the searcher on a social media site is requested. For each offer in the list of offers, a quantity of qualified selections of the offer is determined. The quantity of qualified selections for an offer comprises a quantity of users in the list of social media site contacts who are registered users of an offer selection application and who selected the offer using the offer selection application. The list of offers is ordered based on the quantities of qualified selections to produce an ordered list of offers and a user interface is provided that displays the ordered list of offers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Sarah Roxanne Peterson, Amber Marie Reimer, Joel Michael Seeger, Trinath Subudhi, Benjamin Joseph DuPont
  • Publication number: 20140365304
    Abstract: Provided is a process of distributing offers to non-location-sensing devices based on a geolocation sensed by another device, the process comprising: obtaining a geolocation of a user from a mobile device of the user; associating the geolocation of the user with an identifier of the user in an offers engine; receiving a request for an offer from another computing device of the user, the request including or prompting obtaining data from the other computing device sufficient to identify the user; retrieving the geolocation of the user obtained from the mobile device by identifying the user with the data from the other computing device sufficient to identify the user account; selecting, with the offers engine, a responsive offer based on the geolocation of the user obtained from the mobile device; and sending the responsive offer to the other computing device of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Brian Keith Showers, Eithan Zilkha
  • Patent number: 8909752
    Abstract: Systems and methods for associating data with advertisements include storing a relationship between a first user and a second user in a memory, receiving an identification of user data from a first user of a website, assigning interest data for the second user based on the identified user data from the first user, associating the interest data with advertisements provided by an advertiser, and providing display data representing the advertisements associated with the interest data to the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Filip Lidman, Christoffer Lotebo
  • Publication number: 20140358680
    Abstract: A system and method for management of advertisements is described. Advertised results may be provided based on a ranking and a matching of an advertisement with a sponsored answer and/or an organic result to a query. An advertisement may be provided using a human assistant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: CHACHA SEARCH, INC.
    Inventor: Scott A. Jones
  • Publication number: 20140358684
    Abstract: A system for communicating with a server is configured to receive, by the server, a first information associated with an advertisement, and identify, using the server, the advertisement from one of a multitude of stored advertisements. The system is further configured to supply, in response to a request, a second information associated with the identified advertisement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Cloudwear, Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Gregory Tann, Wendell Brown
  • Publication number: 20140358683
    Abstract: A method of generating revenue from promoters utilizing wireless technology includes: a wireless communications devices app that permits reading a unique printed bar code that is sent to a host device. The host device software matches the code to a unique video, which is sent back to the wireless communications device for instant playing. The promoter of the video purchases services to store the code and the video for app use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: John A. Panicali
  • Patent number: 8904441
    Abstract: An interactive television program guide application is provided that queries a user regarding the user's interest in television programs and suggests television programs to the user based on the user's responses. The interactive television program guide application identifies a television program that is potentially of interest to the user. The interactive television program guide application then queries the user regarding the user's interest using questions that are formulated based on attributes associated with the identified television program. Using the user's responses to the questions, the interactive television program guide application identifies and suggests one or more television programs to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Westberg
  • Publication number: 20140351050
    Abstract: The present disclosure selectively blocks advertisements to a user based upon recent purchases of the user. The selectively blocked advertisements may be chosen from a group of advertisements chosen for the user based upon monitored behaviour of the user. Alternate advertisements or brand awareness messages may be displayed if the advertisement is selectively blocked. Also the user may be given a choice to view the blocked advertisement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Mykela Joan DeLuca
  • Publication number: 20140344036
    Abstract: The invention is system and method for extending social networking features to a map based system Social Navigation. It is called MySocialGPS where one can use Active Maps to locate friends, locate social activities, and send Active Messages, Plan Social Activities and Socialize. In addition to regular social networking features, a Beacon ID is generated by the system to enable social mapping on the Social GPS “SGPS” of Friends, Businesses, Places, Events and Deals. The Beacon ID enables enhanced GPS functionality enabling a Friend location to become a destination. The proposed system will have coupons and deals from merchant partners. The system provides a portal for merchants to upload their deals and coupons. MySocialGPS has a deals-events search engine, which connects to the other websites, retrieves and consolidates Featured Places, Events and Deals then displays them on the Social GPS Map for its users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Roger Serad