Item Investigation Patents (Class 705/26.61)
  • Patent number: 10200237
    Abstract: Triggering of user interface notifications can be managed for a plurality of computer applications via a digital assistant, which can include a notification triggering engine. The managing can include selecting a time to trigger a user interface notification from a computer application of the plurality of computer applications. The selecting can use the data representing a current contextual user interface activity computer state. The current contextual user interface activity state can be a state other than a state of the digital assistant, the triggering engine, or a state of the computer application. The technique can further include, in response to the selecting of the time, triggering the notification in the computer system at the selected time via the digital assistant. Further, the technique can include responding to the triggering of the notification by presenting the notification on a user interface device in the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Rahul Gupta, Pradeep Kumar Reddy K, Bhavesh Sharma
  • Patent number: 10198712
    Abstract: Systems and methods of constructing and managing virtual planograms are presented. Contemplated systems allow for construction of a virtual planogram, which can be used to present consumers virtual inventory items as being available for purchase via a display device. The display device can include an electronic billboard within an establishment, a mall for example, or include a user's smart device, a cell phone or tablet for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Nant Holdings IP, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Soon-Shiong
  • Patent number: 10194036
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus including: a read section configured to read a plurality of data items as well as date and time information related to the data items; a slider configured to generate a first operation signal on accepting the input of an operation of a movable knob part of the slider by a user to a position corresponding to the length of a time period; a grouping section configured to divide the plurality of data items into groups based on the time period determined from the first operation signal as well as on the read date and time information; and a display control section configured to display a list of representative pictures representing the data items in each of the groups, on a screen of a display portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Minamino, Shigenobu Ohga
  • Patent number: 10191930
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method receives a list of subscribers at a set interval time. Each subscriber includes one or more updates in which an update to the data stored in a database is required. A queue process in a plurality of queue processes is selected based on a first selection process where different queue processes are used over multiple set interval times. The queue process places subscribers in the list of subscribers in a plurality of queues using a placement process that is based on a characteristic of the subscribers. Also, the queue processes in the plurality of queue processes use different placement processes to place subscribers in the plurality of queues. The method then retrieves subscribers from the plurality of queues based on a second selection process, the retrieved subscribers being provided to the plurality of processors for processing of the respective updates for the subscribers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventor: Brendon Atkins
  • Patent number: 10140991
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for performing speaker identification. In some implementations, data identifying a media item including speech of a speaker is received. Based on the received data, one or more other media items that include speech of the speaker are identified. One or more search results are generated that each reference a respective media item of the one or more other media items that include speech of the speaker. The one or more search results are provided for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Sharifi, Ignacio Lopez Moreno, Ludwig Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10115110
    Abstract: A pet feeding system for effectively communicating information between a packaged consumable product for pets and a device. The pet feeding system generally includes a container that stores a volume of a consumable product for a pet, a tag attached to the container that stores product data corresponding to the consumable product within the container, and a monitor device configured to wirelessly communicate with the tag when the tag is near the monitor device. The monitor device is configured to receive the product data from the tag and determine if the consumable product associated with the tag is acceptable for consumption by a pet using the product data. The monitor device is configured to provide an alert to the user if the consumable product associated with the tag is identified by the monitor device as having a consumption problem for the pet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Inventor: Andy H. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 10095965
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media configured to select a code. An image on which the code is superimposed is selected. A block of the code is associated with a corresponding part of the image. A desired value of opacity of the block of the code is determined based on the corresponding part of the image. A personalized code is generated based on the desired value of opacity of the block of the code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent Charles Cheung
  • Patent number: 10082999
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for managing audio files of a user to reduce latencies in play start times on local devices. The audio files are stored on cloud storage managed by a server. One method includes processing a plurality of audio files associated with a user, where the processing is configured to create audio snippet files from each of the plurality of audio files. The audio snippet files representing a beginning part of each of the plurality of audio files. The method also includes transmitting the audio snippet files to a client device and detecting a request from the client to begin playing a first audio file from the plurality of audio files of the user. The first audio file being stored on the cloud storage managed by the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Neel B. Parekh
  • Patent number: 10069781
    Abstract: Methods and systems for using an observation platform with an external device are disclosed. A signal is received from a first communication device at a second communication device associated with a computer system. Context information is derived from the signal at the computer system from, a speech to text analysis of the audible source, a policy implemented in the computer system by a controlling enterprise, and inferences calculated by a combination of text analysis, and secondary information contained in the signal. An action is determined to take place at an external device or user device based on the context information, wherein the external device is one of a plurality of external devices and is networked to the second communication device or a plurality of devices. A second signal is sent to the external device to instruct the device to take the action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Theatro Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Shankar Kumar, Guy R. VanBuskirk, Steven M. Lucy, Shiva Cheedella, Kiran Kumar, S B, Ashok Donthe Manjunath
  • Patent number: 10031738
    Abstract: An example system includes a similarity module, a selection module, and a messaging module. The similarity module may receive a first set of application identifiers identifying applications downloaded or installed on at least one digital device, compare the first set of application identifiers to a second set of application identifiers identifying applications of at least one other user, generate a similarity value based on the comparison, and when the similarity value exceeds a similarity threshold, determine that the first and second sets are sufficiently similar. If the first and second sets are sufficiently similar, the selection module may determine at least one application identifier in the second set that is not in the first set. The messaging module may provide a recommendation to the first user, the recommendation including the at least one application identifier in the second set that is not in the first set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sameer Patil
  • Patent number: 10025881
    Abstract: Disclosed is an information processing apparatus including a metadata expansion unit. The metadata expansion unit is configured to expand metadata of a target item using metadata of other items to which a responder has shown a response, the responder being a user having shown a response to the target item of which the metadata is to be expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Kanemoto, Kazunori Araki, Ryo Nakahashi, Masanori Miyahara, Kazuki Yoshiyama, Takagi Tomohiro
  • Patent number: 9996871
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and mobile computing devices for purchase of items and delivery to a location within a predetermined communication range are disclosed. According to an aspect, a mobile computing device includes a first communications module having a predetermined communication range and configured to receive an indication of one or more items for purchase and delivery to a location within the predetermined communication range. The mobile computing device also includes a user interface and an item ordering manager. The item ordering manager is configured to receive user input via the user interface for selecting one or more of the items for purchase and delivery to the location within the predetermined communication range. The item ordering manager is also configured to use the communications module to communicate identification of the one or more of the items to a second communications module within the predetermined communication range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA GLOBAL COMMERCE SOLUTIONS HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ching-Tang Chang, Yi-Sheng Lee, Tsung-Hsien Lin, Wei-Yi Hsuan
  • Patent number: 9986004
    Abstract: A method and a system for content delivery based on user preferences are provided. The method includes accessing profiles of a plurality of users, where the profiles include sensitivity of each user to at least one of a cost parameter, a content parameter, a viewing parameter, a hardware parameter, a channel parameter, a network parameter, and an advertising parameter; performing a first trade-off analysis to determine a plurality of content delivery options for providing content to a first user, wherein the first trade-off analysis is based on profile of the first user; generating a first report including at least one content delivery option from the plurality of content delivery options; receiving an input from the first user for optimizing the at least one content delivery option; generating optimized first report including optimized content delivery option; and implementing the optimized content delivery option to provide content to the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Inventors: Chris Carruth, Raymond Wilczynski
  • Patent number: 9953288
    Abstract: Systems and methods of constructing and managing virtual planograms are presented. Contemplated systems allow for construction of a virtual planogram, which can be used to present consumers virtual inventory items as being available for purchase via a display device. The display device can include an electronic billboard within an establishment, a mall for example, or include a user's smart device, a cell phone or tablet for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Nant Holdings IP, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Soon-Shiong
  • Patent number: 9928511
    Abstract: A pet feeding system for effectively communicating information between a packaged consumable product for pets and a device. The pet feeding system generally includes a container that stores a volume of a consumable product for a pet, a tag attached to the container that stores product data corresponding to the consumable product within the container, and a monitor device configured to wirelessly communicate with the tag when the tag is near the monitor device. The monitor device is configured to receive the product data from the tag and determine if the consumable product associated with the tag is acceptable for consumption by a pet using the product data. The monitor device is configured to provide an alert to the user if the consumable product associated with the tag is identified by the monitor device as having a consumption problem for the pet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventor: Andy H. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 9923953
    Abstract: App content, such as an app notification, is displayed on a lock screen or home screen of a mobile device even when the app is closed. In contrast to present app content, the content may be full-screen, engaging, interactive, and media-rich. An app content SDK is inserted into an app and works directly with native app software. The content SDK determines whether the app has permission to display content on, for example, a lock screen. It may also determine whether the app has priority in displaying the content. The content itself is retrieved either from a content server or from the app itself. In either case, the retrieval and display of the content is coordinated and managed by the SDK which may use other constraints, such as date/time, geographic location, and device motion patterns to determine which content should be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Adenda Media Inc.
    Inventor: Francis George Doumet
  • Patent number: 9835465
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle when the driver thereof needs to accomplish a series of tasks (such as delivery and/or pick-up of items) along a route that each require the driver to park the motor vehicle, to leave it and to cover certain distances on foot. The motor vehicle is able to operate both under the control of a human driver aboard the motor vehicle or autonomously without driver intervention. When the driver parks the motor vehicle for the purpose of task accomplishment, an electronic plan of the tasks is checked to determine whether it is more efficient for task accomplishment if the driver returns to the motor vehicle at the first parking location or if the vehicle drives autonomously to a next stopping point situated in the direction of travel and the human driver walks to meet it at the next stopping point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Frederic Stefan
  • Patent number: 9767564
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system to determine viewing patterns of persons captured by image or video is provided. A processor retrieves one of more video feeds, wherein the one or more video feeds capture one or more people. A processor determines a viewing area for at least one person of the one or more people, wherein the viewing area is based, at least in part, on a position and viewing direction of the at least one person. A processor determines a viewed object for the at least one person of the one or more people based, at least in part, on one or more objects in an area covered by the viewing area for the at least one person of the one or more people. A processor generates a report including (i) the viewed object and (ii) the at least one person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Bostick, John M. Ganci, Jr., Sarbajit K. Rakshit, Craig M. Trim
  • Patent number: 9697429
    Abstract: An example disclosed method includes receiving an image containing shelf edge content displayed on a shelf edge; determining a location of the shelf edge content and an apparent orientation of the shelf edge content; determining, based on the location of the shelf edge content and the apparent orientation of the shelf edge content, a region in the image corresponding to the shelf edge; and providing an output based on the image that identifies the region in the image corresponding to the shelf edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ankur R. Patel, Boaz J. Super
  • Patent number: 9648296
    Abstract: A user control, such as a television remote control device, allows a user to selectively display tags during a video program. The tags provide information about items that are visible in scenes in the video. The tags can identify the brand name, item name, location where the item can be purchased, additional information about the item, etc. The tags can be turned on or off by a viewer or user during playback. In a particular embodiment, a single button press on a remote control can cause switching from a play mode without tags to a tag mode that shows tags in the video; skipping back in time a short interval; and putting the video in a slow-forward play mode, or other alternate mode of play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company
    Inventor: Charles J. Kulas
  • Patent number: 9628852
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a filtering process is based on the output side of a multimedia decoder. A navigator, located at a server system, monitors the current play position of multimedia content at a consumer system and compares that position with navigation objects. Each navigation object defines a start position, a stop position, and a filtering action to perform on the portion of the multimedia content that begins at the start position and ends at the stop position. When the current play position falls within the portion of multimedia content defined by a particular navigation object, the navigator sends the filtering action to the consumer system for processing. Filtering actions include skipping, muting, reframing, etc., the portion of multimedia content defined by a navigation object. Alternatively, the navigator may be located at a consumer system and the server system may provide access to the navigation objects (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: CLEARPLAY INC.
    Inventor: Matthew T. Jarman
  • Patent number: 9594499
    Abstract: An approach is provided for enabling hover-based interactions to define spatial searches on mobile maps. A user interaction manager causes, at least in part, a rendering of at least one user interface depicting mapping information. A user interaction manager then processes and/or facilitates a processing of one or more hover-based interactions with the at least one user interface to determine one or more parameters for one or more spatial searches over the mapping information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Jason Adam Britton
  • Patent number: 9557891
    Abstract: An online shopping server (10) includes a receiving unit (17a) that, when a plurality of first item information are selected by a user operation on a user terminal (T), acquiring the plurality of selected first item information, a retrieval unit (17b) that recognizes a common item attribute among the plurality of acquired first item information and reads item information different from the plurality of first item information and corresponding to the common item attribute as second item information from an item database (14), and a transmitting unit (17c) that outputs the read second item information in order to display the second item information together with the common item attribute on the user terminal (T).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Rakuten, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigaku Iwabuchi, Soh Masuko, Kenzo Nirasawa, Jiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9536218
    Abstract: Systems and methods of constructing and managing virtual planograms are presented. Contemplated systems allow for construction of a virtual planogram, which can be used to present consumers virtual inventory items as being available for purchase via a display device. The display device can include an electronic billboard within an establishment, a mall for example, or include a user's smart device, a cell phone or tablet for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventor: Patrick Soon-Shiong
  • Patent number: 9530153
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for retargeting content in a search environment. A method can include receiving a request for a content item to be provided with a search results page and determining that one or more retargeted content items are eligible for presentation with the search results page. Each retargeted content item is a content item that is eligible for presentation with the search results page based on: (1) the search query matching a targeting keyword for the retargeted content item, and (2) the user identifier matching a retargeted identifier that is included in a retargeting set for the retargeted content item. A responsive content item to be presented with the search results page is selected, based at least in part on bids that are associated with the retargeted content items, and data specifying the responsive content item are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Hsin Lee, Jacob D. Schonberg, Chiu Wah Kelvin So, Jianfeng Shen
  • Patent number: 9495678
    Abstract: A content providing apparatus previously receives customer identification information and content identification information as customer reservation information via a terminal device, and sends customer desired content data corresponding to the content identification information to a content obtaining apparatus, to provide a customer with the customer desired content data via the content obtaining apparatus more easily, thus making it possible to significantly improve the usability of a content obtaining/providing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Fukushima, Hajime Fujii, Hiroshi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 9497116
    Abstract: A scheme for providing access to 6LoWPAN data in a wireless access network. In one embodiment, a Digital Unit (DU) of the wireless access network is provided with IP bridging functionality for packaging 6LO data as a control channel message. When the DU element receives 6LO data from an external router, the data is packaged in a format specified for a control channel associated with a CPRI link coupling to a Radio Unit (RU). The bridging functionality is operative to transmit the control channel message (including the packaged 6LO data packets) to the RU element based on an address mapping between the destination IP address of the 6LO data packets and an address of the 6LO endpoint coupled to the RU element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Samita Chakrabarti, John Larkins, Jaume Rius I Riu, John Fornehed, Chenguang Lu
  • Patent number: 9449340
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, with a processing device of a commerce server, one or more shopping list signals from an electronic computing device to establish a shopping list of a plurality of items offered for sale in a retail store. The method also includes the step of transmitting, with the processing device, a first item signal to an augmented reality device worn by a consumer within the retail store. The first item signal corresponds to one of the plurality of items. The method also includes the step of receiving, with the processing device, one or more movement signals from the augmented reality device worn by the consumer corresponding to movement of the consumer. The method also includes the step of changing, with the processing device, from transmitting the first item signal to transmitting a second item signal different from the first item signal in response to the step of receiving the one or more movement signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Stuart Argue, Anthony Emile Marcar
  • Patent number: 9443265
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for selecting catalog items for display on a network page. The catalog items have corresponding catalog item identifiers and catalog item representations. In response to a network request, a response is received. The response includes catalog item object identifiers but excludes the corresponding catalog item object representations. At least one of the catalog item object representations is requested using the corresponding catalog object identifier. At least one of the catalog items is selected for inclusion on a network page. The selection is based on an attribute in the catalog item object representation. The network page is displayed to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Viraj Vijay Sanghvi
  • Patent number: 9430752
    Abstract: Systems and methods of constructing and managing virtual planograms are presented. Contemplated systems allow for construction of a virtual planogram, which can be used to present consumers virtual inventory items as being available for purchase via a display device. The display device can include an electronic billboard within an establishment, a mall for example, or include a user's smart device, a cell phone or tablet for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventor: Patrick Soon-Shiong
  • Patent number: 9401941
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system (and method and computer readable storage medium) are disclosed for processing interactions with song lyrics. The system is configured to provide for display on a screen of a computing device the song lyrics. The system detects a selection of a segment of the song lyrics and provides for display a menu of options for interacting with the selected segment of the song lyrics. The system receives a selection of an option from the menu of options and updates, in a user interaction database, a data field corresponding to the selected segment with the selected option from the menu of options. The system executes the selected option from the menu of options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: CBS Interactive Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Juristovski, Milun Tesovic, Sushant Sund
  • Patent number: 9361633
    Abstract: A user device acquires identifiers and signal strengths corresponding to detectable wireless devices. The user device associates one or more of the identifiers with one or more venues, assigning a confidence value to each association. A score value is also assigned to each association based on the signal strengths and the confidence values. One of the associations is selected based on the score values, and is designated as the most likely venue where the user device is located. Information may be accessed or requested, or one or more operations may be performed, in accordance with the most likely venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Arvind Thiagarajan, David George Butler
  • Patent number: 9294727
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method for the creation and management of advertising inventory utilizing associated metadata. The system generally includes a media streaming system that is used with a video player in connection with the playback of at least one audio/video work. The media streaming system includes a media distribution system that supplies metadata associated with the audio/video work to the video player. The metadata has a hierarchical taxonomy that defines a plurality of attributes associated with one or more objects present in the audio/video work. The system also includes an ad inventory engine that determines available ad inventory based on the metadata and matches the available inventory with advertisement data based on the hierarchical taxonomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: VERITONE, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Steelberg, Chad Steelberg
  • Patent number: 9195724
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for associating objects in a database. An exemplary method involves identifying one or more objects in the database that are likely to be related to a first object in the database that is based on data obtained from a local application associated with a user and displaying the identified objects on a client device associated with the user. In exemplary embodiments, the identified objects are displayed in response to selection of a graphical user interface element enabling indication of a second object from among the one or more objects, wherein the first object is associated with the second object in the database after receiving indication of the second object. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the database is a multi-tenant database in a multi-tenant system providing instances of a virtual application to multiple tenants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: Ganesh Mathrubootham, Qian Lu, Lu Ping Chen, Shahid H. Khatri, Hui Fung Herman Kwong, Kayvaan Ghassemieh
  • Patent number: 9159093
    Abstract: A request for information relating to a commodity is sent to a server using a client computer. The requested commodity information is received at the client computer and rendered on a display. A client action with respect to the commodity information is detected, and, using the client computer, a determination is made whether communication with the server is required to respond to the client action and, if the communication is not necessary, responding to the client action without communicating with the server regarding the response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Lee Fastenau, Anthony R. Noriega, James Reed
  • Patent number: 9141715
    Abstract: In a method for automated hyperlinking, a computer receives user input specifying a set of character sequence columns in a table to use for character sequence comparison. The computer detects whether a character sequence entered into an electronic communication in a user interface on a display matches one or more character sequences in fields of the set of character sequence columns. Responsive to the character sequence matching a single character sequence of the one or more character sequences in the fields of the set of character sequence columns, the computer retrieves, from an associated link field in the table, a hyperlink associated with the single character sequence. The computer inserts the hyperlink into the electronic communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew R. Jones, Brian M. O'Connell, Anne R. Sand, Keith R. Walker
  • Patent number: 9053590
    Abstract: One embodiment of the system and method described herein provides a vehicle monitoring system that gathers reported data on a selected vehicle and alerts a user to selected events reported for that vehicle. In an embodiment, vehicle attributes are processed into a score for the vehicle, such as representing the likely life remaining, and changes in a score trigger alerts to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Experian Information Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn Michele Kator, David Nemtuda, Edith Hirtenstein
  • Patent number: 9053589
    Abstract: One embodiment of the system and method described herein provides a vehicle monitoring system that gathers reported data on a selected vehicle and alerts a user to selected events reported for that vehicle. In an embodiment, vehicle attributes are processed into a score for the vehicle, such as representing the likely life remaining, and changes in a score trigger alerts to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Experian Information Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn Michele Kator, David Nemtuda, Edith Hirtenstein
  • Patent number: 9043349
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable a device to perform tasks such as processing an image to recognize and locate text in the image, and providing the recognized text an application executing on the device for performing a function (e.g., calling a number, opening an internet browser, etc.) associated with the recognized text. In at least one embodiment, processing the image includes substantially simultaneously or concurrently processing the image with at least two recognition engines, such as at least two optical character recognition (OCR) engines, running in a multithreaded mode. In at least one embodiment, the recognition engines can be tuned so that their respective processing speeds are roughly the same. Utilizing multiple recognition engines enables processing latency to be close to that of using only one recognition engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaofan Lin, Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua, Douglas Ryan Gray, Yu Lou
  • Patent number: 9042540
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a self-service system is to provide self-support knowledgebase (KB) information to allow users to navigate the self-support KB. A monitor is to track user interaction with the self-support KB while a user navigates through the self-support KB. An answer engine is to receive a query from the user to ask a question and in response to the query, to identify a predefined response to the query in view of a set of dialog rules. The answer engine is to transmit one or more related questions that the user will likely ask based on the dialog rules and the user interaction. The answer engine further transmits an invitation to allow the user to initiate a live support session after a predetermined condition has been satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: TeleTech Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Tuchman, Bruce A. Sharpe, Henry D. Truong
  • Patent number: 9043232
    Abstract: An image of an item is obtained in one or more computing devices. The item is identified from the image based at least in part on data derived from reference images that are each associated with one or more items. Catalog data corresponding to the item is associated with the image. The catalog data is added to a merchant catalog in an electronic marketplace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Anand Varadarajan
  • Publication number: 20150142605
    Abstract: A system for remotizing a user service is provided. The system includes elements of audiovisual communication between a station of a user and a video assistance station belonging to an operator that is selected automatically—at the time of the service request by the user—from a plurality of operators. The elements are adapted to enable the acquisition of personal information of the user by the selected operator. A scanning device acquires an identification document of the user. A control system is configured to enable the user to use the service following the activation performed by the operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: PHONETICA LAB S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Durante, Marco Durante, Raoul Trevisi
  • Patent number: 9037504
    Abstract: A system and associated method for assisting a user to efficiently query for product information and promotional information available from electronic commerce websites over the Internet includes a sub-server for searching the electronic commerce websites, a controlling server, and a local database. The method involves determining whether product information related to a user query is cached in a local database and if the requested information is not cached, searching the electronic commerce websites for the requested information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Tensilrus Capital NV LLC
    Inventor: Mark Nair
  • Publication number: 20150134480
    Abstract: Systems and methods to present digital content listings are described herein. A selection of digital content listings from a catalog of digital content listings is received. The catalog of digital content listings describes digital content available for download. The selection may be received from a mobile device of a merchant operating a brick-and-mortar store. Digital content listings are accessed from the catalog of digital content listings based on the received selection of digital content listings. A consumer is determined to be located within a pre-defined distance from a brick-and-mortar store. The accessed digital content listings are presented to the mobile device of the consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Steven John Marks
  • Publication number: 20150134487
    Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a router having a first I/O terminal and a second I/O terminal, wherein the first I/O terminal is configured to be in communication with at least one client via a first network, wherein the second I/O terminal is configured to be in communication with a plurality of remote servers via a second network, and wherein the router is configured to receive, at the first I/O terminal via the first network, a web services request from the at least one client, identify, based on the web services request from the at least one client, a group of the plurality of remote servers that are capable of fulfilling the web services request, and transmit, in parallel via the second I/O terminal and the to second network, the received web services request to each one of the plurality of remote servers within the group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventor: John Randy Frerking
  • Publication number: 20150134375
    Abstract: A display method including: performing (S10) a service application that is an application for at lease one of services of a specific event, using an information terminal; obtaining (S11) a plurality of event information items by the information terminal through visible light communication with a display that displays the event information items, the information terminal being held toward a screen of the display; and displaying (S12), when the event information items obtained in the obtaining (S11) include related information, the related information on a display unit of the information terminal, the related information being information related to contents of the at least one of the services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Kento OGAWA
  • Publication number: 20150120503
    Abstract: A method of projecting a likeness of an item onto a surface is disclosed. A determination that a user is interested in an item is made. A schematic corresponding to the item is identified based on information about the item. The user is provided with an option to project a likeness of the item onto a surface. Based on an accepting of the option by the user, a device of the user is instructed to project the likeness of the item onto the surface based on the schematic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: EBAY INC.
    Inventor: Kamal Zamer
  • Publication number: 20150120504
    Abstract: There is provided systems and method for completion of item delivery and transactions using a mobile beacon. A mobile beacon may use short range wireless communications, such as Bluetooth Low Energy, and a wireless communication link with a merchant at a main merchant location. Thus, a mobile merchant for a merchant in a remote location, such as a delivery man, delivery drone, or concession salesperson, may bring the mobile beacon during a sale. The mobile beacon may transmit a request to establish a connection with the merchant to a user device, such as a check-in process. The connection may correspond to a payment made to the merchant based on the service being provided. Additionally, the request may be specific to a user and include an alert of the mobile merchant's proximity. In other embodiments, a list of nearby mobile merchants may be presented to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Todasco
  • Publication number: 20150120506
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring and encouraging health and fitness. In accordance with a first aspect, an apparatus is provided that is adapted to assist in weight loss and exercise. The apparatus comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA) having computer program code adapted to assist in at least one of calorie counting, meal selection, meal suggestion, weight monitoring, weight loss or gain monitoring, fat consumption monitoring, sugar consumption monitoring and salt consumption monitoring. The PDA also includes computer program code adapted to display historical data regarding at least one of calorie counting, meal selection, meal suggestion, weight monitoring, weight loss or gain monitoring, fat consumption monitoring, sugar consumption monitoring and salt consumption monitoring. Numerous other embodiments are provided, as are methods, systems and computer program products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Brian M. Dugan
  • Publication number: 20150120505
    Abstract: A method and system for dynamically analyzing information relating to a store to determine product information to show on a display during a period, and displaying product information on the display based on the analyzed information for the period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ajay Ashok Deshpande, Kimberly D. Hendrix, Herbert Scott McFaddin, Chandrasekhar Narayanaswami