Computer Conferencing Patents (Class 715/753)
  • Patent number: 9699152
    Abstract: A sending device receives a user input indicating that the user wishes to share and open item of content with a receiving device. A near field communication link is opened between the sending device and the receiving device. Metadata for sharing the open data is gathered on the sending device and a permission setting user interface display is displayed, with the user input mechanism that allows a user to set permissions corresponding to the open item. User actuation of the permission setting user input mechanism is received, the permissions are added to the open item, and the metadata is sent to the receiving device over the near field communication link. The metadata includes a location of the open item. The open item can then be accessed by the receiving device, with the permissions applied to the open item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Om Krishna
  • Patent number: 9680888
    Abstract: A mobile device has memory storage to maintain hub data that is associated with a private interaction hub, where the hub data includes multiple types of displayable data that is editable by different types of device applications. The memory storage at the device also maintains private data that is displayable and is viewable with one of the device applications. The mobile device also includes a display device to display the multiple types of the hub data in a hub user interface of a hub application. The display device can also display the private data and a subset of the hub data that are both associated with a device application in a device application user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Lavanya Vasudevan, Shawn M. Thomas, Joseph H. Matthews, III, Joseph A. Schrader, Ted Tai-Yu Chen, Raman K. Sarin
  • Patent number: 9678764
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to classifying application protocol interfaces (APIs) in terms of their relation to user experience. Example embodiments may determine that a user action occurred and monitor a first thread separate from a user interface (UI) thread of the computing device. The first thread may process a first API in response to the occurrence of the user action. A determination may be made as to whether the first API being processed on the first thread is related to the user action. Responsive to the first API being related to the user action, a determination may be made as to whether the first API causes the first thread to update the UI thread of the computing device. Responsive to the UI thread being updated, the first API may be tagged as affecting user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Michael Gopshtein, Amichai Nitsan, Boaz Shor
  • Patent number: 9680776
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for instant messaging based on a user interface is provided. The method comprises providing a window having a plurality of regions in the user interface, wherein the plurality of regions comprise at least one navigation region, and at least one message region to display one or more dialog windows; receiving a navigation input within navigation region; navigating among the one or more dialog windows based on the navigation input; and displaying the one or more dialog windows in the message region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Wentao Wang, Shundong Gao, Yehui Lin, Shourun Zeng, Wenxiang Wang
  • Patent number: 9674349
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to communications, and more particularly, to a seamless interworking of call control between autonomous systems. In an illustrative embodiment, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device can be connected to multiple autonomous networks, for example, a private network through a Private Branch Exchange and a public network through a Public Switched Telephone Network. The user device can have multiple network interfaces. Alternatively, there can be one network interface to access the autonomous networks. These networks each can provide unique collaboration services. Collaboration services can include, but are not limited to, associations, roles, availability and features. The electronic device can setup connections and initialize a call through both networks. Through the device, each of the networks can add or delete participants to the call under the direction of the user. The networks can also provide the user device with suitable feature keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Yeung, Tom Gray
  • Patent number: 9652128
    Abstract: There are provided a method and apparatus for controlling an electronic device. The apparatus for controlling an electronic device includes a marker recognition unit configured to recognize the marker of the electronic device and a control unit configured to perform communication with the electronic device based on the marker and control the electronic device using a Graphic User Interface (GUI) program received from the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Hong Chang Shin, Gi Mun Um, Chan Kim, Hyun Lee, Eung Don Lee, Won Sik Cheong, Nam Ho Hur
  • Patent number: 9646360
    Abstract: A digital photograph is processed by receiving a communication related to the digital photograph from an application external to an image storage device that stores the digital photograph. Parameters related to the application are processed. The digital photograph is changed based on the parameters related to the application. Related methods, devices, and/or computer program products are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Isberg, Pär-Anders Aronsson, Ola Thörn, Olivier Moliner, H{dot over (a)}kan Jonsson
  • Patent number: 9641471
    Abstract: A method of displaying a message on a chat window is provided. The method includes selecting a cartoon image group including a plurality of cartoon cut images, receiving a chat content, selecting a cartoon cut image from the selected cartoon cut image group, and displaying the selected cartoon cut image including the received chat content in some areas of the selected cartoon cut image on a messenger chat window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 9639113
    Abstract: The present invention relates to communication technology and provides a display method and an electronic device capable of solving the problem associated with limited operation space due to a small screen of an electronic device. In particular, the method comprises: detecting a trigger event when the first display unit displays a first content and the second display unit is in a first power consumption state; determining whether the trigger event satisfies a predetermined condition to obtain a determination result; generating a switching instruction when the determination result indicates that the trigger event satisfies the predetermined condition; and switching the second display unit from the first power consumption state to a second power consumption state and displaying the first content on the second display unit in response to the switching instruction. The first power consumption state has a lower power consumption than the second power consumption state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: LENOVO (BEIJING) LIMITED
    Inventor: Gang Peng
  • Patent number: 9641740
    Abstract: This disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for auto-focusing in a device having a camera. The method includes displaying a focus item in a preview screen while driving a camera, auto-focusing by searching an image of the focus item from a preview image and displaying a focus mark, and processing a focused image if the auto-focusing is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyunghwa Kim, Seonhwa Kim, Heejin Kim, Mijung Park, Seockhyun Yu, Joah Choi
  • Patent number: 9628754
    Abstract: An architectural structure incorporates advanced video conference communications systems that embody two-way mirrors to reflect room surfaces to appear superimposed with an image display device to create a perception of depth. The processes for delivering professional services using video conference systems with two-way mirror configurations are presented herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Telepresence Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Peter McDuffie White
  • Patent number: 9619481
    Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for generating ordered user expert lists for a shared digital document. The method comprises accessing a digital document, wherein the digital document relates to one or more topics; generating a list of expert students, wherein the expert students have authored one or more annotations relating to a topic similar to a topic in the digital document; ordering the list of expert students according to a rank, wherein the rank identifies a level of expertise of the expert students; and presenting the ordered list of expert students, where the ordered list comprises a pre-defined number of expert students with a level of expertise meeting a predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sanjeev Kumar Biswas, Prakhar Gupta, Vaibhav Khandelwal, Shweta Chahar
  • Patent number: 9615124
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for a media guidance application that enhances the viewing experiences of users consuming media having important content. If a user tries to change a display away from first media to second media, where the first media has important content that will be displayed eminently, the first media having the important content may be displayed in full-screen and the second media may be displayed in a picture-in-picture window overlaid on the first media that continues to be displayed in full-screen. For example, in this manner, a user will not inadvertently change television channels away from a movie or sports game right before an important scene in the movie or an important play in the sports game is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Makam Gupta, Vishwas Sharadanagar Panchaksharaiah
  • Patent number: 9613130
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of organizing user requested data is disclosed. One example method may include transmitting a query message to a remote site to obtain the user requested data, receiving a response data based on the query message, the response data may include at least a portion of the user requested data. The method may also include storing the response data in a temporary data file memory location, processing the response data in the temporary data file, storing said at least a portion of the user requested data in a permanent data file, and presenting the permanent data file contents to the user. The user may have the capability of receiving numerous messages in a single interface and expanding those messages of interest to review the original message information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
    Inventor: David Gerard Ledet
  • Patent number: 9602562
    Abstract: A terminal apparatus has a first setting of displaying a portion of information designated by an information processing apparatus and a second setting of being able to display another portion. The terminal apparatus receives transmission information converted from the information by the information processing apparatus to include a portion to be displayed first and transmission information converted from the information to include another portion; stores the transmission information thus received; and displays, in a case of the first setting, the designated portion and displays, in a case of the second setting, a portion based on an operation performed on the terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus receives, upon switching from the second setting to the first setting, the transmission information corresponding to the designated portion based on whether already receiving the transmission information corresponding to the designated portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuhisa Kanaya
  • Patent number: 9595021
    Abstract: An all media story-telling system and method are disclosed. The system and method provide any media, integrated story telling, provide content management, distribution and syndication across multiple domains, and provide a relevancy-based match between content and advertising.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: WHICHBOX MEDIA INC.
    Inventor: Bettina Bennett
  • Patent number: 9596652
    Abstract: A control device may wake-up a target wireless device through a wired or wireless communications channel. In an implementation, the control device and the wireless device may include a cellular module (e.g., global systems for mobile communications (GSM) capability) to implement an on-demand wake-up call. The on-demand wake-up call may allow the control device to perform at least one task at the wireless device without user intervention at the wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hua Yang, Hu Xu, Zhengtao Peng
  • Patent number: 9584526
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for enabling anonymous posting of content, e.g., over a network (e.g., the internet). In some instances, users may inform a system of various attributes of the user, for example, job title, skills, and/or interests. The system may group similar users together. In some cases, users grouped together can see messages posted by the other users in the group in an anonymous discussion forum. In other cases, users grouped together can have other users in the group presented to them as potential options of users to follow, e.g., as part of an anonymous social media platform. In some implementations, users can identify particular user subsets to view posted content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: BetterCompany Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Lloyd Williams, Colin Walpole Putney, Caroline Lukins, Omar Amin
  • Patent number: 9578381
    Abstract: Exemplary media clip systems and methods provide end users of a media distribution service, such as a mobile television distribution service, with one or more media clip tools for creation, editing, sharing, accessing, and/or consumption of clips of media programs distributed by way of the media distribution service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Long, Si Ying Diana Hu, Joaquin A. Delgado, Oliver Wagner
  • Patent number: 9571605
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying a social network user identifier based on a user message. In use, a message is received from a user. Additionally, content is extracted from the message. Further, a search is performed using at least a portion of the content. Moreover, an identifier of the user provided by a social network is identified, based on the search.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignees: Amdocs Software Systems Limited, Amdocs Development Limited
    Inventor: Tal Givoly
  • Patent number: 9565484
    Abstract: A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, the steps of transmitting media content to a group of set top boxes for presentation with an overlay superimposed onto the media content, receiving a first comment from a first set top box of the group of set top boxes where the first comment is presentable with the overlay and the media content by the group of set top boxes, determining a first advertisement based on the first comment, and transmitting the first advertisement to the first set top box for presentation with the overlay and the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Linda Roberts, E-Lee Chang, Ja-Young Sung, Natasha Barrett Schultz, Robert King
  • Patent number: 9563902
    Abstract: A virtual venue application for displaying information is provided, where the virtual venue application is implemented as part of an apparatus, or a system. The virtual venue application allows one or more users to generate and display a virtual avatar that represents a user of the virtual venue application. The virtual venue application also displays a virtual venue, where the display of the virtual venue is based on a position of the virtual avatar within the virtual venue. The virtual venue application also transports a virtual avatar from a first location to a second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: MYRIATA, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Clayton Haswell, Glenn Robert Seidman
  • Patent number: 9558277
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable storage media for identifying topical influence in an online social network. In some implementations, an entity associated with a feed item is identified. A topic associated with the entity or with the feed item is also identified. The entity can be determined to be a topical influencer regarding the topic in the online social network based on one or more factors, such as a factor indicating dissemination of information associated with the identified topic to other entities. A display device can be configured to display information indicating the determination that the entity is a topical influencer of the identified topic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Pappas
  • Patent number: 9552140
    Abstract: Various methods for providing data entry content to a remote environment are provided. One example method includes receiving, at a device, a data entry field selection message notifying that a selection of a data entry field has occurred at a remote device, modifying a focus of a user interface of the device to the data entry field, retrieving current data content of the data entry field, and causing an indication to be provided to the remote device informing the remote device of the current data content of the data entry field to enable the remote device to display the current data content of the data entry field in a data entry input interface. Similar and related example methods and example apparatuses are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Jorg Brakensiek, Raja Bose
  • Patent number: 9549295
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for broadcasting audio tweets. A system broadcasting audio tweets receives tweets via telephone devices, wherein each listener hears a telephone call of a broadcast on the telephone devices. Each received tweet is associated with one or more tags specifying tweet content, which is used to analyze received tweets. The system presents a display of analyzed tweets for selection to a host. The host selects one or more tweets and broadcasts the selected tweets as part of the broadcast to the telephone devices. Automatic speech recognition can be used to automatically convert received audio tweets to text to enable tagging and analyzing the tweets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: AudioNow IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Marcel Barbulescu, Elan Joel Blutinger
  • Patent number: 9536352
    Abstract: Technologies for rendering augmented reality virtual objects include an augmented reality device to capture an image and recognize subjects within the image. Subjects may include persons or objects, such as accessories. The augmented reality device determines a context associated with the subjects of the image and selects one or more virtual objects based on the context. The identified context may include an activity or theme associated with the subject or accessories included in the image. Virtual objects may include accessories and clothing for virtual characters. The augmented reality device may select virtual objects that are similar to identified subjects and accessories, or that are associated with an identified activity or theme of the subject. The augmented reality device applies the virtual objects to a virtual character and renders an augmented reality scene based on the captured image that includes the virtual character. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Glen J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9531768
    Abstract: Techniques are presented herein for improving experiences in online meetings that include a plurality of attendee devices, where an attendee device is designated as a presenter. Shared content is provided from the presenter to at least one other attendee device engaged in the online meeting, and an indicator is automatically provided to at least one attendee device regarding whether a condition associated with the presenter providing the shared content has been satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Lu, Hua Ouyang, Huahua Yin, Qi Shi, Yunwei Luo
  • Patent number: 9525658
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for providing a plurality of users of a social network with the ability to indicate affinity with an electronic object. An indication is received from a first user of the plurality of users to initiate an object-specific, synchronous communication session concerning the electronic object. Electronic invitations to join the object-specific, synchronous communication session are provided to one or more invited users of the plurality of users of the social network. A request is received, from at least one of the invited users, to join the object-specific, synchronous communication session. The object-specific, synchronous communication session is provided for the first user and the at least one of the invited users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer W. Lin, Kaisuke Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9519906
    Abstract: A ranking system ranks visitors to a Web site using one or more instances of machine-readable code executable from a digital medium accessible to a Web server. The code tracks visitor behavior while browsing the web site, and a visitor ranking module resident on the digital medium accepts information documented by the one or more instances of machine readable code and assigns rank values to one or more of the visitors. The ranking module ranks visitors at the Web-site based on logic and rules for interpreting visitor behavior and for applies a value to the visitor in real time based on that interpretation, and values applied at or above a preprogrammed level trigger solicitation of the visitor so ranked to engage in interaction including live assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikolay Anisimov, Mark Scott, Yevgeniy Petrovykh, Yi Chang
  • Patent number: 9521097
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and methods for providing instant messaging communication between users via a communication network. Instant messaging clients are executed at user devices of a first and second user. A data message is transmitted from the instant messaging client at the user device of the first user to the instant messaging client at the user device of the second user, the data message having a content portion and at least one associated attribute that is cryptographically generated. The cryptographic attribute plus any additional first user attributes irrefutably binds the ID of the first user to the message information content to form an irrevocable message. The availability of at least one user-selectable function by the instant messaging client at the user device of the second user is controllable, based on the at least one associated attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Inventors: Martin Tomlinson, Andersen Cheng, Cen Jung Tjhai
  • Patent number: 9510131
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method performed by a mobile device for facilitating inputting a command to a service application in the mobile device. The mobile device comprises an inertial measurement unit (IMU). The method comprises determining a time interval in which a user of the mobile device will agitate the mobile device in accordance with a command. The method also comprises filtering an information feed from the IMU during said time interval to remove signals which are outside of a predetermined spectrum and thus regarded as noise. The method comprises finding distinguishable signals within the filtered feed, said distinguishable signals forming a command pattern. The method comprises associating the command pattern with the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SPOTIFY AB
    Inventors: Ranqi Zhu, Reid Wilbur, Minwei Gu
  • Patent number: 9503404
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to performing correction on incoming messages. Embodiments include receiving a message from a sender and determining if a portion of the message has been auto-corrected by the sender. Embodiments also include performing a correction on the portion of the message that was auto-corrected by the sender and storing the correction made by the receiver for each individual sender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuk L. Chan, Christopher Cramer, Robert G. King, Deepti M. Naphade, Jairo A. Pava
  • Patent number: 9495008
    Abstract: A device may identify a user among multiple individuals detected by comparing a physiological condition, such as a heart rate, of the multiple detected individuals as detected by a camera of the device with a physiological condition of a user of the device using different sensors. A heart rate may be detected by a camera by monitoring blood flow to an individual's face. A heart rate may be detected by a motion sensor by monitoring vibrations of the device that are in an expected frequency range. If a heart rate of a user matches a heart rate of an individual seen by a camera, that individual may be determined to be the user of the device. The position of the individual may be used to then render a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Aksenti Savastinuk, Geoffrey Scott Heller
  • Patent number: 9485348
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a wireless communication unit establishing a first communication session with a first entity and a second communication session with a second entity, a display displaying a plurality of windows including a first window and a second window, a memory storing a merging menu, and a controller controlling the display to display the first window related to the first communication session and the second window related to the second communication session, the controller generating a third window including the first communication session and the second communication session in response to a an input and controlling the display to display the third window further including the first entity and the second entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Chang-Ik Jeong, Jae-Sung Shim, Young-Hee Rhee
  • Patent number: 9466026
    Abstract: Various implementations for assigning rules and creating rules using templates are described herein. In one example implementation, a model is determined, one or more components of the model are determined, a rule from a set of one or more predefined rules is determined, and the rule is assigned to the model. The rule has one or more parameters matching the one or more components of the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Model N, Inc.
    Inventors: Manfred Hettenkofer, Eric Burin des Roziers, Ketan Soni
  • Patent number: 9459756
    Abstract: A user terminal apparatus is provided. The user terminal apparatus includes: a display which displays a map indicating a location of the user terminal apparatus and a location of one other user terminal apparatus, a communicator which receives a message which is input through the one other user terminal apparatus, and a controller which, when the message is received, controls to display the message on a region corresponding to the location of the one other user terminal apparatus on the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min-suk Choi, Jung-kih Hong, Lie xin Chen, Lin Xie
  • Patent number: 9460085
    Abstract: An approach is provided for an information handling system that includes a processor and a memory to improve the quality of question-answer sets used as inputs to a question-answering (QA) system. In the approach, a question-answer pair is analyzed using natural language processing (NLP) components. Some of the NLP components may be taken from the QA system whose input is being analyzed The question-answer pair includes a question and an answer to the question. Based on the analysis, one or more shortcomings of the question-answer pair are identified. The shortcomings relate to an ability of the target QA system to analyze the question. A human-readable feedback is provided to a user. The feedback recommends one or more possible actions to address the identified shortcomings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jacqueline T. Barbetta, David C. Fallside, Drew A. Logsdon, Peter J. Parente
  • Patent number: 9449336
    Abstract: In certain implementations, a system may receive attribute data corresponding to attributes of a plurality of users and to one or more venues for which the plurality of users has an affinity. A user personality matrix may be calculated for one or more of the plurality of users based on interrelational nodal link strengths between the one or more users and the venues. The user personality matrices may be merged to calculate a combined personality matrix representing a unified taste profile for the one or more users. A candidate list of venues having the highest link strength with the combined personality matrix may be determined. One or more recommended venues from the candidate list of venues that have the strongest links to the combined personality matrix may be determined, and recommendation data corresponding to the recommended venues may be output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: NARA LOGICS, INC.
    Inventors: Nathan R. Wilson, Luyao Li, Emily A. Hueske, Eleanor C. Kenyon, Thomas C. Copeman
  • Patent number: 9443271
    Abstract: Embodiments for increasing clarity and expressiveness in network communications include: obtaining a message from a first user as part of a network-enabled conversation with a second user; applying at least one embellishment to the message to produce an embellished message, the embellishment including either an explicitly user-selected embellishment or an automatically generated embellishment based on content of the message; and causing transmission of the embellished message via a network to the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: IMVU, Inc.
    Inventors: Morgan Tucker, Jon Watte
  • Patent number: 9425974
    Abstract: Embodiments for increasing clarity and expressiveness in network communications include: obtaining a message from a first user as part of a network-enabled conversation with a second user; analyzing the message to identify an expressiveness keyword indicative of an emotion, mood, or level of expressiveness; selecting a level or degree of emotional expressiveness to which a corresponding emotion or mood should be expressed in relation to the identified expressiveness keyword; applying, by use of a processor, at least one embellishment to the message to produce an embellished message, the embellishment including either an explicitly user-selected embellishment or an automatically generated embellishment based on content of the message, the at least one embellishment being configured in a manner consistent with the selected level or degree of emotional expressiveness; and causing transmission of the embellished message via a network to the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: IMVU, Inc.
    Inventors: Morgan Tucker, Jon Watte, Phylissa Li, Matt Danzig
  • Patent number: 9412126
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to offer for sale an avatar engine that generates a visual representation of an interactive avatar capable of engaging in a verbal communication exchange by way of an audio system of a computing device from which the avatar engine is adapted to operate, receive a purchase request from a communication device, transmit to the communication device a usage policy and a copy of the avatar engine responsive to determining that the purchase request involves a request for a reproduction of at least a portion of the avatar engine, and enable the communication device to access services of the avatar engine responsive to determining that the purchase request involves the request for services of the avatar engine. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, LP
    Inventors: Darnell Clayton, Horst Schroeter, E-Lee Chang, Linda Roberts, Madhur Khandelwal
  • Patent number: 9391993
    Abstract: The subject technology discloses configurations for receiving an indication of user activity from a first user with respect to a post, wherein the post includes content shared by a second user, in response to receiving the indication, an activity post providing an indication of the user activity with respect to the post is created, the activity post including the content, and a set of users that the activity post is visible to are identified, the set of users comprising one or more users selected from users associated with the first user in a social graph, the activity post is provided for display to the set of users in response to the indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Winer, Ryo Misha Urano, Evan Mallory Gilbert, Bénigne Deprey, Alexandra Levich, Ben Tauber
  • Patent number: 9389090
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a system for bidirectional navigation viewing and methods thereof. The system includes at least one server and a first client device and a second client device that are both communicatively coupled with the server. The server is configured to continuously provide data to both devices for bidirectional viewing of an optimal route from a source location to a destination location on the first client device and on the second client device. The source location and the destination location are typically specified by the first client device and the second client device, respectively. The source location is typically the current location of the first device. The optimal route is continuously updated based on information sent to the server. The information typically includes updated location information of the first device and real-time traffic information between the two locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Uri Levine, Ehud Shabtai, Amir Shinar, Yuval Shmuelevitz
  • Patent number: 9380156
    Abstract: A method and communication device for scheduling a conference call. The method includes receiving, in a first communication device, an invitation message containing at least some conference call scheduling information with respect to a scheduled conference call session; displaying an interface in relation to the invitation message, the interface including an option to send a request for recorded conference call content of the scheduled conference call session; receiving an input selecting the option; and sending a communication to a second communication device including a response to the invitation message and including said request for recorded conference call content. A conference call server is also described for sending recorded conference call content to the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael LeBlanc, Jacob Samuel O'Reilly, Michael Derek Waugh, Steven Earle Douglass, Ian Brian DeLong, Ian Meredith Murphy, Micheal Douglas Tyler
  • Patent number: 9380012
    Abstract: A messaging system facilitates communication between users through various messaging channels. The messaging system supports multiple communication channels and includes a messaging module that automatically selects one or more of the messaging channels for delivering a message to a recipient of the message using, for example, a set of policy rules or a trained model. The messaging module may also provide, in a user interface for sending and receiving messages, a visual indication of the selected messaging channel to the sender of the message to provide the user with transparency about how the message will be delivered. Additionally, the message may be delivered via multiple messaging channels, where the messaging module may rescind messages from some of the messaging channels upon receiving a reply from the recipient of the message or other confirmation that the recipient has seen the message via one of the communication channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Peter Davenport, Peter Xiu Deng, Jonathan David Perlow, Lucy Congyun Zhang, Ben Gertzfield
  • Patent number: 9374690
    Abstract: Methods and systems directed to assigning individual messages and call log data into an aggregated conversation thread on both client and server devices for a user interface having a conversations view including all the communications a given users has with his or her contacts across multiple communication means and protocols. Messages between a user and a particular contact are threaded together, regardless of their format or protocol in order to provide the user with a quick history of all communications with his or her contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohit Talwar, Miladin Pavlicic, Siddharth Murlidhar
  • Patent number: 9363250
    Abstract: In implementations of a hub coordination service, a device includes a communication interface for communication coordination with one or more associated devices of the device, and the associated devices correspond to hub members. A hub manager is implemented to receive a task input to create a task for one or more of the hub members to complete. The hub manager can register the task in a hub that is a private, shared space of the hub members, and then initiate communication of the task to respective associated devices of the one or more hub members for notification of the task to be completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph H. Matthews, III, Lavanya Vasudevan, Shawn M. Thomas, Joseph A. Schrader, Ted Tai-Yu Chen, Raman K. Sarin
  • Patent number: 9349352
    Abstract: A transmission system includes an external input device which transmits display data to a transmission terminal that is connected to another transmission terminal to be able to communicate therewith. Once the resolution on a display device of the transmission terminal has been modified, the external input device receives first resolution information representing the resolution that has been modified from the transmission terminal, and thereafter converts the resolution of the display data based on the first resolution information and second resolution information representing the resolution on a display device of the external input device. The external input device then transmits the display data that has the converted resolution to the transmission terminal so that the transmission terminal transmits the display data to the other transmission terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinaga Kato
  • Patent number: 9350720
    Abstract: Delegation of authorizations from one device to another device is contemplated. The contemplated capabilities may enable an authenticated device to confer access tokens or other authoritative permissions to a non-authenticated or unsecured device, such as to enable the delegated device to access user content without the user having to enter a username and password or other identifying credentials thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Lund, Oscar G. Marcia, Steven E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9349020
    Abstract: Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems receive a first plurality of actions from a first entity with respect to a first plurality of objects. A global object related to each of the first plurality of objects is determined and a representation of the global object is displayed in association with a representation of the first entity. Additionally, in response to receiving user feedback on the representation of the global object displayed in association with the representation of the first entity, an instance of the global object that is unique to the first entity is created. The displayed representation of the global object is converted into a representation of the instance of the global object that is unique to the first entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventors: Rose Yao, Lincoln Hochberg, Brian Thomas, Naitik Shah, Arthur Rudolph