Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080240020 | Routing support in heterogeneous communications networks - A device comprises a first binding unit which provides for a binding to a first tunnelling server using a first protocol, a second binding unit which provides for a binding to a second tunnelling server using a second protocol different from the first protocol, and an authorizing unit which causes the first or second binding unit to provide the binding. | 10-02-2008 |
20080247407 | COMBINED SCHEDULING AND NETWORK CODING FOR WIRELESS MESH NETWORKS - An architecture by which combined scheduling and network coding can be used in mesh networks, and more particularly wireless mesh networks. In various embodiments, this architecture includes a scheduling MAC protocol for scheduling nodes in the mesh network in order to take advantage of network coding opportunities. The schedule takes advantage of these opportunities by assigning a gain to transmit packets based upon the number of packets that are transmitted concurrently and choosing a schedule which minimizes the gain over the scheduling horizon. Regarding the assigned gain, in one embodiment this value is one for basic non-encoded operations and two or more for encoded operations. A scheduling MAC protocol is also used to announce and arbitrate network coding opportunities by indicating which packets (as characterized by their transmission slot) are to be encoded with each other. | 10-09-2008 |
20090154431 | MEDIUM ACCESS CONTROL FOR XOR-ED PACKETS - Various example embodiment are disclosed. An example embodiment may include sending, by a relay node in a wireless network, a ready to send message to a plurality of wireless nodes. The ready to send message may indicate access channels for each of the wireless nodes to send clear to send messages. This example may also include receiving, via the indicated access channels for sending the clear to send messages, the clear to send messages from each of the wireless nodes. This example may also include sending an XOR-ed packet to the wireless nodes in response to receiving the clear to send messages. The XOR-ed packet may indicate access channels for each of the wireless nodes to send acknowledgment messages. An example may also include receiving, via the indicated access channels for sending the acknowledgment messages, the acknowledgment messages from each of the wireless nodes | 06-18-2009 |
20100290480 | METHOD FOR SCALABLE ROUTING WITH GREEDY EMBEDDING - A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for scalable routing with greedy embedding. In one embodiment, the method comprises storing log(n) coordinates in a routing table, where n is the number of nodes in a network, and further wherein the log(n) coordinates are generated by constructing a greedy embedding that embeds a graph topology depicting connections between n nodes of a network into a geometric space so as to use greedy forwarding by generating a spanning tree out of a connection graph representing the connections between the n nodes of the network, decomposing the tree into at most n branches, assigning a set of geometric coordinates to vertices in the tree in an n-dimensional space, and projecting the set of geometric coordinates onto a k-dimensional space, where k is less than n, to create the log(n) coordinates; and routing packets via nodes of the network using the log(n) coordinates in the routing table. | 11-18-2010 |
20110029675 | RESOURCE ALLOCATION PROTOCOL FOR A VIRTUALIZED INFRASTRUCTURE WITH RELIABILITY GUARANTEES - A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for a resource allocation protocol. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a resource allocation engine to allocate physical resources to primary and redundant virtual infrastructures, wherein, when the resource allocation engine allocates virtual infrastructures, physical resources of redundant virtual infrastructures are shared across multiple primary virtual infrastructures. | 02-03-2011 |
20130151584 | Method for Network Coding Packets in Content-Centric Networking Based Networks - A network node, comprising a data store comprising a content object, wherein the content object comprises multiple content chunks, a receiver configured to receive a request from a requesting network node for at least one chunk of the content object, a transmitter configured to transmit data, and a processor coupled to the receiver, the transmitter, and the data store, wherein the processor is configured to encode the content using the multiple content chunks and to instruct the transmitter to transmit the encoded content and an encoding indicator to the requesting network node, wherein the encoding indicator provides the requesting network node with an encoding mechanism that the requesting network node uses to decode the encoded content in the payload into the multiple content chunks after the requesting network node receives a number of packets comprising the encoded content equal to the number of content chunks that comprise the content object. | 06-13-2013 |
20130275544 | Systems and Methods for Synchronizing Content Tables Between Routers - System and method embodiments for exchanging information between a first and second content router enable the content routers to synchronize their caches with a minimal exchange of information. In an embodiment, the method includes creating a hash of contents of a cache in the first content router using a joint hash function shared with the second content router, encoding the hash of contents of the cache in the first content router with distributed source coding, and transmitting the encoded hash to the second content router. | 10-17-2013 |
20140173018 | Content Based Traffic Engineering in Software Defined Information Centric Networks - A method implemented by a network controller, the method comprising obtaining metadata of a content, wherein the content is requested by a client device, allocating one or more network resources to the content based on the metadata of the content, and sending a message identifying the allocated network resources to a switch to direct the content to be served to the client device, wherein the switch is controlled by the network controller and configured to forward the content to the client device using the allocated network resources. | 06-19-2014 |
20140189060 | End-User Carried Location Hint for Content in Information-Centric Networks - A method implemented by a network node coupled to a network, the method comprising inserting a location hint in a request for a content, wherein the location hint specifies one or more network locations that are known by the network node to hold at least part of the content, sending the request to the network, wherein the request comprises a content name that describes the content, and receiving a data message corresponding to the request from the network, wherein the data message comprises at least a portion of the content. | 07-03-2014 |
20140365664 | RESOURCE ALLOCATION PROTOCOL FOR A VIRTUALIZED INFRASTRUCTURE WITH RELIABILITY GUARANTEES - A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for a resource allocation protocol. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a resource allocation engine to allocate physical resources to primary and redundant virtual infrastructures, wherein, when the resource allocation engine allocates virtual infrastructures, physical resources of redundant virtual infrastructures are shared across multiple primary virtual infrastructures. | 12-11-2014 |
20150039784 | Scalable Name-Based Centralized Content Routing - A network element (NE) comprising a receiver configured to receive a content request message from a client node via a network, wherein the content request message comprises an identifier of a data object, a memory configured to store a content routing table comprising local routing entries for popular data objects, and a content indicator indicating less popular data objects that are not associated with the local routing entries, a processor coupled to the memory and configured to check the content routing table for an entry associated with the requested data object, and check the content indicator for a match between the requested data object and the less popular data objects when the content routing table does not comprise the entry, and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to send a route request message to a network controller when the content indicator check returns a positive match. | 02-05-2015 |
20150199211 | System and Method for File Injection in Virtual Machine Configuration - An embodiment method for virtual machine file injection includes receiving a request for a first image having an operating system and a first set of injected files for a virtual machine. The first set of injected files is compared with second sets of injected files in second images stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium. In response to the first set and second set of injected files not exactly matching, a nearest non-complete candidate image and third files are transmitted, with the third files being files from the first set of injected files that are not in the second set of injected files of the nearest non-complete candidate image. | 07-16-2015 |
20150319214 | ENHANCING DASH-LIKE CONTENT STREAMING FOR CONTENT-CENTRIC NETWORKS - A content controller monitors current network capacity usage and ongoing streaming data requests. Based on the collected information, the content controller assigns a data segment prefetching task to a data storage (e.g., a cache) of the network. One or several caches can be used to prefetch one or more data segments, depending on the network conditions and the speed with which a data store can retrieve the data over the network. The task assignment is performed for a given period of time, which is defined as a round. Periodically, the controller uses information collected from previous rounds, such as the history of streaming data requests and bandwidth usage, to determine the data segments to be prefetched by data stores in the next round. | 11-05-2015 |
20160036689 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING RESPONSE TIME IN INFORMATION-CENTRIC NETWORKS - A method for reducing response times in an information-centric network includes receiving an indication from an ingress node of a content object entering a network, the content object associated with a new delivery flow through the network. An egress node in the network for the content object and a size of the content object are identified. A backlog and bandwidth for the new delivery flow is determined based in part on the size of the content object. Backlogs and bandwidths for existing delivery flows in the network are determined. A set of candidate paths in the network for the new delivery flow from the ingress node to the egress node is determined. For each candidate path, a total response time is estimated for completion of all delivery flows for each candidate path based on the backlog and bandwidth. The candidate path having the lowest total response time is selected for the new delivery flow. | 02-04-2016 |
20160057061 | Learning Or Emulation Approach to Traffic Engineering in Information-Centric Networks - A method implemented in a network element (NE) configured to operate in an information centric network (ICN), comprising receiving a plurality of test traffic flows, wherein the test traffic flows are copies of a number of traffic flows received in a forwarding plane of the ICN during a defined interval; emulating the ICN at a state determined at an arrival time of the test traffic flows to the NE and defined based on a plurality of active traffic flows in the ICN; measuring a first impact of a plurality of first candidate paths for a first test traffic flow from the test traffic flows in the emulated ICN to the active traffic flows; selecting one of the first candidate paths based on the first impact measurement; measuring a second impact of a plurality of second candidate paths for a second test traffic flow from the test traffic flows in the emulated ICN to active traffic flows and the selected first candidate test path; selecting one of the second candidate paths based on the second impact measurement; and constructing a plurality of forwarding rules based on the state and the candidate paths selections. | 02-25-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100188337 | COMPUTER MOUSE PROVIDING A TOUCHLESS INPUT INTERFACE - A computer input device, such as a mouse, has a processing circuit, a memory having instructions for controlling operations of the processing circuit, a surface movement sensor in communication with the processing circuit providing to the processing circuit first signals indicative of sensed movement of the computer input device upon a surface, and one or more touchless sensor subsystems in communication with the processing circuit providing to the processing circuit second signals indicative of sensed surface movements relative to the computer input device occurring in spaced proximity to the computer input device. A transmission circuit under control of the processing circuit issues transmissions to a computer representative of the first and second signals to cause regions or locations on a computer display screen to be pointed to, to cause information which is represented on the computer display screen to be moved and/or selected, to cause locations on the computer display screen to be designated, etc. | 07-29-2010 |
20100223064 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A PERSONALIZED REFERENCE COLLECTION - A system and method for providing a reference collection that is personalized for a consumer. The system includes a server computer having an associated data repository. Stored in the data repository is an aggregation of links to sources of on-line information and each link within the aggregation is mapped to one or more consumer communities and/or products. Programming resident on the server computer acts to provide to a client computer a webpage that includes a reference collection that is personalized for the consumer, the reference collection being provided as a listing of those links within the aggregation of links to sources of on-line information that have been mapped within the data repository to a one or more consumer communities to which the consumer belongs and/or products of interest to the consumer. | 09-02-2010 |
20100262514 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING, SEARCHING, AND INTERACTING WITH A TWO DIMENSIONAL PRODUCT CATALOG - A system and method for use in presenting information relevant to a product catalog. The system receives a search request and presents to a user in a two-dimensional format a plurality of iconic images each representative of a page of a product catalog. Each of the iconic images is activatable to cause a display of an image of the page of the product catalog represented by the iconic image. One or more of the presented plurality of iconic images that are linked to a page of the product catalog having a product responsive to the search request are highlighted to the user. | 10-14-2010 |
20100325015 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING IMAGE DATA TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH AN ONLINE RETAIL ENVIRONMENT - An image recognition system is provided with a reference image and the image recognition system functions to discern a context for the reference image. A user is thereafter presented with recommendations for products or other online services that are relevant to the discerned context for the image. | 12-23-2010 |
20110252017 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A RESPONSE TO A SEARCH QUERY - A system receives a request to search an electronic catalog of a vendor which specifies a query term. The query term is used to search an electronic catalog of a third party. The results obtained by searching the electronic catalog of the third party are parsed to uncover a keyword recognized by a search engine associated with the electronic catalog of the vendor. The uncovered keyword is then used in the search engine associated with the electronic catalog of the vendor to locate one or more items in the electronic catalog of the vendor. Items located in this manner are the search results responsive to the query term. | 10-13-2011 |
20110282767 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT RELATED ELECTRONIC CATALOG FUNCTIONALITY - An aggregation of functionality related to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler web system is provided by presenting on a client computing device a webpage in which a single product is directly associated with a single access point. The single access point provides a means by which plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product are made available to a consumer. A listing of the plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product is displayed within the webpage in response to an activation of the single access point by the consumer. In response to a selection by the consumer from the displayed listing the wholesaler web system initiates a performance of the one of the plural wholesaler web system functions so selected. | 11-17-2011 |
20120116927 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT RELATED ELECTRONIC CATALOG FUNCTIONALITY - An aggregation of functionality related to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler web system is provided by presenting on a client computing device a webpage in which a single product is directly associated with a single access point. The single access point provides a means by which plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product are made available to a consumer. A listing of the plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product is displayed within the webpage in response to an activation of the single access point by the consumer. In response to a selection by the consumer from the displayed listing the wholesaler web system initiates a performance of the one of the plural wholesaler web system functions so selected. | 05-10-2012 |
20120253984 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HIGHLIGHTING DIFFERENCES IN ITEMS IN A SEARCH RESULT LISTING - A received search query is used to create a search result where the search result is a listing of items identified in a data repository of item information where the item information includes data indicative of parametric values for each of a plurality of items. Data indicative of parametric values within the item information of the listing of items is used to order the search result for display whereby at least one subset of items within the listing of items determined to have similar parametric values will be displayed as a group having positions within the listing of items that are proximate relative to each other. Data indicative of parametric values within the item information of the at least one subset of items is also used to discern differences in one or more parametric values between items in the at least one subset of items which discerned differences in the one or more parametric values between items in the at least one subset of items within the listing of items are caused to be highlighted. | 10-04-2012 |
20120259730 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT RELATED ELECTRONIC CATALOG FUNCTIONALITY - An aggregation of functionality related to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler web system is provided by presenting on a client computing device a webpage in which a single product is directly associated with a single access point. The single access point provides a means by which plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product are made available to a consumer. A listing of the plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product is displayed within the webpage in response to an activation of the single access point by the consumer. In response to a selection by the consumer from the displayed listing the wholesaler web system initiates a performance of the one of the plural wholesaler web system functions so selected. | 10-11-2012 |
20120271808 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PERSONALIZED SEARCH RESULTS - Personalized search results are provided to a user by sending to the user a direct marketing email having associated therewith one or more opt-out elements. Information related to the user's interaction with the one or more opt-out elements is maintained in a database. When a search request is thereafter submitted to a search engine by the user, the information related to the user's interaction with the one or more opt-out elements is used to inhibit inclusion within the search results of one or more items. In addition or alternatively, when the user accesses a search interface having a plurality of search options selectable to provide a search request to the search engine, the information related to the user's interaction with the one or more opt-out elements is used to inhibit inclusion within the search interface of one or more of the plurality of user selectable search options. | 10-25-2012 |
20120278484 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIRECTING ATTENTION TO WEB SITE FUNCTIONALITY - A system determines if functionality offered via a Web site is being underutilizing by a user, e.g., not being using at all or not being using with some desired degree of regularity. When it is determined that the functionality offered via the Web site is being underutilized by the user, the system provides to content of the Web site a cue, e.g., audio and/or visual, for directing the attention of the user to the functionality offered via the Web site. | 11-01-2012 |
20120280912 | COMPUTER MOUSE PROVIDING A TOUCHLESS INPUT INTERFACE - A computer input device, such as a mouse, has a surface movement sensor in communication with a processing circuit for providing to the processing circuit first signals indicative of sensed movement of the computer input device upon a surface, and one or more touchless sensor subsystems in communication with the processing circuit for providing to the processing circuit second signals indicative of sensed surface movements relative to the computer input device. A transmission circuit under control of the processing circuit issues transmissions to a computer representative of the first and second signals. | 11-08-2012 |
20120303649 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING USE OF A SELECTION GUIDE - A system and method functions to automatically invoke a selection guide when the search term(s) provided in a freeform search query are determined to be associated with a category of item for which a selection guide will provide the most efficient means for the user to locate items of interest. | 11-29-2012 |
20130018914 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING USE OF A SELECTION GUIDE - A system and method functions to automatically invoke a link to a selection guide when the search term(s) being provided in a freeform search query are determined to be associated with a category of item for which a selection guide will provide the most efficient means for the user to locate items of interest. | 01-17-2013 |
20130024319 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT RELATED ELECTRONIC CATALOG FUNCTIONALITY - An aggregation of functionality related to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler web system is provided by presenting on a client computing device a webpage in which a single product is directly associated with a single access point. The single access point provides a means by which plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product are made available to a consumer. A listing of the plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product is displayed within the webpage in response to an activation of the single access point by the consumer. In response to a selection by the consumer from the displayed listing the wholesaler web system initiates a performance of the one of the plural wholesaler web system functions so selected. | 01-24-2013 |
20130080288 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIRECTING A CUSTOMER TO ADDITIONAL PURCHASING OPPORTUNITIES - A dynamic merchandising system creates for each of a plurality of products in a plurality of purchase orders a list of products purchased together. This information is then used to create ordered lists reflecting relationships between various product attributes, e.g., the relationships between different brand names purchased together, different product categories purchased together, different catalog pages of products purchased together, etc. From these ordered relationship lists information may be selected and presented to the customer for the purpose of directing the customer to additional purchasing opportunities. | 03-28-2013 |
20130111316 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING CONTINUED ACCESS TO USER RELATED INFORMATION | 05-02-2013 |
20130120440 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING AN IMAGE TO PROVIDE SEARCH RESULTS - A system and method uses an image manipulating application to define in an object image a plurality of discrete cells. Predefined image information is substituted for image information in selected ones of the plurality of discrete cells to form a translated version of the object image. The translated version of the object image may then be provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results. | 05-16-2013 |
20130138530 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING PURCHASING HISTORY DATA TO AUTOMATICALLY CREATE A PURCHASING LIST - Personalized product listing are generated for a user by gathering from a data repository prior product purchasing history of the user and by then analyzing the gathered prior product purchasing history of the user to discern if one or more products have been purchased according to a similar recurrence pattern. The one or more products that have been purchased according to the similar recurrence pattern are then placed within the generated personalized product listing for the user. The generated personalized product listing for the user can be used by the system to facilitate an automatic reordering of quantities of the product according to the recurrence pattern schedule. | 05-30-2013 |
20130179468 | Product search - A system and method for searching a product model number database having a plurality of product model numbers stored therein receives a string to be searched in the product model number database from a client device. Multiple queries are then created based on the string and the model number database is queried using the created queries. Query results responsive to the created queries are then received from the model number database and transmitted to the client device. | 07-11-2013 |
20130191245 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A POSSIBLE ERROR IN A CUSTOMER PROVIDED PRODUCT ORDER QUANTITY - Prior ordering history of a product is examined to determine an historical ordering quantity distribution for a product. A customer specified, to-be-purchased quantity of a product is then compared against the determined historical ordering-quantity frequency distribution for the product. When the customer specified, to-be-purchased quantity of the product falls below a certain probability threshold determined using the historical ordering-quantity frequency distribution, or is otherwise suspicious, the customer is notified of a suspected error in the provided product order quantity and/or asked to verify if the provided product quantity is correct. | 07-25-2013 |
20130232207 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIRECTING ATTENTION TO WEB SITE FUNCTIONALITY - A system determines if functionality offered via a Web site is being underutilizing by a user, e.g., not being using at all or not being using with some desired degree of regularity. When it is determined that the functionality offered via the Web site is being underutilized by the user, the system provides an email to the user to direct the attention of the user to this functionality of the Web site. | 09-05-2013 |
20130238466 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT RELATED ELECTRONIC CATALOG FUNCTIONALITY - An aggregation of functionality related to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler web system is provided by presenting on a client computing device a webpage in which a single product is directly associated with a single access point. The single access point provides a means by which plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product are made available to a consumer. A listing of the plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product is displayed within the webpage in response to an activation of the single access point by the consumer. In response to a selection by the consumer from the displayed listing the wholesaler web system initiates a performance of the one of the plural wholesaler web system functions so selected. | 09-12-2013 |
20130238469 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT RELATED ELECTRONIC CATALOG FUNCTIONALITY - An aggregation of functionality related to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler web system is provided by presenting on a client computing device a webpage in which a single product is directly associated with a single access point. The single access point provides a means by which plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product are made available to a consumer. A listing of the plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product is displayed within the webpage in response to an activation of the single access point by the consumer. In response to a selection by the consumer from the displayed listing the wholesaler web system initiates a performance of the one of the plural wholesaler web system functions so selected. | 09-12-2013 |
20130239018 | GRAPHICAL DISPLAY RESPONSIVE TO VOICE INPUT - An embodiment of the present invention is directed to controlling a graphical display responsive to voice input. A voice input is received from a live telephone conversation between two or more parties. The voice input is then analyzed for the presence of a product model number. The product model number is then extracting from the voice input. The product model number is then displayed in a model number listing on the graphical display while the conversation is still ongoing. | 09-12-2013 |
20130251273 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING AN IMAGE TO PROVIDE SEARCH RESULTS - A system and method uses one or more images provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results. The image recognition system may use one or more image match algorithms to create one or more possible product match sets. In the event multiple product match sets are created, the search results may be limited to product that appears in one or more of the plural possible product match sets. | 09-26-2013 |
20140156466 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATED CUSTOMER ORDER CROSS REFERENCING - An auto cross-referencing functionality related to an order number directed to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a vendor system is presented on a client computing device in a page providing an access point for ordering an item. The system allows a customer to enter a manufacturer, competitor, or other non-vendor specific ordering number into an ordering system and have the provided number transformed in-situ to the vendor's ordering number, either in real-time and/or through a batch-like process. | 06-05-2014 |
20140156471 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATED CUSTOMER ORDER CROSS REFERENCING - An auto cross-referencing functionality related to an order number directed to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a vendor system is presented on a client computing device in a page providing an access point for ordering an item. The system allows a customer to enter a manufacturer, competitor, or other non-vendor specific ordering number into an ordering system and have the provided number transformed in-situ to the vendor's ordering number, either in real-time and/or through a batch-like process. | 06-05-2014 |
20140172638 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT REVIEWS AND/OR RATINGS - A system causes an image of a product and a ratings dashboard to be presented on a client computing device. Interaction with the ratings dashboard causes a quick review summary for the product to be presented. The quick review summary for the product provides a top line visual summary of review information provided by product reviewers which information includes a visualization of at least a number of product reviewers that have given the product each of a plurality of overall product reviewer ratings and a visualization of an average overall product reviewer rating of at least one characteristic of the product. Interaction with the quick review summary for the product may be used to cause a presentation of a more detailed summary of the product reviewer information for the product or information related to all product reviewer reviews for the product which information is further capable of being at least one of sorted and filtered. | 06-19-2014 |
20140172744 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT REVIEWS AND/OR RATINGS - A system causes an image of a product and a ratings dashboard to be presented on a client computing device. Interaction with the ratings dashboard causes a quick review summary for the product to be presented. The quick review summary for the product provides a top line visual summary of review information provided by product reviewers which information includes a visualization of at least a number of product reviewers that have given the product each of a plurality of overall product reviewer ratings and a visualization of an average overall product reviewer rating of at least one characteristic of the product. Interaction with the quick review summary for the product may be used to cause a presentation of a more detailed summary of the product reviewer information for the product or information related to all product reviewer reviews for the product which information is further capable of being at least one of sorted and filtered. | 06-19-2014 |
20140180876 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRODUCT INFORMATION AND RELATED FUNCTIONALITIES - A system and method for allowing a consumer to quickly access product information and/or commerce functionalities as related to one or more products that are associated with an electronic document, such as a web page, that is currently being viewed by the consumer in an electronic document viewing program, such as an Internet browser. | 06-26-2014 |
20140188551 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING NAVIGATION TENDENCIES TO USERS OF A WEBSITE - The example systems and methods provide ways for websites to monitor, store, retrieve, and display navigation tendencies of users of websites. More particularly, the systems and methods involve websites displaying measures of user traffic associated with various categories of web content. The measures of user traffic may inform a user of how the user previously navigated the various hierarchical categories of web content, or the measures of user traffic may inform a user of how others navigate the various hierarchical categories of web content. Moreover, the user may select an identifiable group of users for which the website will display navigation tendencies. In the alternative, the website may display navigation tendencies of an identifiable group of users based on an identity of the user viewing the website. | 07-03-2014 |
20140279188 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING QUANTITIES OF PREVIOUSLY ORDERED PRODUCT TO REPEAT USERS OF A WEBSITE - A system can store a wide variety of information regarding a user's interactions with a website in a first web browsing session. In particular, the information may include a quantity of a product that the user ordered in the first web browsing session. When the user returns to the website to reorder the product in a second web browsing session, the system may display the quantity of the product that the user previously ordered without requiring the user to navigate to and review an order history webpage. The system may display such information regarding the quantity of previously ordered product in a user interface element that appears next to a quantity input box associated with the product. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279193 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS INCORPORATING SECONDARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION - A system and method provides product/service recommendations by rendering and analyzing content on webpages that are linked to on a user's personal webpage. In this manner, the system and method compiles a more complete view of the user's interest and preferences, thus providing more effective and finely-attuned user recommendations. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279248 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SEARCH RESULTS INCORPORATING SUPPLY CHAIN INFORMATION - A systems and methods for providing a search refinement tools that incorporate contextual information, such as supply chain information is disclosed. In general, the example methods and systems provide the customer with the ability to refine search results on an e-commerce website using previously stored historical supply chain information. Supply chain information refers to historical information about a purchaser and the purchaser's previous purchases. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279249 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING THIRD PARTY PRODUCT CROSS REFERENCING - An third party cross-referencing functionality related to an item number directed to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a vendor system is presented on a client computing device in a page providing an access point for searching an item. The system allows a customer to enter a vendor or non-vendor specific item number into a vendor system and have the provided number display a catalog page and/or item information related to the item number to the user whether the displayed data is vendor information or non-vendor information alike. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279290 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING INVENTORY OF A PRODUCT WITHIN A STORAGE BIN - A system and method can monitor inventory of product within storage bins of a storage facility by mounting cameras to the storage bins. The cameras and a user processing device may be operably connected to a network such that the user processing device is in communication with the cameras. Further, the user processing device may search records of a database that correspond to product stored in the storage facility. Once a product of interest is identified, a location of the relevant storage bin may be provided to the user processing device, along with an image and/or video captured by the camera to show contents of the storage bin. | 09-18-2014 |
20140304110 | PROCUREMENT PROCESS UTILIZING A LIGHT SENSOR - A system for managing a procurement process uses an ambient light sensor to detect an operating anomaly regarding at least one light source. A procurement system operatively coupled to the light sensing system receives information indicative of the detected operating anomaly of the at least one light source and, in response thereto, initiates the procurement process to obtain a replacement for the at least one light source. | 10-09-2014 |
20140316951 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING INVENTORY OF A PRODUCT WITHIN A STORAGE BIN - A system and method can monitor inventory of product within storage bins of a storage facility by mounting cameras to the storage bins. The cameras and a user processing device may be operably connected to a network such that the user processing device is in communication with the cameras. Further, the user processing device may search records of a database that correspond to product stored in the storage facility. Once a product of interest is identified, a location of the relevant storage bin may be provided to the user processing device, along with an image and/or video captured by the camera to show contents of the storage bin. | 10-23-2014 |
20140317076 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING USE OF A SELECTION GUIDE - A system and method functions to automatically invoke a selection guide when the search term(s) provided in a freeform search query are determined to be associated with a category of item for which a selection guide will provide the most efficient means for the user to locate items of interest. | 10-23-2014 |
20150074205 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PERSONALIZED MESSAGING - A user associates a supply chain event with a personalized message. The system causes the personalized message (or a link thereto) to be sent to a recipient using a selected dissemination method when the supply chain event occurs. | 03-12-2015 |
20150081470 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL CONTENT IN COMMUNICATIONS SHARING A WEBPAGE - An apparatus and methods are provided for personalizing messages that are sent to a recipient when a user of a website wishes to “share” a particular webpage or content thereof with the recipient. The apparatus and methods, which are founded on non-transitory computer readable media, involve using information available about the recipient as well as information about a product or service displayed on the webpage to identify supplemental content to include in the message to the recipient regarding the shared webpage. The recipient's prior browsing and purchasing histories with the website, as well as the purchasing tendencies of other customers, may be particularly helpful in identifying relevant supplemental content. | 03-19-2015 |
20150120614 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING PRODUCT PRICES - Systems and methods are provided for optimizing prices for products and services based on consumer survey data, or at least based on the principle that non-flat prices such as $0.99, $3.95, $49.99, for example, create negative impressions about merchants. The system may retrieve a current price from a database and identify a price class or a price range to which the current price corresponds. The system may then execute a pricing process that is associated with the identified price class or price range. The pricing process computes an offer price that a majority of consumers will perceive as being more fair than the current price. | 04-30-2015 |
20150178313 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING AN IMAGE TO PROVIDE SEARCH RESULTS - A system and method uses an image manipulating application to define in an object image a plurality of discrete cells. Predefined image information is substituted for image information in selected ones of the plurality of discrete cells to form a translated version of the object image. The translated version of the object image may then be provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results. | 06-25-2015 |
20150178314 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING AN IMAGE TO PROVIDE SEARCH RESULTS - A system and method uses an image manipulating application to define in an object image a plurality of discrete cells. Predefined image information is substituted for image information in selected ones of the plurality of discrete cells to form a translated version of the object image. The translated version of the object image may then be provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results. | 06-25-2015 |
20150178583 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING AN IMAGE TO PROVIDE SEARCH RESULTS - A system and method uses an image manipulating application to define in an object image a plurality of discrete cells. Predefined image information is substituted for image information in selected ones of the plurality of discrete cells to form a translated version of the object image. The translated version of the object image may then be provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results. | 06-25-2015 |
20150356809 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CREATING VENDING MACHINE KITS - A system and method for dispensing a kit of items from one or more vending machines includes a kit determination system with a kit analyzer to determine whether there is a specific kit or kits to recommend or assign to a user. A kit may be pre-assigned to the user by a third party. If there is no kit assigned to the user, a kit may be recommended to the user based on past history and a number of other factors. Also included is a vending machine kit dispensing system for dispensing a kit of items from one or more vending machines, the vending machines being interconnected on a network. | 12-10-2015 |
20160055179 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING AN IMAGE TO PROVIDE SEARCH RESULTS - A system and method uses one or more images provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results. The image recognition system may use one or more image match algorithms to create one or more possible product match sets. In the event multiple product match sets are created, the search results may be limited to product that appears in one or more of the plural possible product match sets. | 02-25-2016 |
20160070799 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HIGHLIGHTING DIFFERENCES IN ITEMS IN A SEARCH RESULT LISTING - A received search query is used to create a search result where the search result is a listing of items identified in a data repository of item information where the item information includes data indicative of parametric values for each of a plurality of items. Data indicative of parametric values within the item information of the listing of items is used to order the search result for display whereby at least one subset of items within the listing of items determined to have similar parametric values will be displayed as a group having positions within the listing of items that are proximate relative to each other. Data indicative of parametric values within the item information of the at least one subset of items is also used to discern differences in one or more parametric values between items in the at least one subset of items which discerned differences in the one or more parametric values between items in the at least one subset of items within the listing of items are caused to be highlighted. | 03-10-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080315005 | Active material emitting device and method of dispensing an active material - An active material emitting device includes an ultrasonic atomizer disposed within the device for volatilizing an active material. The device further includes an opening disposed adjacent the ultrasonic atomizer for emitting the volatilized active material therethrough. A vent is disposed in the device, wherein the vent creates an air passageway for air to enter the device and exit the device through the opening to carry the volatilized active material away from the device. | 12-25-2008 |
20100243673 | Compact Spray Device - A method of operating a dispensing unit includes the step of providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having an aerosol container disposed therein and an actuator arm. Other steps include activating the dispensing unit in response to a minimum threshold of light being sensed by a light sensor and selecting a sleep period interval between spray operations. Yet another step comprises moving the actuator arm after completion of a startup delay period from a pre-actuation position to a discharge position along a path substantially parallel to an axial length of the container to actuate a nozzle of the container to discharge a fluid from the container. The method also includes the step of alternating automatically between the sleep period having a duration commensurate with the selected sleep period interval and a discharge period during which the fluid is dispensed from the container. | 09-30-2010 |
20100243674 | Compact Spray Device - A power source is provided to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having an aerosol container disposed therein. A sleep period interval between spray operations is selected and a motion sensor is activated to detect motion within a sensory path of the sensor after completion of the sleep period interval. If no motion is detected by the motion sensor a fluid is automatically discharged from the aerosol container and the sleep interval is reset and if motion is detected by the motion sensor a delay time interval is initiated and fluid is not discharged from the aerosol container. The dispensing unit alternates between activating the sensor to detect motion and resetting the delay time interval until no motion is detected by the motion sensor at the expiration of the delay time interval, which results in the automatic discharge of fluid and a resetting of the sleep period interval. | 09-30-2010 |
20120000932 | Compact Spray Device - An automatic discharge device includes a housing having a top portion and a base portion, wherein surfaces defining a recess are provided therebetween for securely holding a container. At least one gear is disposed substantially between the recess and a rear panel of the housing. A drive motor is in association with the at least one gear. An actuator arm is also provided. Activation of the drive motor and the at least one gear provides for movement of the actuator arm between at least one of a pre-actuation position and a discharge position along a path that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container. | 01-05-2012 |
20120018453 | AEROSOL DISPENSER - A dispenser includes a housing | 01-26-2012 |
20120024894 | Dispenser - A dispenser includes a housing having sides, a top end, and a bottom end. A portion between the top end and the bottom end extends outwardly from an axis of the housing. A bore extends through the housing, which is adapted to receive a container. The container is adapted to dispense a volatile material through a first aperture of the housing. Fluid is dispensed from the container through the first aperture in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the housing, wherein one face of the sides is shaped to appear like a naturally occurring object. | 02-02-2012 |
20120024901 | Adapter for a dispenser - An adapter includes a base having an aperture extending therethrough. A wall extends upwardly from the base, wherein first and second opposing ridges are disposed on an external surface of the wall adjacent a lower end thereof and first and second opposing elongate ribs are disposed adjacent the first and second ridges, respectively. A plurality of outwardly protruding stop members are disposed on the external surface of the wall above the first and second ridges and elongate ribs. | 02-02-2012 |
20120024902 | Shroud for a dispenser - A shroud includes a body portion having an opening adapted to receive one of at least two different containers. An upper portion of the body portion is adapted to interact with one of the at least two different containers. | 02-02-2012 |
20120061420 | Compact Spray Device - A method of operating a dispensing unit includes the step of providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having at least two aerosol containers disposed therein and an actuator arm. The dispensing unit activates in response to a minimum threshold of light being sensed by a light sensor. The method also includes the step of providing a means for selecting a sleep period interval between spray operations. | 03-15-2012 |
20130026181 | Compact Spray Device - An automatic discharge device includes a housing retaining two containers therein. An actuator arm is attached to the housing and movable between first and second positions. A drive unit is provided for automatically moving the actuator arm into one of the first and second positions in response to a signal from at least one of a timer, a sensor, and a manual switch. The movement of the actuator arm actuates a valve stem of one of the two containers in one of the first and second positions. The actuator arm is adapted to spray fluid disposed in an interior of the two containers. | 01-31-2013 |
20130068787 | COMPACT SPRAY DEVICE - An automatic discharge device includes a housing retaining two containers therein and an actuator arm attached to the housing and movable between first and second positions. The automatic discharge device also includes a drive unit for automatically moving the actuator arm into one of the first and second positions in response to a signal from at least one of a timer, a sensor, and a manual switch. The movement of the actuator arm actuates a valve stem of one of the two containers in one of the first and second positions and the actuator arm is adapted to spray the contents of the two containers. | 03-21-2013 |
20140145004 | Volatile Material Dispenser - A dispenser includes a base with a plurality of ribs for supporting a peripheral flange of a cartridge having a volatile material containing reservoir. A first removable cover is attached to the base and has at least one aperture and a first regulating plate. The first cover may be removed and replaced by at least a second cover that has at least one aperture and a second, different regulating plate. | 05-29-2014 |
20140145005 | Volatile Material Dispenser - A dispenser includes a base for receiving a volatile material containing reservoir. A cover is attached to the base having at least one aperture and at least one series of ports. A regulating plate is operatively attached to the cover and has at least one window and at least one series of bores. Manipulation of the regulating plate allows for the registration of the bores and the ports to release a volatile material therethrough. | 05-29-2014 |
20150028062 | COMPACT SPRAY DEVICE - An automatic discharge device includes a housing having a recess for receipt of a container. Further, a first compartment for receipt of a first battery and a second compartment for receipt of a second battery are provided. An actuator is disposed above the recess and the first compartment and the second compartment are disposed on opposing sides of the recess. | 01-29-2015 |
20150130089 | VOLATILE MATERIAL DISPENSING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE - A dispensing system includes a refill having a reservoir for containing a volatile material. A permeable membrane is disposed over the reservoir and allows the volatile material to be released therethrough. The dispensing system also includes a housing adapted to retain the refill and a manual drive mechanism, which is in communication with the refill. Actuation of the manual drive mechanism causes the refill to rotate more than 180° about a longitudinal axis. | 05-14-2015 |