Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080228503 | AUTOMATED COMPATIBILITY CHECKING FOR HARDWARE/SOFTWARE PURCHASES AT TIME OF PURCHASE - The present invention can include a pre-purchase method for determining computing item compatibility. In the method, configuration information associated with a computing system can be stored. A for-sale item to be used with the computing system can be detected. A compatibility between the for-sale item and the configuration information can be determined. A potential purchaser can be notified of results of the determining step before completing a purchase of the for-sale item. The method can be automatically performed by an online storefront system (e.g., a e-retailing Web site) or by in-store computing equipment, such as a cashier's register and/or an in-store kiosk. | 09-18-2008 |
20080245863 | SHOPPER AND ITEM AWARE STOREFRONT THAT PROVIDES AN ENHANCED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE THROUGH AUTOMATED STOREFRONT INTERACTIONS - The present invention discloses a storefront shopping technique that enhances shopping by presenting information to a shopper about proximate for-sale items. Both the shopper and the for-sale items can be associated with location beacons. The presented information can be specific to the shopper, which requires that an identity of the shopper be determined. In the technique, shopper specific information can be obtained from a data store to determine at least one of the for-sale items likely to be of interest to the shopper. A shopper proximity to the for-sale items can be detected based upon a location of the item location beacon associated with the determined for-sale item and based upon a location of the shopper location beacon. When the shopper is proximate to the for-sale item, information can automatically be presented to the shopper via an electronic device about the determined for-sale item. | 10-09-2008 |
20100169188 | CONVERSION OF NON-NEGOTIABLE CREDITS EARNED FROM A GAME OF CHANCE TO NEGOTIABLE FUNDS - Entertainment credits from a game of chance can be identified. The entertainment credits can be associated with an entity with which a user has previously interacted. The previous interactions can earning the entertainment credits, which are non-negotiable credits. Responsive to a user request, a conversion agency can convert a quantity of the entertainment credits to a quantity of negotiable funds, wherein the conversion agency is not directly associated with the entity. The user can be permitted to access the quantity of negotiable funds, wherein the quantity of negotiable funds are able to be applied to user specified purchases, wherein at least a portion of the user specified purchases involve at least one vender that does not honor the non-negotiable credits. | 07-01-2010 |
20100320189 | AUTOMATED USER-CUSTOMIZED COOKING APPLIANCE CONFIGURATION - A solution to automatically configure a cooking appliance can include an automated cooking instruction handler. The automated cooking instruction handler can be coupled with the cooking appliance and can receive recommended cooking instructions and item identification data from a data storage medium of a packaged food item. The recommended cooking instructions can define recommended values for the cooking parameters of the cooking appliance. The identity of a human user, who intends to utilize the cooking appliance to cook the packaged food item, can be ascertained. The existence of user-defined cooking preferences for the packaged food item and human user can be determined. The user-defined cooking preferences can describe user-configured values for cooking parameters. When user-defined cooking preferences exists, a customized cooking process can be automatically synthesized from the recommended cooking instructions and the user-defined cooking preferences. The customized cooking process can be provided to the cooking appliance for execution. | 12-23-2010 |
20110038613 | REMOTE STORAGE OF DIGITAL MEDIA BROADCASTS FOR TIME-SHIFTED PLAYBACK ON PERSONAL DIGITAL MEDIA DEVICES - A solution is presented where a DVR user interface can be enhanced to record selected broadcasts in a networked data store remote from the local device. A link to remotely stored media files can be maintained by the local device, which is selectable by a user for playback via the DVR user interface. A user of the local device may be unaware of whether a selected recording is locally stored or is maintained in the networked data store. A user can access media recorded via the DVR user interface and stored in the networked data store from multiple different devices. The media in the networked data store can be optionally stored in different fidelities and formats, so that media transmissions from the networked data store are provided in a fidelity and format best suited for the receiving device. | 02-17-2011 |
20110099239 | DYNAMIC SET OPERATIONS WHEN SPECIFYING EMAIL RECIPIENTS - A method for specifying email recipients that includes specifying a first set of email recipients, a second set of email recipients, and a set operation. A third set of email recipients can be automatically is generated by performing the set operation upon the first set and the second set. Email can then be sent to this automatically generated third set of email recipients. | 04-28-2011 |
20110231273 | SECONDARY MARKETPLACE FOR DIGITAL MEDIA CONTENT - A secondary marketplace can provide potential consumers with a plurality of previously sold digital media content items. Each of the previously sold digital media content items can include a utilization right and a transfer right. A user selection of one of the digital media content items of the secondary marketplace can be received. Responsive to the user selection, a utilization right to the selected one of the digital media content items can be transferred to a user, who is different from the original consumer. The transferring of the utilization right occurs without the secondary marketplace providing the user with a new tangible storage medium that contains the selected one of the digital media content items. Thus, the user received digital media content item can be a digital only item, such as a downloadable one. | 09-22-2011 |
20110251987 | TIME-SHIFTING A CONTENT STREAMING REQUEST - A streaming request from a playback device for media content can be identified. The media content can originate from a unique content source which can be remote from the playback device. The content source can be communicatively linked to the playback device via a public network. Before submitting the request to the unique content source, a non-persisting data store can be queried for the media content. The non-persisting data store can comprise of previously acquired digital media which can be encrypted in a protected manner which remains inaccessible to a user except, when provided responsive to the streaming request. When results of the querying produce a match, the media content from the non-persisting data store can be conveyed to the playback device. When results of the querying do not produce a match, the media content can be requested from the content source and presented to the playback device. | 10-13-2011 |
20110256924 | SELF-SERVICE STATIONS FOR UTILIZING NON-NEGOTIABLE CREDITS EARNED FROM A GAME OF CHANCE - Entertainment credits from a game of chance can be identified. The entertainment credits can be associated with an entity with which a user has previously interacted. The previous interactions can earning the entertainment credits, which are non-negotiable credits. Responsive to a user request, a conversion agency can convert a quantity of the entertainment credits to a quantity of negotiable funds, wherein the conversion agency is not directly associated with the entity. The user can be permitted to access the quantity of negotiable funds within a vendor kiosk physically proximate and distinctly independent of the entity, wherein the quantity of negotiable funds are able to be applied to user specified purchases within the kiosk, wherein the vendor does not honor the non-negotiable credits. | 10-20-2011 |
20120136725 | TARGETED MEDIA ADVERTISING OVER NETWORKS - Advertising on networks can include a three-step system in one embodiment of the disclosure. The first step can include the review of search requests, followed by a response linking to a media file containing an advertisement. The second step can be a delivery process. The advertising cannot be considered spam as the user can be redirected towards information that can directly correlate to the users search. The advertising can be done with the full cooperation and volition of the media company or companies involved. The advertisers' contract with the media companies can allow for payment and the media companies can then expose their product to potential buyers. The third step can be contacting an advertising server any time that media file is played. In this third step it can be determined what the optimal advertisement for this media file is. | 05-31-2012 |
20120143688 | MEDIA ADVERTISING OVER PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKS - Advertising on P2P networks can include a three-step system in one embodiment of the disclosure. The first step can include the review of search requests, followed by a response linking to a media file containing an advertisement. The second step can be a delivery process. The advertising cannot be considered spam as the user can be redirected towards information that can directly correlate to the users search. The advertising can be done with the full cooperation and volition of the media company or companies involved. The advertisers' contract with the media companies can allow for payment and the media companies can then expose their product to potential buyers. The third step can be contacting an advertising server any time that media file is played. In this third step it can be determined what the optimal advertisement for this media file is. | 06-07-2012 |
20140297048 | ENABLING INTELLIGENT HOT WATER DISTRIBUTION WITHIN A PLUMBING SYSTEM - A hot water heater sensor can be configured to determine a level of hot water available for resident use. A set of facets can control a distribution of hot water within a residence. Communication transceivers can be communicatively linked to the hot water heater and the facets to exchange digital information regarding hot water availability and consumption to a home-automation communication hub. A user device with a graphical user interface can present information derived from the hot water heater sensor and the facets to control, monitor, regulate, or change hot water availability to resident members via the graphical user interface. | 10-02-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100268587 | STOREFRONT PURCHASES UTILIZING NON-NEGOTIABLE CREDITS EARNED FROM A GAME OF CHANCE - Entertainment credits from a game of chance can be identified. The entertainment credits can be associated with an entity with which a user has previously interacted. The previous interactions can earning the entertainment credits, which are non-negotiable credits. Responsive to a user request, a conversion agency can convert a quantity of the entertainment credits to a quantity of negotiable funds, wherein the conversion agency is not directly associated with the entity. The user can be permitted to access the quantity of negotiable funds within a vender storefront physically proximate and distinctly independent of the entity, wherein the quantity of negotiable funds are able to be applied to user specified purchases within the storefront, wherein the vender does not honor the non-negotiable credits. | 10-21-2010 |
20110321086 | ALTERNATING EMBEDDED DIGITAL MEDIA CONTENT RESPONSIVE TO USER OR PROVIDER CUSTOMIZATION SELECTIONS - A solution for altering content embedded in digital media responsive to user or provider preferences where, upon identifying embedded media content that represents product placement or is linked to specific consumer ratings, the solution can manipulate said embedded media content in accordance with the selection previously made. Playback of the digital media artifact is adjusted accordingly and seamlessly from the viewpoint of the user. | 12-29-2011 |
20120262477 | RENDERING ADJUSTMENTS TO AUTOCOMPENSATE FOR USERS WITH OCULAR ABNORMALITIES - A digital screen rendering resolution adjustment can allow users who are conventionally dependent upon corrective lenses to view the digital screen to, after the resolution adjustment, view the contents of this screen with 20×20 vision (considered normal vision), without the use of these corrective lenses. A linear algebraic transform (performing essentially the inverse of the Lensmaker's Equation) can be applied and enact matrix manipulation that when rendering the graphical display to autocompensate for a viewer's visual abnormalities, can result in a distorted screen that is equivalent to the inverse of a corrective lens prescription. A screen rendering customization to autocompensate for a user's visual impairment can be applied for each eye in 3D capable devices due to the inherent nature of 3D to display separate images per eye. A unique algebraic transform matrix manipulation can be performed for each of the two images and can provide a more exact corrective lens prescription rendering simulation than for single image rendering for a display. | 10-18-2012 |
20120307145 | SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESENTING AN ENHANCED AND PRIMARY STREAM ASSOCIATED WITH A DIGITAL TELEVISION BROADCAST - An enhanced stream associated with a primary stream can be selected. The enhanced stream can be time-synchronized to the primary stream. The enhanced stream can be associated with a secondary viewpoint linked to a primary viewpoint of the primary stream. The primary stream can be a broadcast signal of a digital television broadcast. The enhanced stream can be simultaneously presented on a secondary device and the primary stream on a primary device. The primary device can be a computing device and the secondary device can be a computing device. | 12-06-2012 |