Ronald M Whitman

US Patent:

6772150, Aug 3, 2004

Filed:

Mar 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/532230

Inventors:

Ronald M. Whitman - Seattle WA
Christopher L. Scofield - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Amazon.com, Inc. - Seattle WA

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707 6, 707 2, 707 3, 707 5, 707 10, 707104

Abstract:

A search engine system uses information about historical query submissions to a search engine to suggest previously-submitted, related search phrases to users. The related search phrases are preferably suggested based on a most recent set of query submission data (e. g. , the last two weeks of submissions), and thus strongly reflect the current searching patterns or interests of users. The system is preferably implemented within a search engine used to locate items that are available for electronic purchase, but may be implemented within other types of search engines. In one embodiment, the related search phrases are scored and selected for display based at least in-part on an evaluation of the âusefulnessâ of each search phrase, as reflected by actions performed by prior users while viewing the corresponding search results.

US Patent:

7321892, Jan 22, 2008

Filed:

Aug 11, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/202291

Inventors:

Eric R. Vadon - Seattle WA, US
Ronald M. Whitman - Seattle WA, US
Randal M. Henne - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Incline Village NV

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707 4, 707 2, 707 3, 707 5, 707 10

Abstract:

A computer-implemented process identifies useful alternative spellings of search strings submitted to a search engine. The process takes into consideration spelling changes made by users, as detected by programmatically analyzing search string submissions of a population of search engine users. In one embodiment, an assessment of whether a second search string represents a useful alternative spelling of a first search string takes into consideration (1) an edit distance between the first and second search strings, and (2) a likelihood that a user who submits the first search string will thereafter submit the second search string, as determined by monitoring and analyzing actions of users.

US Patent:

7424486, Sep 9, 2008

Filed:

Jun 22, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/873974

Inventors:

Ronald M. Whitman - Seattle WA, US
Christopher L. Scofield - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

A9.com, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/00

US Classification:

707102, 707 2, 707 5, 707 6, 707 10, 707101, 707103 Z, 7071041

Abstract:

A search engine system uses information about historical query submissions to a search engine to suggest previously-submitted, related search phrases to users. The related search phrases are preferably suggested based on a most recent set of query submission data (e. g. , the last two weeks of submissions), and thus strongly reflect the current searching patterns or interests of users. In one embodiment, the related search phrases are scored and selected for display based at least in-part on (a) a frequency with which each search phrase has been submitted, and/or (b) an evaluation of the “usefulness” of each search phrase, as reflected by actions performed by prior users while viewing corresponding search results.

US Patent:

7617209, Nov 10, 2009

Filed:

Jun 14, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/763187

Inventors:

Ronald M. Whitman - Seattle WA, US
Christopher L. Scofield - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

A9.com, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707 6, 707 2, 707 3, 707 5, 707 10, 7071041

Abstract:

A search engine system assists users in refining their searches by suggesting previously-submitted search phrases to such users. The search phrases are selected to suggest based on collected data regarding search behaviors of search engine users. In one embodiment, candidate search phrases are scored and selected to suggest based at least in-part on (a) a frequency with which each search phrase has been submitted, and/or (b) an evaluation of the “usefulness” of each search phrase, as reflected by post-query-submission actions of users who submitted the search phrase.

US Patent:

7953740, May 31, 2011

Filed:

Feb 13, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/276079

Inventors:

Eric R. Vadon - Seattle WA, US
Ronald M. Whitman - Seattle WA, US
Ron Kohavi - Issaquah WA, US
Gautam K. Jayaraman - Seattle WA, US
Benjamin W. S. Redman - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Reno NV

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707751

Abstract:

A system and method are disclosed for automatically detecting associations between particular sets of search criteria, such as particular search strings, and particular items. Actions of users of an interactive system, such as a web site, are monitored over time to generate event histories reflective of searches, item selection actions, and possibly other types of user actions. An analysis component collectively analyzes the event histories to automatically identify and quantify associations between specific search strings (or other types of search criteria) and specific items. As part of this process, a decay function reduces the weight given to a post-search item selection event based on intervening events that occur between the search event and the item selection event.

US Patent:

8112429, Feb 7, 2012

Filed:

Apr 8, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/082931

Inventors:

Eric R. Vadon - Seattle WA, US
Ronald M. Whitman - Seattle WA, US
Ron Kohavi - Issaquah WA, US
Gautam K. Jayaraman - Seattle WA, US
Benjamin W. S. Redman - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Incline Village NV

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707751

Abstract:

A system and method are disclosed for automatically detecting associations between particular sets of search criteria, such as particular search strings, and particular items. Actions of users of an interactive system, such as a web site, are monitored over time to generate event histories reflective of searches, item selection actions, and possibly other types of user actions. An analysis component collectively analyzes the event histories to automatically identify and quantify associations between specific search strings (or other types of search criteria) and specific items. As part of this process, a decay function reduces the weight given to a post-search item selection event based on intervening events that occur between the search event and the item selection event.

US Patent:

8239287, Aug 7, 2012

Filed:

Jan 15, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/354233

Inventors:

Brent R. Smith - Redmond WA, US
Ronald Whitman - Seattle WA, US
Gaurav Chanda - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Reno NV

International Classification:

G06Q 30/00

US Classification:

705 267, 705 261, 705 271

Abstract:

A computer system for detecting associations between items may include a probabilistic analysis component that accesses user data having information about item selections by a plurality of users. The probabilistic analysis component may programmatically generate associations between certain items by determining a first number of users who selected the items and by estimating a probability that a second number of users would have selected the items due to random chance. The probabilistic analysis component may estimate this probability based at least partly on a number of item selections made by one or more of the users.

US Patent:

8250012, Aug 21, 2012

Filed:

Mar 28, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/058625

Inventors:

Ronald M. Whitman - Seattle WA, US
Wesley M. Turner - Seattle WA, US
Jin Y. Yi - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Reno NV

International Classification:

G06F 17/00

US Classification:

706 45

Abstract:

Generally described, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward the identification of items for inclusion in a recommendations list that may be displayed concurrently with an item selected by a user or users. The recommended items may be items that are of potential interest to the user and/or may be items that are related to the selected item. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and system for generating one or more recommendations lists, providing those lists to users, evaluating users' interactions with those lists, and modifying the engines or techniques used to identify items that are to be included in the recommendations lists.