Stephanie Nicole Young

US Patent:

20130323689, Dec 5, 2013

Filed:

Jun 4, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/488070

Inventors:

ANNE CATHERINE BATES - PRAIRIE VILLAGE KS, US
JASON PAUL GAHR - KANSAS CITY MO, US
ADAM SAMUEL SCHEFF - OVERLAND PARK KS, US
JASON BLAKE PENROD - SHAWNEE KS, US
STEPHANIE FARRIS YOUNG - OVERLAND PARK KS, US
TIMOTHY JAY LIEN - LENEXA KS, US

Assignee:

HALLMARK CARDS, INCORPORATED - KANSAS CITY MO

International Classification:

G09B 1/00

US Classification:

434167

Abstract:

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to an Audio-Story Engine that includes a repository of prerecorded audio files that, when played in a certain sequence, with user provided recordings placed throughout, tell a story. To obtain the user provided recordings, the Audio-Story Engine asks the user to make audio recordings of various words or phrases. For example, the Audio-Story Engine may ask the user a series of questions in order to record and store the user's audible responses. Upon completion, the Audio-Story Engine plays back a completed story that incorporates the user's audio recordings by playing an appropriate user recording after playing a prerecorded audio file. This is repeated several times in sequence to form a seamless, customized, audio story. In addition, the Audio-Story Engine may alter the pitch or sound of the user's recorded words to match the pitch of the prerecorded story.

US Patent:

20210097585, Apr 1, 2021

Filed:

Sep 28, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/034371

Inventors:

- Kansas City MO, US
Stephanie F. Young - Overland Park KS, US

International Classification:

G06Q 30/02
G06Q 20/16

Abstract:

Aspects of the technology described herein provide a pre-printed postage. As an initial step, the pre-printed postage is printed on a media, such as an envelope or sticker. Each instance of pre-printed postage comprises a unique identifier encoded in a machine-readable format. Postage is paid for through a payment process. In order to pay for an individual instance of pre-printed postage, the unique identifier encoded in the pre-printed postage needs to be provided to the payment application. At the end of the payment process, a central database is updated to associate the unique identifier with a postal value calculated during payment. When the Postal Service receives an item with pre-printed postage it validates the pre-printed postage and then indicates usage of the pre-printed postage by updating the central database.

US Patent:

20190180520, Jun 13, 2019

Filed:

Dec 10, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/215140

Inventors:

- Kansas City MO, US
Stephanie F. Young - Overland Park KS, US
Jeanette B. Raven - Lenexa KS, US
Scott Schimke - Leavenworth KS, US

International Classification:

G07B 17/00

Abstract:

Aspects of the technology described herein provide an activatable postage. As an initial step, the activatable postage is printed on a media, such as an envelope or sticker. Initially, the activatable postage has no postage value and will not have any value until activated. Each instance of activatable postage comprises a unique identifier encoded in a machine-readable format. Postage value is added to the activatable postage through an activation process. In order to activate an individual instance of activatable postage, the unique identifier encoded in the activatable postage needs to be provided to the activation application. At the end of the activation process, a central database is updated to associate the unique identifier with a postal value calculated during activation. When the Postal Service receives an item with activatable postage it validates the activatable postage and then deactivates the activatable postage by updating the central database.

US Patent:

20150161898, Jun 11, 2015

Filed:

Feb 20, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/628086

Inventors:

- KANSAS CITY MO, US
JASON PAUL GAHR - KANSAS CITY MO, US
ADAM SAMUEL SCHEFF - OVERLAND PARK KS, US
JASON BLAKE PENROD - SHAWNEE KS, US
STEPHANIE FARRIS YOUNG - OVERLAND PARK KS, US
TIMOTHY JAY LIEN - LENEXA KS, US

International Classification:

G09B 5/04

Abstract:

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to an Audio-Story Engine that includes a repository of prerecorded audio files that, when played in a certain sequence, with user provided recordings placed throughout, tell a story. To obtain the user provided recordings, the Audio-Story Engine asks the user to make audio recordings of various words or phrases. For example, the Audio-Story Engine may ask the user a series of questions in order to record and store the user's audible responses. Upon completion, the Audio-Story Engine plays back a completed story that incorporates the user's audio recordings by playing an appropriate user recording after playing a prerecorded audio file. This is repeated several times in sequence to form a seamless, customized, audio story. In addition, the Audio-Story Engine may alter the pitch or sound of the user's recorded words to match the pitch of the prerecorded story.