Timothy Orr Knight

US Patent:

6493703, Dec 10, 2002

Filed:

May 11, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/309711

Inventors:

Timothy O. Knight - Palo Alto CA
J. Nicholas Gross - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Prophet Financial Systems - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707 3, 707 7, 707 4, 709206, 345792

Abstract:

An online message board system monitors message traffic generated by subscribers so that intelligent decisions can be made concerning what types of content to locate and retrieve, what priority to use for locating such content, how to organize such content for ease of access by the subscribers, etc. A series of software robots are used to locate, retrieve and sort the content as derived from other online news groups. By studying subscriber message traffic, the system can self-tune itself automatically to constantly adjust content retrieval, storage and presentation in response to changing community interests, desires, and the like. Because subscriber feedback is accounted for and incorporated into the design of the message board system, this enhances the experience for online users, resulting in increased system usage, subscriber retention characteristics, etc.

US Patent:

6515681, Feb 4, 2003

Filed:

May 11, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/309714

Inventors:

Timothy O. Knight - Palo Alto CA

Assignee:

Prophet Financial Systems, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G09G 500

US Classification:

345751, 345738, 345760, 345968, 345739, 707 3

Abstract:

A program and graphical user interface is provided for facilitating user interactions with an online message board system. The interface provides multiple levels of filtering and screening capability with query parameters presented within a first portion of the interface to permit comprehensive and flexible selection of message entries of interest to a user. The message entries are compiled into intelligent sets corresponding to logical constructs tailored for the community of users for the online message board system, so that the need for reviewing messages to locate relevant subject matter is substantially eliminated. After the user specified message entries are retrieved, they can be displayed in list form in a second portion of the interface, and then reviewed in depth in yet a third portion of the interface. The query and reviewing operations by the user can all take place therefore, within a single screen, providing the user with a simplified but powerful tool for perusing subject matter of interest from a large collection of message postings. Collections of messages can be pre-compiled and downloaded to the user in advance, based on predictive logic, resulting in faster perceived response times from the users viewpoint.

US Patent:

6571234, May 27, 2003

Filed:

May 11, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/309712

Inventors:

Timothy O. Knight - Palo Alto CA
J. Nicholas Gross - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Prophet Financial Systems, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707 3, 707 7, 709206, 345792

Abstract:

Queries and postings made to an online electronic message board are managed by a number of community and customized software search robots. The robots interact with subscribers to access, retrieve and post messages according to content groupings and classifications that reflect the collective shared interests, desires, etc. , of such subscribers. Because the information is already pre-classified and indexed in such fashion, subscribers are given rapid access to key information that is most of interest to them, enhancing their overall experience with the system.

US Patent:

6721748, Apr 13, 2004

Filed:

May 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/144395

Inventors:

Timothy O. Knight - Palo Alto CA
J. Nicholas Gross - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Maquis Techtrix, LLC. - Los Altos CA

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707 10, 707 7, 707 3

Abstract:

An intelligent data content provider system and method for subscriber postings and queries are monitored and evaluated to determine what types of content to retrieve, how to organize such content, and how to present the same. A series of community and customized software robots are used by the subscribers (and automatically in some cases by the system) to locate, retrieve and sort general interest and/or customized content from other online sources. By studying subscriber query and message traffic, the system can self-tune itself automatically to constantly adjust content retrieval, storage and presentation in response to changing community interests, desires, and the like. Because subscriber feedback is accounted for and incorporated into the design of the message board system, this enhances the experience for online users, resulting in increased system usage, subscriber retention characteristics, etc.

US Patent:

6778982, Aug 17, 2004

Filed:

Feb 20, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/370542

Inventors:

Timothy O. Knight - Palo Alto CA
J. Nicholas Gross - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Maquis Techtrix, LLC - Los Altos CA

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707 3, 707 1, 707 2, 707 6, 707 7

Abstract:

An online content system is disclosed for creating, compiling and presenting content to subscribers. A subscriber interface is configured to present search, review and listing operations in a flexible manner. Tracking and tabulation is performed on message postings and queries to compile data about a community of subscribers. Content can also be collected and presented from outside the community, incuding from other message boards, newsources, websites, etc.

US Patent:

6804675, Oct 12, 2004

Filed:

Mar 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/390437

Inventors:

Timothy O. Knight - Palo Alto CA
J. Nicholas Gross - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Maquis Techtrix, LLC - Los Altos CA

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707 10, 707 3, 707102

Abstract:

An intelligent data content provider system and method permits users to access both community content as well as customized content that they compile based on their own preferences. The system monitors community selections, queries, preferences and profiles to determine popular content authors, categories, etc. , so that subscribers can share ideas and glean new areas of interest In some instances predictions can be made as to particular desirable subscriber content based on among other things, overall community interest in a particular subject, or prior selections made by the subscriber, so that such content can be presented automatically to a subscriber.

US Patent:

6859807, Feb 22, 2005

Filed:

Mar 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/390087

Inventors:

Timothy O. Knight - Palo Alto CA, US
J. Nicholas Gross - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Maquis Techtrix, LLC - Los Altos CA

International Classification:

G06F017/30

US Classification:

707 10

Abstract:

A tabulating system and method analyzes content posted and/or queried by an online community. The content can be searched based on a search filter executed at defined intervals, and the system can also reach through to locate and extract content from other remote systems. Community postings and queries can be tabulated to determine “hot topics” of interest to the community, to enhance the appeal and stickiness of a website. Furthermore, subscribers can also formulate and define their own custom searches to be run on their behalf to identify the existence of particular content on the website.

US Patent:

7159011, Jan 2, 2007

Filed:

Aug 16, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/919788

Inventors:

Timothy O. Knight - Palo Alto CA, US
J. Nicholas Gross - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Maquis Techtrix, LLC - Los Altos CA

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709207, 709206, 707 3, 715968

Abstract:

A database management system employs a number of community and customized software search robots. The robots interact with subscribers to access, retrieve and post content according to content groupings and classifications that reflect the collective shared interests, desires, etc. of such subscribers. A user query interface is also adapted to facilitate searching and review of the content through predefined and customized filtering parameters.