IP Library Granted Patent US 9,773,259
Granted Patent B2
US 9,773,259 · App. 15/010,832 · Granted Sep 26, 2017

System and method for selecting sponsored images to accompany text

Inventors: Michael Heyward (Santa Monica, CA); Maarten Bosma (Santa Monica, CA); Samuel Brotherton (Los Angeles, CA); Charles DePue, III (Santa Monica, CA); Manuel Ernesto Gomez Contreras (Santa Monica, CA); Chase Evans (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: WhisperText, Inc.
G06Q30/0269G06F17/30253G06F17/30256G06F17/30265G06F17/30277G06F17/30867G06Q50/01
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,773,259
App. No.
15/010,832
Granted
Sep 26, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for selecting an image to accompany text from a user in connection with a social media post. The system includes receiving text from the user; identifying one or more search terms based on the text; identifying candidate images from images in one or more image databases using the search terms, where the candidate images comprise a sponsored image; presenting one or more candidate images to the user, where the sponsored image is presented preferentially compared to other candidate images; receiving from the user a selected image from the one or more candidate images; generating the social media post comprising the selected image and the user-submitted text; and transmitting the social media post for display.

Claims (40)

1. A system for selecting an image to accompany text from a user in connection with a social media post, comprising a processor and a tangible storage medium, said tangible storage medium comprising code executable by the processor for performing steps comprising:

a) receiving text from the user;

b) identifying one or more search terms based on the text;

c) identifying a set of candidate images from images in one or more image databases using the search terms, where the set of candidate images comprises a sponsored image;

d) eliminating an image from the set of candidate images based on an elimination factor;

e) presenting at least a subset of the set of candidate images to the user, where the sponsored image is presented preferentially compared to other candidate images;

f) receiving from the user a selected image from the set of candidate images;

g) generating the social media post wherein the social media post is of a similar size and of a similar shape as the selected image, and wherein the social media post comprises the text displayed superimposed on the selected image; and

h) transmitting the social media post for display.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein step f) further comprises storing information relating to the selected image including one or more of an image identifier, time/date of use, use occurrence, and geographic location of the user.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the elimination factor comprises one or more of time of use of the image, date of use of the image, frequency of use of the image, and geographic location of the user.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user-submitted text further comprises one or more search terms and step b) comprises identifying those search terms.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein step b) comprises generating search terms based on the user-submitted text.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein step e) further comprises presenting a predetermined number of sponsored images.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein step e) further comprises presenting sponsored images in a predetermined proportion to other images.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the selected image is the sponsored image, and further comprising step i) accounting views of the social media post by other users in connection with the sponsored image, a campaign, or a third-party associated with the sponsored image.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the selected image is the sponsored image, and further comprising step i) receiving responses to the social media post and accounting those responses in connection with the sponsored image, a campaign, or a third-party associated with the sponsored image.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the response comprises a like, favorite, reply, personal message, or request to chat with the user.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the selected image is the sponsored image and further comprising:

i) receiving from a second user a request to reply to the social media post and receiving text from the second user; and

j) presenting one or more candidate images to the second user, where a second sponsored image is presented preferentially compared to other candidate images, and wherein the second sponsored image is linked to a sponsor or campaign associated with the sponsored image.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:

k) receiving from the second user a second selected Image from the one or more candidate images;

l) generating the social media reply post comprising the second selected image and the second user-submitted text; and

m) transmitting the social media reply post for display.

13. A system for selecting an image to accompany text from a user in connection with a social media post, comprising a processor and a tangible storage medium, said tangible storage medium comprising code executable by the processor for performing steps comprising:

a) receiving text and geographic location information from the user;

b) identifying one or more search terms based on the text;

c) identifying candidate images from images in one or more image databases using the search terms and one of the geographic location information and the time/date, where the candidate images comprise a sponsored image;

d) presenting one or more candidate images to the user, where the sponsored image is presented preferentially compared to other candidate images;

e) receiving from the user a selected image from the one or more candidate images and storing information relating to the selected image including one or more of an image identifier, time/date of use, use occurrence, and geographic location of the user;

f) generating the social media post wherein the social media post is of a similar size and of a similar shape as the selected image, and wherein the social media post comprises the text displayed superimposed on the selected image; and

g) transmitting the social media post for display.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the selected image is the sponsored image and further comprising:

h) receiving from a second user a request to reply to the social media post and receiving text from the second user; and

i) presenting one or more candidate images to the second user, where a second sponsored image is presented preferentially compared to another candidate images, and wherein the second sponsored image is linked to a sponsor or campaign associated with the sponsored image.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

j) receiving from the second user a second selected image from the one or more candidate images;

k) generating the social media reply post comprising the second selected image and the second user-submitted text; and

l) transmitting the social media reply post for display.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2025
From: MGG CALIFORNIA LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MEDIALAB OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071225/0865 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2025
From: MEDIALAB OPERATIONS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071212/0046 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2021
From: MEDIALAB OPERATIONS, INC.
To: MGG CALIFORNIA LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058127/0069 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2021
From: CALIFORNIA BANK OF COMMERCE
To: MEDIALAB.AI INC.
Reel/Frame 057613/0865 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2021
From: CORBEL CAPITAL PARTNERS SBIC, L.P.
To: MEDIALAB.AI INC.
Reel/Frame 057614/0005 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2021
From: MEDIALAB.AI INC.
To: MEDIALAB OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 057591/0631 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2021
From: MEDIALAB.AI INC.
To: CORBEL CAPITAL PARTNERS SBIC, L.P.
Reel/Frame 055979/0654 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2021
From: MEDIALAB.AI INC.; WSHH HOLDINGS LLC; AMINO APP, LLC; ML INVESTMENT I LLC; ML INVESTMENT II LLC; ML INVESTMENT III LLC
To: CALIFORNIA BANK OF COMMERCE
Reel/Frame 055744/0992 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2021
From: WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK, AN ARIZONA CORPORATION
To: MEDIALAB.AI INC.
Reel/Frame 055687/0047 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2019
From: MEDIALAB.AI INC.
To: WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK, AN ARIZONA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 051082/0690 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2019
From: WHISPERTEXT EQUITY INVESTMENT LLC
To: MEDIALAB.AI, INC.
Reel/Frame 048935/0570 →
ASSIGNMENT OF PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS THROUGH STATE PUBLIC FORECLOSURE SALE Recorded Jun 6, 2018
From: WHISPERTEXT, INC.
To: WHISPERTEXT EQUITY INVESTMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 046310/0771 →
ASSIGNMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 5, 2018
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: WHISPERTEXT INVESTMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 046302/0453 →
ASSIGNMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 5, 2018
From: WHISPERTEXT INVESTMENT LLC
To: WHISPERTEXT EQUITY INVESTMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 046302/0491 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2017
From: WHISPERTEXT, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 040960/0640 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14508088 · Oct 7, 2014
Continuation In Part 14478037 · Sep 5, 2014
Related Publication 20160148272A1 · May 26, 2016