US 8,276,079 Supplementing user web-browsing
4 defendants · 4 suits · updated October 6, 2026
Also cited as U.S. Patent No. 8,276,079 · US8276079B2 · US 8,276,079 B2 · 8276079 · the '079 patent
Convergence LLC has filed 4 patent-infringement suits on US 8,276,079, "Supplementing user web-browsing" since August 25, 2026, all in the E.D. Tex., against 4 distinct defendants including Interview Street Technologies Private Limited, Kahoot! AS and Kialo GmbH. The patent was granted September 25, 2012 on a priority date of December 21, 2007. Its abstract opens: "An apparatus and method of providing a user with a web-browser supplement is disclosed." The examiner cited 3 references during prosecution.
- Assignee
- Convergence LLC
- Priority date
- December 21, 2007
- Granted
- September 25, 2012
- Expires
- December 21, 2027
- Status
- Active
- Claims
- 19 (2 independent)
- Inventors
- Jonathan Davar, Serge M. Krasnyansky
- Full text
- Google Patents
The suits
4 cases · E.D. Tex. (4)
| Filed | Defendant | Plaintiff | Court | Docket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-25 | Interview Street Technologies Private Limited | Convergence LLC | E.D. Tex. | 2:26-cv-00748 |
| 2026-08-25 | Kahoot! AS | Convergence LLC | E.D. Tex. | 2:26-cv-00749 |
| 2026-08-25 | Kialo GmbH | Convergence LLC | E.D. Tex. | 2:26-cv-00750 |
| 2026-08-25 | Prosus N.V. | Convergence LLC | E.D. Tex. | 2:26-cv-00751 |
Docket links open the public record on CourtListener. Filing dates are the complaint's.
Independent claims
What is actually asserted, verbatim.
1. A method of a computing device providing a user with a web-browser supplement, comprising: obtaining, by the computing device, access to a focal group of a focal group server through a network connection, the focal group comprising at least one member having at least one association with the user, wherein the focal group comprises a restricted group of people who are associated based on activity or topic; obtaining, by the computing device, information associated with the at least one member having relevance to the focal group, wherein the information is ranked by a level of importance, wherein the rank by the level of importance of the information is based on at least one of a member rank on a relevant topic, a level of affinity between the user and each member, a level of expertise of each member, a level of performance of past information provided by each member, a level of proficiency of each member; adaptively updating, by the computing device, the information associated with the at least one member having relevance to the focal group based on web browsing of the user; and supplementing web browsing, by the computing device, of the user by providing information of the members of the focal group, wherein the supplementing the web browsing comprises executing a plug-in loaded on the computing device, wherein the plug in provides overlaying of the ranked information associated with the at least one member on a web page displayed on the computing device that is related to information of the web page, comprising manipulating the information of the web page based on the ranked information.
19. A computing device that provides a web browsing overlay of information of a focal group on a display of the computing device, comprising: an overlay plug in operative to: obtain access to the focal group of a focal group server, the focal group comprising at least one member having at least one association with the user, wherein the focal group comprises a restricted group of people who are associated based on activity or topic; obtain information associated with the at least one member having relevance to the focal group, wherein the information is ranked by a level of importance, wherein the rank by the level of importance of the information is based on at least one of a member rank on a relevant topic, a level of affinity between the user and each member, a level of expertise of each member, a level of performance of past information provided by each member, a level of proficiency of each member; adaptively updating the information associated with the at least one member having relevance to the focal group based on web browsing of the user; and supplement web browsing, by the computing device by providing the information of the members of the focal group, wherein supplementing the web browsing of the user comprises executing a plug-in loaded on the computing device, wherein the plug in provides an overlaying of the ranked information associated with the at least one member on a web page displayed on the computing device that is related to information of the web page, comprising manipulating the information of the web page based on the ranked information.
Art before the examiner
3 references of record, 3 cited by the examiner.
Everything listed here was before the Office and is what a challenge must go beyond. Art the examiner never saw is where an invalidity search starts.
Examiner-cited
- US20070121843A1 — Advertising and incentives over a social network (Ron Atazky)
- US20080022220A1 — Method and System for Controlled Distribution of Information Over a Network (Chris Cheah)
- US20090164641A1 — Media Toolbar and Aggregated/Distributed Media Ecosystem (Yahoo! Inc.)
Classification
- G06F16/95primary — Retrieval from the web
- H04L65/403primary — Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences
- G06F16/24578 — Query processing with adaptation to user needs using ranking
- G06F16/9535 — Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
- G06F16/954 — Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
- G06Q10/40 — Business processes related to social networking or social networking services
- G06Q10/42 — Determination of affinities or common interests between users
- G06Q10/46 — Determination of level of influence of users within social networking services
- G06Q10/48 — Business processes related to social networking or social networking services using social graphs
- H04L67/02 — Protocols based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
- H04L67/63 — Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
Family
- US8276079B2 — B2 (2012)
- US9032302B2 — B2 (2015)
- US11632407B2 — B2 (2023)
- US10165023B2 — B2 (2018)
- US20090164913A1 — A1 (2009)
- US9467487B2 — B2 (2016)
- US12021908B2 — B2 (2024)
- US20230224346A1 — A1 (2023)
- US20130254215A1 — A1 (2013)
- US8479100B2 — B2 (2013)
- US20190081994A1 — A1 (2019)
- US20250365331A1 — A1 (2025)
- US20120311456A1 — A1 (2012)
- US12401703B2 — B2 (2025)
- US20160381096A1 — A1 (2016)
- US20150222676A1 — A1 (2015)
- US10771515B2 — B2 (2020)
- US20200374329A1 — A1 (2020)
- US20240348672A1 — A1 (2024)
Abstract
An apparatus and method of providing a user with a web-browser supplement is disclosed. One method includes providing access to a focal group, wherein the focal group includes at least one member having at least one association with the user. Access is provided to information associated with the at least one member having relevance to the focal group. Web browsing by the user is supplemented by the information of the members of the focal group.
Named in one of these suits? A prior-art search is commissioned once and serves every defendant who shares it. The examiner's own search record is free on the tools page, and your first preliminary search is free — one claim, back within 24 hours — so you know whether there is art the Office never saw before anyone pays for more. Flat fees: $2,500$899 for the independent claims, $5,000$1,500 for every asserted claim.
This page is assembled from public records — federal court dockets and the patent's own file — and is updated as the case list changes. It states what the record shows and is not an opinion on the validity or infringement of any claim. Patent data via Google Patents; docket data via CourtListener.