Patents by Inventor Clifford Jay Spinac
Clifford Jay Spinac has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8929548Abstract: An apparatus and method for establishing a communication connection between a first party and a second party using a secured communication connection object are provided. With the apparatus and method, a first party generates the secured communication connection object by setting parameters identifying and limiting the use of the secured communication connection object for establishing communication connections with the first party. These parameters are encapsulated with contact information for the first party such that the contact information is encrypted. The resulting secured communication connection object is then transmitted to a second party's communication device.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2008Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Herman Rodriguez, Newton James Smith, Jr., Clifford Jay Spinac
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Patent number: 8645241Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for processing and clearing a check are disclosed. Embodiments include hardware and/or software for generating an e-check in response to receipt of a paper check, by which a merchant performs the manual data entry for the merchant, the merchant's bank, the Federal Reserve Bank, and the purchaser's bank clearing procedures. The paper check is electronically scanned at the point of sale (POS) terminal to create a check object (the ‘e-check’) that contains the binary data of the check information, a scanned image of the paper check, and identification data from the purchaser. Then, the check object is submitted to the check writer's, or purchaser's bank, for automated clearing without having to process the physical document any further.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2003Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holding CorporationInventors: Herman Rodriguez, Newton James Smith, Clifford Jay Spinac
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Patent number: 8364306Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable code for shredding objects. The apparatus has a number of components including a receptacle that is configured to receive objects. A shredding unit is connected to the receptacle, wherein the shredding unit selectively destroys the objects placed into the receptacle. An object detector is used to detect the presence of an object in the receptacle. An object identifier identifies objects placed into the receptacle. The apparatus also has a memory and a connector. The connector is used to establish a communications link with a data processing system. A controller in the apparatus stores identifications of objects identified by the object identifier in the memory and sends a signal to the shredding unit to control shredding of the objects.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2007Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Herman Rodriguez, Newton James Smith, Clifford Jay Spinac
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Patent number: 8364826Abstract: Illustrative embodiments present a computer-implemented method for programmatic message forwarding. The computer-implemented method initiates a messaging session on a primary device and identifies device priority preferences for a set of secondary devices. The computer-implemented method further monitors for a presence of the mobile device, wherein the presence of the mobile device is indicated as a heartbeat, and responsive to a determination of the absence of the heartbeat is detected, identifies one of the set of secondary devices as a target device, and responsive to locating the target device, forwards a message to the target device.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2009Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Glen Edmond Chalemin, Indran Naick, Clifford Jay Spinac, Calvin Lui Sze
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Patent number: 8229593Abstract: A computer implemented method for object destruction. An object is detected in a receptacle and identified. Based on the type of object identified, the object may be destroyed in a shredder and a confirmation of the destruction of the object is recorded for reference. The object may also be directed to a secure bin where it will not be destroyed.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2005Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Herman Rodriguez, Newton James Smith, Clifford Jay Spinac
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Patent number: 8204757Abstract: Creating a dynamic food order for a traveler is provided. A food order is received from the traveler. A determination is made as to whether a real-time itinerary for the traveler has changed. In response to a change in the real-time itinerary, the food order is adjusted based on the real-time itinerary and preferences stored in the traveler's profile to form an adjusted food order.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2006Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Pierre Carlson, Linda Arnold Lisle, Newton James Smith, Jr., Clifford Jay Spinac
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Patent number: 8106881Abstract: A method by which a user may move windows from one location to another on a screen of a portable computing device is provided. In accordance with the method, when the device is in window manipulation mode, the user needs only tilt the device toward a destination location and the windows are moved toward that location. Tilt detectors in the device sense an angle of tilt and provide the tilt angle as feedback to a processor. The processor, under proper software instructions, moves the windows toward the destination location on the screen based on the tilt angle. The greater the tilt angle, the faster the windows are moved toward the destination location.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2007Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Glen Edmond Chalemin, Indran Naick, Clifford Jay Spinac, Calvin Lui Sze
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Patent number: 8086498Abstract: Embodiments include hardware and/or software for receiving an electronic receipt from a merchant that describes a transaction for a product by a purchaser and gathering product information from one or more sources such as the merchant, the product's manufacturer, the purchaser's bank, and/or an accessories dealer. Upon gathering the product information, the product information is associated with the transaction for the product on the electronic receipt and packaged in a standard, electronic format, an aggregated package, that is accessible and manageable by the purchaser's software, such as a personal finance manager (PFM) like Quicken™, Quickbooks™, Microsoft Money™, or the like. The aggregated package can then be sent to the purchaser via an email address supplied by the purchaser at the time of the purchaser or by the purchaser's bank while completing a funds transfer for the transaction.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2008Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Herman Rodriguez, Newton James Smith, Clifford Jay Spinac
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Patent number: 8019062Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for altering an administrator of a multi-way call during the multi-way call connection and transferring the associated charges from one administrator to another. After a multi-way call connection is established from the originating party to many participating parties, the originating party may be given an opportunity to shift an administrator role to one of the participating parties. The participating party designated to be a new administrator may accept or refuse the request from the originating party. Once the participating party accepts the new administrator role, the subsequent charges may be transferred to the participating party and the originating party may be able to continue in or to drop out from the multi-way call without further responsibility of charges.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Herman Rodriguez, Newton James Smith, Jr., Clifford Jay Spinac
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Patent number: 7883029Abstract: An irrigation system includes a radio transmitter station that transmits weather prediction information to a geographic region that includes multiple geographic sub-regions. The weather prediction information includes a respective geographic sub-region code for each of the geographic sub-regions for which a weather forecast predicts rain within a predetermined time period. An irrigation apparatus in a particular sub-region activates to water a watering zone at a schedule time. However, if the irrigation apparatus receives the sub-region code for the particular sub-region where the irrigation apparatus is located, the irrigation apparatus does not immediately activate to water the watering zone in one embodiment. The transmitter station may transmit both program content and data content on a common radio frequency signal wherein the data content includes the weather prediction information.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2007Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Glen Edmond Chalemin, Indran Naick, Clifford Jay Spinac, Calvin Lui Sze
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Patent number: 7856663Abstract: A method, system, and program for security screening of electronic devices by device identifier are provided. A security scanning system detects an identifier from an electronic device. The identifier may be a radio frequency identifier or other type of identifier which is preferably detectable by the security scanning system regardless of the operating status of the electronic device. The security scanning system queries a database with the identifier for information about the electronic device. Responsive to receiving the information about the electronic device from the central database, at least one real-time scanned characteristic of the electronic device is compared with this information. The information includes characteristics of the components of the electronic device and an x-ray overlay of the electronic device. If the real-time scanned characteristics and the information match, then electronic device is designated as secure.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2007Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Herman Rodriguez, Newton James Smith, Jr., Clifford Jay Spinac
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Patent number: 7831481Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for aggregating and processing product information are disclosed. Embodiments include hardware and/or software for receiving an electronic receipt from a merchant that describes a transaction for a product by a purchaser and gathering product information from one or more sources such as the merchant, the product's manufacturer, the purchaser's bank, and/or an accessories dealer. Upon gathering the product information, the product information is associated with the transaction for the product on the electronic receipt and packaged in a standard, electronic format, an aggregated package, that is accessible and manageable by the purchaser's software, such as a personal finance manager (PFM) like Quicken™, Quickbooks™, Microsoft Money™, or the like. The aggregated package can then be sent to the purchaser via an email address supplied by the purchaser at the time of the purchaser or by the purchaser's bank while completing a funds transfer for the transaction.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2006Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Herman Rodriguez, Newton James Smith, Clifford Jay Spinac
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Patent number: 7769611Abstract: A system and method for automatically performing actions in response to a user making travel arrangements. Delivery services, such as postal and parcel services, are instructed to take certain actions while the user is traveling. For example, the delivery can be instructed to hold packages for pickup by the user, deliver the packages to the user when the user returns, or forward the packages to another location. In addition, a system and method for notifying a company mailroom with travel instructions is included. An electronic calendar is automatically updated with information related to the user's travel plans. Other users with access to the calendar can view the user's travel agenda. The user can gather travel specific details from the calendar for use in traveling, for example the flight and hotel information, is readily available. The user's telephone can also be configured as preferred by the user.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2000Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Herman Rodriguez, Newton James Smith, Jr., Clifford Jay Spinac
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Publication number: 20100174786Abstract: Illustrative embodiments present a computer-implemented method for programmatic message forwarding. The computer-implemented method initiates a messaging session on a primary device and identifies device priority preferences for a set of secondary devices. The computer-implemented method further monitors for a presence of the mobile device, wherein the presence of the mobile device is indicated as a heartbeat, and responsive to a determination of the absence of the heartbeat is detected, identifies one of the set of secondary devices as a target device, and responsive to locating the target device, forwards a message to the target device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Glen Edmond Chalemin, Indran Naick, Clifford Jay Spinac, Calvin Lui Sze
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Patent number: 7698597Abstract: A computer implemented method, computer program product, and computer usable program code for preventing execution of program components having errors. First, a software application is executed. The software application interacts with a number of programs. Next, an error message is received. The error message indicates an error has occurred in a first program within the number of programs. The first program is then isolated such that the first program no longer interacts with the software application.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2006Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Alfredo V. Mendoza, Stephen Bailey Peckham, Clifford Jay Spinac, Tiffany Lynn Winman
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Patent number: 7593990Abstract: A method for sending a message containing a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to a customer. The method includes recording in a customer's telephone system a destination address of the communications terminal, selecting at least one URL to be sent to the communications terminal during a telephone call, obtaining the destination address, generating a message containing the URLs, and sending the message from a telephone system of the merchant or sender to the destination address of the customer's communications terminal. The message may also contain additional items, including for example, electronic coupons, an on-line trial subscription, a user ID, a user password, advertisements, sender information, or combinations thereof, wherein the user ID and user password are required by the Website having the address of the URLs. The method may further include recording the at least one URL into the bookmark section of the browser in the communications terminal.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2002Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Maria Azua Himmel, Herman Rodriguez, Newton James Smith, Jr., Clifford Jay Spinac
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Patent number: 7574608Abstract: A device scanner system at a security checkpoint queries a powered on electronic device for device-reported data via a network connection. The device-reported data includes the operational status of at least one component of the electronic device, a configuration of the electronic device, and a current ownership of the electronic device. Responsive to receiving the device-reported data, the device scanner system retrieves expected data for the electronic device. The device scanner system assigns a security level to the electronic device indicating whether the device-reported data matches the expected data, such that the electronic device is screened based on data reported by the powered on electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2004Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Herman Rodriguez, Newton James Smith, Jr., Clifford Jay Spinac
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Patent number: 7541548Abstract: In one embodiment, this invention utilizes radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with nutrition information for each kind of food in a restaurant, institutional cafeteria, in food delivery to hospital patients, in hospice, in old age home residents or elsewhere. The food plate is placed on a coaster with an RFID reader and miniature built-in scale. The scale is used to measure the weight of a particular food placed on the plate. In addition, the RFID reader reads the nutritional information from an RFID tag in the serving bin of the cafeteria or the food distribution point. With the nutritional information of each food and the amount of the food that is added to the plate, the nutritional intake of a customer or patient can be calculated. With this the nutrition information now available, the nutritional information, including the amount of vitamins, calories, sugars, carbohydrates, and grams (g) of fat, can be obtained and tracked.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2008Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Calvin Lui Sze, Clifford Jay Spinac, Glen Edmond Chalemin, Indran Naick
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Patent number: 7543223Abstract: A method, program and apparatus for providing access to alternate images in an electronic document are provided. The present invention comprises identifying an initial image to be displayed in an electronic document (typically a web page) and then determining if alternate versions of the image are available for display. If alternate versions of the image are available, they are provided within the same electronic document. The alternate images differ from the initial image in size and resolution, allowing users with visual impairments to access larger, higher resolution images. The user accesses the alternate images by means of a selector displayed within the electronic document. When selected, the alternate image replaces the initial image in the electronic document, and the document is reformatted.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2001Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Herman Rodriquez, Newton James Smith, Jr., Clifford Jay Spinac
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Publication number: 20090119616Abstract: A method by which a user may move windows from one location to another on a screen of a portable computing device is provided. In accordance with the method, when the device is in window manipulation mode, the user needs only tilt the device toward a destination location and the windows are moved toward that location Tilt detectors in the device sense an angle of tilt and provide the tilt angle as feedback to a processor. The processor, under proper software instructions, moves the windows toward the destination location on the screen based on the tilt angle. The greater the tilt angle, the faster the windows are moved toward the destination location.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2007Publication date: May 7, 2009Inventors: Glen Edmond Chalemin, Indran Naick, Clifford Jay Spinac, Calvin Lui Sze