Patents by Inventor Gerald G. Tomkins

Gerald G. Tomkins 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).

  • Publication number: 20180240168
    Abstract: A method, system, and/or computer program product utilize a server system to receive a product buyer data set that includes (i) information indicative of a plurality of previous-buyer individuals who have purchased a product, and (ii) current location information respectively associated with devices operated by the plurality of previous-buyer individuals. The server system receives an indication that a first device of a shopper has been located within a location in a store where the product is being offered for sale for a time. In response to the indication, the server system determines that a second device of a previous-buyer individual is within a second threshold vicinity of the first device such that the previous-buyer individual is within the second threshold vicinity of the shopper. In response to the determination, the server system then connects in communication the first device and the second device in an instant messaging chat session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: CORVILLE O. ALLEN, RICHARD G. BOWERS, LISA M. W. BRADLEY, HENRI F. MELI, GERALD G. TOMKINS
  • Patent number: 10043203
    Abstract: Electronic sensors co-locate two subject-related persons. A first positioning system on a first communication device determines a first location of a first person within a physical retail store at which a particular type of product is displayed. The first communication device receives a message from a second communication device describing a second location of a second person, who has been predetermined to have used the particular type of product that is displayed at the first location. The first communication device transmits a message to the second communication device requesting that the second person meet the first person at the first location to discuss products being displayed at the first location. The first communication device receives a responsive message indicating an agreement from the second person to meet the first person at the first location, and then transmits, to the second communication device, navigational directions from the second location to the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Corville O. Allen, Richard G. Bowers, Lisa M. W. Bradley, Henri F. Meli, Gerald G. Tomkins
  • Patent number: 9791942
    Abstract: In dynamically adjusting a keyboard mapping, a collaborative session in which a participant device is involved is detected. A conversation between participants during the collaborative session is captured, and topics being discussed during the conversation are identified using textual analysis. The topics are compared with a plurality of rules, each of which associates a topic with a keyboard mapping. From the rule that has a topic matching the identified topics, the keyboard mapping associated with the topic is obtained. The keyboard is then displayed using the keyboard mapping on the participant device. In determining the rule with the matching topic, a history of rules applied in prior collaborative session where the same or similar topics were discussed, or a profile of a participant, is considered. In this manner, keyboard mappings are dynamically adjusted, allowing for easier access to relevant keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Corville O. Allen, Richard G. Bowers, Lisa M. Bradley, Henri F. Meli, Gerald G. Tomkins
  • Publication number: 20160291701
    Abstract: In dynamically adjusting a keyboard mapping, a collaborative session in which a participant device is involved is detected. A conversation between participants during the collaborative session is captured, and topics being discussed during the conversation are identified using textual analysis. The topics are compared with a plurality of rules, each of which associates a topic with a keyboard mapping. From the rule that has a topic matching the identified topics, the keyboard mapping associated with the topic is obtained. The keyboard is then displayed using the keyboard mapping on the participant device. In determining the rule with the matching topic, a history of rules applied in prior collaborative session where the same or similar topics were discussed, or a profile of a participant, is considered. In this manner, keyboard mappings are dynamically adjusted, allowing for easier access to relevant keys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Corville O. ALLEN, Richard G. BOWERS, Lisa M. BRADLEY, Henri F. MELI, Gerald G. TOMKINS
  • Publication number: 20160260144
    Abstract: Electronic sensors co-locate two subject-related persons. A first positioning system on a first communication device determines a first location of a first person within a physical retail store at which a particular type of product is displayed. The first communication device receives a message from a second communication device describing a second location of a second person, who has been predetermined to have used the particular type of product that is displayed at the first location. The first communication device transmits a message to the second communication device requesting that the second person meet the first person at the first location to discuss products being displayed at the first location. The first communication device receives a responsive message indicating an agreement from the second person to meet the first person at the first location, and then transmits, to the second communication device, navigational directions from the second location to the first location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: CORVILLE O. ALLEN, RICHARD G. BOWERS, LISA M. W. BRADLEY, HENRI F. MELI, GERALD G. TOMKINS
  • Patent number: 9409464
    Abstract: A method, system or computer usable program product for dynamically changing transparency of portions of a vehicle transparent material including determining a location of a bright light with respect to a vehicle; determining a driver location within the vehicle; selectively changing a transparency of a selected portion of the vehicle transparent material to obscure the bright light from the driver's eyes, while allowing a majority of the vehicle transparent material to remain normally transparent; and repeating the above steps continually to adjust a location of the selected portion of the vehicle transparent material as the vehicle changes orientation with respect to the bright light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Tomkins, Corville O. Allen, Joel Duquene, Henri F. Meli, Gerald G. Tomkins
  • Publication number: 20140320946
    Abstract: A method, system or computer usable program product for dynamically changing transparency of portions of a vehicle transparent material including determining a location of a bright light with respect to a vehicle; determining a driver location within the vehicle; selectively changing a transparency of a selected portion of the vehicle transparent material to obscure the bright light from the driver's eyes, while allowing a majority of the vehicle transparent material to remain normally transparent; and repeating the above steps continually to adjust a location of the selected portion of the vehicle transparent material as the vehicle changes orientation with respect to the bright light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. Tomkins, Corville O. Allen, Joel Duquene, Henri F. Meli, Gerald G. Tomkins