Patents by Inventor Keith Raymond Walker

Keith Raymond Walker 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).

  • Patent number: 8121073
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for enabling the transmission of data from a mobile device to a target device via one or more carrier mobile devices, in a communication network. A proxy mobile carrier (PMC) utility facilitates transmission of data from the originating mobile device to a target device in a network which is inaccessible to the originating mobile device. The PMC utility employs a collection of enhanced transmission enabling components (ETECs) to enable the data transfer via one or more carrier mobile devices. The ETECs include a message creation component, a network zone identification component, a future forwarding zone prediction component, a message acceptor component, a storage component, an inter-node communication component, and a message delivery component. By initiating specific interactions between the ETECs, the PMC utility facilitates the transmission of data from the mobile device to the target device via carrier mobiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ann Corrao, Gregg William Machovec, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Brian James Snitzer, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 8111974
    Abstract: Enabling complete viewing of selected programming content is provided. In response to receiving an input data stream from a programming service provider, the input data stream is stored in a supplemental storage. In response to a user selecting a programming channel after a program starts to air, the input data stream is stored in a programming storage. Then, the stored data stream is outputted from the supplemental storage to a viewing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Prakash Bansal, Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Brian Marshall O'Connell, James Wesley Seaman, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 8086478
    Abstract: The present invention enables a user to schedule meetings and detect scheduling conflicts. A system user such as an employee schedules a meeting. The time and date of the meeting is stored in an account for that user. When the same user schedules another meeting, that meeting is detected and compared with any previously and scheduled and stored meetings for that user. If there is a conflict between the presently scheduled meeting and any previously scheduled meeting, then the present invention alerts the user and gives the user the opportunity to select the new meeting for that time or to retain the currently scheduled meeting. The present invention can also store and track the unscheduled meetings. In the event the scheduled meeting is postponed or canceled, the user can be notified and given the opportunity to schedule and attend a previously declined meeting that was scheduled for that same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Fu Chen, Fabian F. Morgan, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Publication number: 20110289429
    Abstract: Previously conducted conversations in real-time collaboration messages are persistently stored, either by client or a server, and then are associated with conversational items presented to a user (e.g. contact names, topics, etc.). An icon is provided near each listed item, which when selected, displays to the user summaries or titles of all transcripts to which the selected item pertains or relates. The user may select one or more summaries or titles for which the conversation is to be resumed, causing the system to retrieve the stored transcript and resume appending new conversational entries to it, so that the user recovers conversational context effortlessly and accurately. Enhanced versions of the invention include sharing of transcripts so that all participants receive the context of the conversation, and server-side or client-side implementations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Edmond Berry, Yen-Fu Chen, John Hans Handy-Bosma, Peter Y. Hsu, Mei Y. Selvage, Alan R. Tannenbaum, Anthony Christopher Courtney Temple, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Publication number: 20110279461
    Abstract: The present invention provides a computer implemented method and apparatus to project a projected avatar associated with an avatar in a virtual universe. A computer receives a command to project the avatar, the command having a projection point. The computer transmits a request to place a projected avatar at the projection point to a virtual universe host. The computer renders a tab associated with the projected avatar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 8041024
    Abstract: A system for broadcasting a notification. In response to receiving a new telephone number for a communication device from a service provider, a telephone number change notification is automatically broadcast to a plurality of contact telephone numbers within a contact list. Each of the plurality of contact telephone numbers within the contact list is tracked to determine whether each of the plurality of contact telephone numbers received the telephone number change notification. In response to a contact telephone number within the plurality of contact telephone numbers not receiving the telephone number change notification, a configurable indicator is displayed in a display when a user inputs the contact telephone number into the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Fu Chen, Fabian F. Morgan, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 8023964
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, a data processing system and a computer program product for a predictive mobile phone service disruption service. In one illustrative embodiment, the computer implemented method comprises monitoring a cellular call of a caller, calculating a location and vector of the caller, and determining whether the caller is approaching a drop zone. The computer implemented method responsive to determining the caller is approaching a drop zone, estimates a duration of a loss of service, and responsive to determining the caller is approaching a drop zone, selectively notifying the caller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martinianus BudiTjahja Hadinata, Charles Steven Lingafelt, John Elbert Moore, Jr., Brian Marshall O'Connell, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 8019797
    Abstract: A migration tool for merging disparate virtual universes by selecting a source region or source account, selecting a destination edge or destination account, retrieving and storing virtual universe information for the source region or account, inserting the virtual universe resources of the source region or account into the destination region or account, activating the inserted resources, and deleting the source resources from the source region or account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Steven Mark Harrison, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 8014752
    Abstract: Automatic utilization of cellular telephone device is achieved by a controller and a short-range wireless communicator mounted on a vehicle, the short-range wireless communicator having a peer-to-peer communications capability; responsive to an emergency notification message, pinging by the short-range wireless communicator a long-range communication device contemporaneously within range of the peer-to-peer communications capability, the long-range communication device being physically detached from the vehicle; subsequent to the pinging, receiving a response message indicating that user authorization is required; responsive to the response message, sending by the short-range wireless communicator to the long-range communication device a request for authorization message; subsequent to a user responding in an affirmative manner to the authorization request, receiving an authorization message to co-opt the long-range communication device; and responsive to the authorization, sending an emergency notification m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Fu Chen, John Hans Handy-Bosma, Fabian F Morgan, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 8014512
    Abstract: A system for providing caller interaction within a queue. In response to receiving a call, it is determined whether a wait time exists before a caller is connected to a customer service representative. In response to determining that the wait time exists, it is determined whether the caller is interested in an interaction. In response to determining that the caller is interested in the interaction, a profile associated with the caller is loaded. In response to detecting a connection with an interactive system, interactive options are loaded from the interactive system and presented to the caller based on the profile. In response to receiving a selection from the interactive options, it is determined whether the selection includes a group interaction. In response to determining that the selection includes the group interaction, the group interaction is loaded based on the profile. Then, the caller is entered into the group interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Fu Chen, Fabian F. Morgan, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 8000458
    Abstract: A system for automatically verifying an incoming telephone number. In response to detecting an incoming communication, a determination is made as to whether a telephone number associated with the incoming communication matches one of a plurality of telephone numbers in a storage unit. In response to determining that the telephone number associated with the incoming communication does not match one of the plurality of telephone numbers in the storage unit, telephone number verification rules are applied to determine whether to continue with the incoming communication. In response to a determination not to continue with the incoming communication based on the telephone number verification rules, an alert is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Fu Chen, Fabian F. Morgan, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 8001126
    Abstract: Previously conducted conversations in real-time collaboration messages are persistently stored, either by client or a server, and then are associated with conversational items presented to a user (e.g. contact names, topics, etc.). An icon is provided near each listed item, which when selected, displays to the user summaries or titles of all transcripts to which the selected item pertains or relates. The user may select one or more summaries or titles for which the conversation is to be resumed, causing the system to retrieve the stored transcript and resume appending new conversational entries to it, so that the user recovers conversational context effortlessly and accurately. Enhanced versions of the invention include sharing of transcripts so that all participants receive the context of the conversation, and server-side or client-side implementations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Edmond Berry, Yen-Fu Chen, John Hans Handy-Bosma, Peter Y. Hsu, Mei Y Selvage, Alan R. Tannenbaum, Anthony Christopher Courtney Temple, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 8001161
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the process obtains avatar tracking data that identifies a location of an avatar in relation to a range of an object. The range includes a viewable field. In response to the location of the avatar being within the range of the object, the process queries a data structure storing cloning data for a record of a clone of the object. Thereafter, the process instantiates the clone of the object in response to the presence of the record of the clone of the object in the data structure. The process then invokes a set of object methods associated with the record of the clone in the data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter George Finn, Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 7990387
    Abstract: The present invention provides a computer implemented method and apparatus to project a projected avatar associated with an avatar in a virtual universe. A computer receives a command to project the avatar, the command having a projection point. The computer transmits a request to place a projected avatar at the projection point to a virtual universe host. The computer renders a tab associated with the projected avatar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Publication number: 20110179396
    Abstract: Software reuse utilizing naive group annotation of incomplete software descriptions. A software code is decimated whereby the software code's attributes, such as variable, class and method names are obfuscated into non-informative forms. The decimated software code is then presented to two or more participants that include at least one naive and one informed participant. The naive participant(s) poses a predetermined number of question(s) to and receive answer(s) from the informed participant(s). After receiving the answer(s) posed to the informed participant(s), the naive participant(s) proceeds to guess the function of the presented decimated software code. The annotations, i.e., questions and answers, to the decimated software code under review are collected and stored in a database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, II, James Robert Kozloski, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 7962506
    Abstract: A system in which an initial distribution list is dynamically modified using criteria determined from the current entries in the list. After an originator generates a distribution list and prior to submission of the message to entries on the generated list, the entries in the created distribution list are examined. From this list, features of the entries are identified. From these features, criteria are generated that can be used to generate additional entries that may be included in the list. In one approach, the generated criteria are presented to the user for review and approval. If the originator approves the criteria, the generated list is modified to add additional entries to the distribution based on the generated criteria. If the originator rejects the criteria, the initially generated list is submitted and the message is sent to the entries on the initial list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, Jenny S. Li, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Keith Raymond Walker, Susan Marie Williams
  • Patent number: 7953519
    Abstract: A monitoring method and system. The method includes monitoring by a monitoring apparatus, a power configuration for electrical devices and a status for power supplier entities. The monitoring apparatus re-balances a power usage for the electrical devices. The monitoring apparatus generates a first report indicating current loads associated with the electrical devices. The monitoring apparatus transmits the first report to the power supplier entities. The monitoring apparatus generates a group of reports indicating power consumption associated with the power supplier entities. The monitoring apparatus transmits each report of the group of reports to an associated power supplier entity of the power supplier entities. The monitoring apparatus generates a second report indicating updated power consumption associated with the power supplier entities. The monitoring apparatus stores the second report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Julianne Frances Haugh, James Robert Kozloski, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Publication number: 20110113018
    Abstract: A migration tool for merging disparate virtual universes by selecting a source region or source account, selecting a destination edge or destination account, retrieving and storing virtual universe information for the source region or account, inserting the virtual universe resources of the source region or account into the destination region or account, activating the inserted resources, and deleting the source resources from the source region or account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Steven Mark Harrison, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 7921128
    Abstract: A migration tool for merging disparate virtual universes by selecting a source region or source account, selecting a destination edge or destination account, retrieving and storing virtual universe information for the source region or account, inserting the virtual universe resources of the source region or account into the destination region or account, activating the inserted resources, and deleting the source resources from the source region or account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Steven Mark Harrison, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Publication number: 20110055344
    Abstract: A system in which an initial distribution list is dynamically modified using criteria determined from the current entries in the list. After an originator generates a distribution list and prior to submission of the message to entries on the generated list, the entries in the created distribution list are examined. From this list, features of the entries are identified. From these features, criteria are generated that can be used to generate additional entries that may be included in the list. In one approach, the generated criteria are presented to the user for review and approval. If the originator approves the criteria, the generated list is modified to add additional entries to the distribution based on the generated criteria. If the originator rejects the criteria, the initially generated list is submitted and the message is sent to the entries on the initial list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, Jenny S. Li, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Keith Raymond Walker, Susan Marie Williams