Patents by Inventor Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara

Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara 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: 9751416
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating an energy transaction plan to manage an electric vehicle charging transaction. The energy transaction planner identifies an electric vehicle associated with a charging station and a set of principals associated with a charging transaction for the electric vehicle. The charging transaction is a transaction associated with at least one of charging the electric vehicle, storing electric power in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and de-charging the electric vehicle. The energy transaction planner receives charging transaction information. The charging transaction information comprises requirements, constraints, and preferences applicable to the charging transaction. The energy transaction planner generates an energy transaction plan based on the charging transaction information. The energy transaction plan comprises terms for governing all aspects of the charging transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Hafner, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Patent number: 8531162
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product is provided for managing network based preferences associated with charging transactions for electric vehicles. The network based energy preference service receives an identification of a principal associated with a first computing device using a network connection. The network based energy preference service receives a selection of preferences from the principal associated with the first computing device over the network connection to form a set of preferences for the principal. In response to receiving a request for a subset of preferences from the set of preferences for the principal from a preference requesting service, the network based energy preference service retrieves the subset of preferences from the set of preferences by the network based energy preference service and sends the subset of preferences to the preference requesting service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Hafner, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Patent number: 8498763
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for managing user preferences associated with charging transactions for electric vehicles. In one embodiment, a set of principals associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle is identified in response to receiving a request for a set of preferences from an energy transaction planner. The vehicle preference service is located on the electric vehicle. The set of preferences are retrieved from a plurality of preferences. The set of preferences comprises a subset of preferences for each principal in the set of principals. A preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized. The set of preferences are sent to an energy transaction planner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Hafner, Colin George Harrison, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Patent number: 8266075
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments manage an electric vehicle charging transaction. A set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction is identified. Electric vehicle charging information is retrieved from a set of sources. An energy transaction plan is generated using the electric vehicle charging information. A charging phase of the electric vehicle charging transaction is initiated for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station in accordance with the energy transaction plan. The charging phase comprises at least one of charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and removing electricity from the electric storage mechanism to de-charge the electric vehicle. In response to completion of the charging phase, the process then settles the financial obligations of a subset of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Ambrosio, Erica Haefner Ferro, James Lee Hafner, Colin George Harrison, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Allan James Schurr, Mark William Trekell, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20120221160
    Abstract: A computer manages network based preferences associated with charging transactions for electric vehicles. A network based energy preference service receives a request for a set of preferences for an identified principal having an interest in the charging transaction and associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle from a preference requesting service over a network connection. The charging transaction is a transaction associated with at least one of charging the electric vehicle, storing electric power in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and de-charging the electric vehicle. The network based energy preference service retrieves the set of preferences from a data storage device associated with the preference service. A preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized. A vehicle transaction planner sends the set of preferences to the preference requesting service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Hafner, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20120191524
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a computer manages an electric vehicle charging transaction. A set of principals is identified associated with the charging transaction for an electric vehicle. A principal is an entity having an interest in the charging transaction. Electric vehicle charging information is retrieved from a set of sources. An energy transaction plan is generated during a pre-charge phase using the electric vehicle charging information and based on preferences of one or more principals to govern the charging transaction. The computer initiates a charging phase of the charging transaction for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station according to the energy transaction plan. The charging phase comprises charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in the electric vehicle, and removing electricity to de-charge the electric vehicle. The computer settles financial obligations among principals according to the energy transaction plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Ambrosio, Erica Haefner Ferro, James Lee Hafner, Colin George Harrison, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Allan James Schurr, Mark William Trekell, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Patent number: 7991665
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for automatically managing incentives associated with an electric vehicle charging transaction is provided. Incentives are received from a set of sources to form received incentives, by an incentive service. Applicable incentives are selected from the received incentives based on an identification of an electric vehicle, a charging station, and a set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction, by the incentive service. A set of selected incentives is identified from the received incentives for utilization in the electric vehicle charging transaction. The set of selected incentives is sent to an energy transaction planner, wherein the energy transaction planner incorporates the set of selected incentives into an energy transaction plan that is used to control the electric vehicle charging transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Hafner, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20090313174
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for approving energy transaction plans for managing electric vehicle charging transactions. In one embodiment, an energy transaction plan and an identification of a set of principals associated with the energy transaction plan are received from an energy transaction planner. In response to a determination that the energy transaction plan is pre-approved by the set of principals, an energy transaction plan approval service sends a notification to the energy transaction planner indicating that the energy transaction plan is approved to form an approved energy transaction plan. In response to a determination that the energy transaction plan requires express approval from a subset of principals in the set of principals, the transaction plan approval service sends a request for approval of the energy transaction plan to each principal in the subset of principals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Hafner, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20090313098
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product is provided for managing network based preferences associated with charging transactions for electric vehicles. The network based energy preference service receives an identification of a principal associated with a first computing device using a network connection. The network based energy preference service receives a selection of preferences from the principal associated with the first computing device over the network connection to form a set of preferences for the principal. In response to receiving a request for a subset of preferences from the set of preferences for the principal from a preference requesting service, the network based energy preference service retrieves the subset of preferences from the set of preferences by the network based energy preference service and sends the subset of preferences to the preference requesting service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Hafner, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20090313032
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for managing user preferences on remote computing device for utilization in electric vehicle charging transactions is provided. In one embodiment, in response to a determination that a set of preferences for an identified principal are available on a removable data storage device, a first preference service retrieves the set of preferences from the removable data storage device. In response to a determination that the set of preferences are stored on a second computing device associated with a second preference service, the first preference service sends a request for the set of preferences to the second preference service. The first preference service receives the set of preferences from the second preference service and sends the set of preferences to the energy transaction planner. The first preference service is a proxy for the energy transaction planner and the second preference service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Hafner, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20090313103
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing an electric vehicle charging transaction. A set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction is identified. Electric vehicle charging information is retrieved from a set of sources. An energy transaction plan is generated using the electric vehicle charging information. A charging phase of the electric vehicle charging transaction is initiated for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station in accordance with the energy transaction plan. The charging phase comprises at least one of charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and removing electricity from the electric storage mechanism to de-charge the electric vehicle. In response to completion of the charging phase, the process then settles the financial obligations of a subset of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Ambrosio, Erica Haefner Ferro, James Lee Hafner, Colin George Harrison, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Allan James Schurr, Mark William Trekell, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20090312903
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for managing user preferences associated with charging transactions for electric vehicles. In one embodiment, a set of principals associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle is identified in response to receiving a request for a set of preferences from an energy transaction planner. The vehicle preference service is located on the electric vehicle. The set of preferences are retrieved from a plurality of preferences. The set of preferences comprises a subset of preferences for each principal in the set of principals. A preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized. The set of preferences are sent to an energy transaction planner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Hafner, Colin George Harrison, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20090313033
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating an energy transaction plan to manage an electric vehicle charging transaction. The energy transaction planner identifies an electric vehicle associated with a charging station and a set of principals associated with a charging transaction for the electric vehicle. The charging transaction is a transaction associated with at least one of charging the electric vehicle, storing electric power in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and de-charging the electric vehicle. The energy transaction planner receives charging transaction information. The charging transaction information comprises requirements, constraints, and preferences applicable to the charging transaction. The energy transaction planner generates an energy transaction plan based on the charging transaction information. The energy transaction plan comprises terms for governing all aspects of the charging transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Hafner, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20090313034
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating a dynamic energy transaction plan to manage an electric vehicle charging transaction. The dynamic energy transaction planner generates a dynamic energy transaction plan based on the charging transaction information. The dynamic energy transaction plan comprises a first set of terms of the charging transaction. An initial portion of the charging transaction is controlled according to the first set of terms of the dynamic energy transaction plan. The dynamic energy transaction planner receives updated charging transaction information during execution of the charging transaction; and updates the dynamic energy transaction plan based on the updated charging transaction information to form an updated dynamic energy transaction plan. The updated dynamic energy transaction plan comprises a second set of terms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Erica Haefner Ferro, James Lee Hafner, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20090313104
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for automatically managing incentives associated with an electric vehicle charging transaction is provided. Incentives are received from a set of sources to form received incentives, by an incentive service. Applicable incentives are selected from the received incentives based on an identification of an electric vehicle, a charging station, and a set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction, by the incentive service. A set of selected incentives is identified from the received incentives for utilization in the electric vehicle charging transaction. The set of selected incentives is sent to an energy transaction planner, wherein the energy transaction planner incorporates the set of selected incentives into an energy transaction plan that is used to control the electric vehicle charging transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Hafner, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Paul Stuart Williamson