Patents by Inventor Michael R. O'Brien

Michael R. O'Brien 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: 11919993
    Abstract: Polyester polyols for use in low-VOC polyurethane compositions are disclosed. The polyester polyols are the reaction product of at least one aliphatic polycarboxylic acid, at least one alkoxylated polyalcohol having a functionality of 2.0 or greater, and one or more polyalcohols other than an alkoxylated polyalcohol. The polyester polyols can be formulated into polyurethane compositions to obtain a polyurethane having a low VOC content. The polyurethane composition is particularly suitable for polyurethane coating applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Michael E. O'Brien, Jeffrey R. Janos
  • Publication number: 20240066306
    Abstract: An example implantable medical device includes a stimulating lead includes receive one or more signals indicative of one or more physiologic parameters; deliver electrical therapy to stimulate a muscle wrapped around a heart via one or more electrodes of a stimulating lead; and adjust an amount of the electrical therapy delivered, via the stimulating electrodes, based on the one or more physiologic parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Michael D. Eggen, Sean R. Farrell, Zhongping Yang, Richard J. O'Brien, Yong K. Cho
  • Patent number: 10623490
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for optimizing a SyncML slow sync between a proprietary client and server. When a slow sync is detected, the client and server can depart from the normal SyncML protocol and process summary data without having to compare all items on a field-by-field basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen T. Auriemma, Maria M. Corbett, Michael R. O'Brien, Ashok C. Mammen
  • Patent number: 10282174
    Abstract: A method for processing software layout can include exporting layout setting information from design elements of a software; formatting the layout setting information, and storing it in a layout characteristic file; and importing the layout setting information in the layout characteristic file into design elements of another software. Layout information of each language can be stored in a customizable layout characteristic file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Molly Chang, Xiao Feng Ji, Michael R. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20180124173
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for optimizing a SyncML slow sync between a proprietary client and server. When a slow sync is detected, the client and server can depart from the normal SyncML protocol and process summary data without having to compare all items on a field-by-field basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen T. Auriemma, Maria M. Corbett, Michael R. O'Brien, Ashok C. Mammen
  • Patent number: 9860312
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for optimizing a SyncML slow sync between a proprietary client and server. When a slow sync is detected, the client and server can depart from the normal SyncML protocol and process summary data without having to compare all items on a field-by-field basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen T. Auriemma, Maria M. Corbett, Michael R. O'Brien, Ashok C. Mammen
  • Patent number: 9563875
    Abstract: A system for automatically providing notifications to a user regarding interesting content, which automatically collects information regarding persons that are important to the user, as well as indications of important content sources. The important content sources are then monitored for actions performed by one of the important persons for the user, and notifications are generated to the user in the event that the important person performs an action on a document or other information item stored in the important content source. Important persons for a user may be determined through a communication application used by the user, such as an electronic mail program, instant messaging program, or the like, in response to indications of persons that the user has either sent messages to and/or received messages from. The notifications may be provided through the user's communication application, by electronic mail messages, instant messages, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Michael R. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 9172665
    Abstract: A system for minimizing the time required to initiate and terminate an instant messaging session. An initial message in an instant messaging session is checked to determine whether it has any significant content. If the received initial message has insignificant content, then a non-intrusive notification is provided to the user, without changing the current focus in the user interface. A pre-composed response message may also be automatically transmitted to the initiating user, requesting that a more significant message be sent. When an initial message in an instant messaging session is received that is determined to have significant content, the user is promptly notified in a different manner, which may be intrusive such that the current focus of the user interface is changed to a new window or the like containing the newly initiated instant messaging session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Michael R. O'Brien, Shruti Kumar
  • Patent number: 9083667
    Abstract: A follow-on message processing system for an integrated information management application. The follow-on message processing system includes a client computer coupled to a network, an email client coupled to the client computer, and a follow-on message controller coupled to the email client. The email client receives an email and a follow-on command from another email client. The follow-on command is associated with the email received from the other email client. The follow-on message controller interrupts access to the email client in response to a determination that an email draft is in progress. The email draft in progress is associated with the received email.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Haynes, Michael R. O'Brien, William G. Stoddard, Lin Sun
  • Patent number: 9015252
    Abstract: A system for forcing e-mail addresses into the Bcc: field of transmitted messages in order to enforce user privacy. A user interface enables a user to indicate that their e-mail address is not to be included in a “To:” or “Cc:” field of an e-mail message from another user when the number of e-mail addresses contained in those fields exceeds a threshold size. The user's e-mail address and the associated threshold are stored for future reference when new messages are sent by the other user. Subsequently, when a new message is generated by the other user in which the number of e-mail addresses contained in the “To:” and/or “Cc:” field exceeds the threshold, then the disclosed system moves the user's e-mail address from the “To:” or “Cc:” field to the “Bcc:” field of the message before the message is transmitted to its recipients. Privacy messages may either be sent individually to specific users, or may be automatically generated as a result of a general privacy setting being indicated by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Corinne M. Ryan, Michael R. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8972447
    Abstract: A system that persistently maintains and exposes one or more previous object hierarchies to which an object belonged across one or more hierarchy destroying operations, such as operations that delete parent objects, add parent objects subsequent to addition of their descendent objects, forward objects to or from the hierarchy, and/or modify hierarchy determining rules. A user interface object allows user access to one or more persistent hierarchies for the corresponding object. A hierarchy list or the like allows a user to select a desired one of the persistent hierarchies. A persistent hierarchy can be accessed in the disclosed system through a display object associated with any object within the hierarchy, including the root, leaves, and any intervening objects. When objects are deleted, “ghost” objects are maintained and displayed to the user in the hierarchical positions of the deleted objects when a persistent hierarchy is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John D. Curtis, Margo L. Ezekiel, Jonathan D. Champlin, Michael R. O'Brien, Thomas M. Bentley
  • Patent number: 8650254
    Abstract: A system for providing version control for documents attached to electronic mail messages in which a user's personal document library is used to store documents attached to the email messages the user sends and/or receives. Each time an attached document is transmitted or received within a message thread, a different version of the document is created and stored in the personal document library. The multiple document versions created allow the disclosed system to provide the user with the options of opening the most recent version of an attached document and/or opening the version of the attached document that is associated with the specific opened message. An attached document is represented within an email message using a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), where the stored URL points to the version of the attached document for that message that is stored in the user's personal document library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver Kieselbach, Niklas Heidloff, Michael R. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20130339878
    Abstract: A system for minimizing the time required to initiate and terminate an instant messaging session. An initial message in an instant messaging session is checked to determine whether it has any significant content. If the received initial message has insignificant content, then a non-intrusive notification is provided to the user, without changing the current focus in the user interface. A pre-composed response message may also be automatically transmitted to the initiating user, requesting that a more significant message be sent. When an initial message in an instant messaging session is received that is determined to have significant content, the user is promptly notified in a different manner, which may be intrusive such that the current focus of the user interface is changed to a new window or the like containing the newly initiated instant messaging session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Michael R. O'Brien, Shruti Kumar
  • Patent number: 8458252
    Abstract: A system for minimizing the time required to initiate and terminate an instant messaging session. An initial message in an instant messaging session is checked to determine whether it has any significant content. If the received initial message has insignificant content, then a non-intrusive notification is provided to the user, without changing the current focus in the user interface. A pre-composed response message may also be automatically transmitted to the initiating user, requesting that a more significant message be sent. When an initial message in an instant messaging session is received that is determined to have significant content, the user is promptly notified in a different manner, which may be intrusive such that the current focus of the user interface is changed to a new window or the like containing the newly initiated instant messaging session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Michael R. O'Brien, Shruti Kumar
  • Patent number: 8432932
    Abstract: A system for blending synchronous and asynchronous computer communication applications that determines when a user of a synchronous communication application, such as an instant messaging application, attempts to send a message to another user that is unavailable for synchronous communications, and that forwards the message from the synchronous communication application to an asynchronous communication application for delivery. The forwarded message may be an email message, and the system may operate to determine a destination electronic mail address of the destination user for inclusion in the forwarded message, and include an indication in the forwarded message that it has been forwarded from the synchronous communication application. This indication enables the asynchronous communication application to perform special processing with regard to the forwarded message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. O'Brien, Niklas Heidloff, Gregory R. Klouda, James P. Galvin, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130007163
    Abstract: A system for blending synchronous and asynchronous computer communication applications that determines when a user of a synchronous communication application, such as an instant messaging application, attempts to send a message to another user that is unavailable for synchronous communications, and that forwards the message from the synchronous communication application to an asynchronous communication application for delivery. The forwarded message may be an email message, and the system may operate to determine a destination electronic mail address of the destination user for inclusion in the forwarded message, and include an indication in the forwarded message that it has been forwarded from the synchronous communication application. This indication enables the asynchronous communication application to perform special processing with regard to the forwarded message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael R. O'Brien, Niklas Heidloff, Gregory R. Klouda, James P. Galvin, JR.
  • Patent number: 8306056
    Abstract: A system for blending synchronous and asynchronous computer communication applications that determines when a user of a synchronous communication application, such as an instant messaging application, attempts to send a message to another user that is unavailable for synchronous communications, and that forwards the message from the synchronous communication application to an asynchronous communication application for delivery. The forwarded message may be an email message, and the system may operate to determine a destination electronic mail address of the destination user for inclusion in the forwarded message, and include an indication in the forwarded message that it has been forwarded from the synchronous communication application. This indication enables the asynchronous communication application to perform special processing when the receiving user retrieves the forwarded message from the asynchronous communication application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. O'Brien, Niklas Heidloff, Gregory R. Klouda, James P. Galvin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8296376
    Abstract: A method of increasing email correspondence responsiveness may include detecting a first set of email messages transmitted by a first correspondent to a second correspondent, creating a tracking record based on the responsiveness of the second correspondent to each email message of the first set of email messages, performing a first statistical analysis of the tracking record, generating a set of responsiveness metrics based on the first statistical analysis, detecting new outgoing email messages addressed to the second correspondent, and providing a user-configurable email message format for each detected outgoing message, the user-configurable email message format. According to the example embodiment, the user-configurable email message format is configured to increase effective email response time from the second correspondent and the user-configurable email message format is based on the set of responsiveness metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Itzhack Goldberg, Bruce A. Kahn, Boaz Mizrachi, Michael R. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20120254833
    Abstract: A method for processing software layout can include exporting layout setting information from design elements of a software; formatting the layout setting information, and storing it in a layout characteristic file; and importing the layout setting information in the layout characteristic file into design elements of another software. Layout information of each language can be stored in a customizable layout characteristic file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: MOLLY CHANG, XIAO FENG JI, MICHAEL R. O'BRIEN
  • Patent number: 8195746
    Abstract: A system for providing automatic off-line availability of shared document content linked in electronic mail (“email”) messages. Documents indicated by links in processed email messages may accessed when a client system user is working either online or offline. A software component operates to read through email messages sent to a client system user, and to locate messages including links to content stored on the server system. The software component accesses the content indicated by the links contained in the email messages, and moves the content onto the client system for offline access. The software component may include a periodically scheduled agent, and/or a component that is called just prior to the client system or email application going offline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Michael R. O'Brien, Hardy Groeger