Patents by Inventor Steven M. Kagan

Steven M. Kagan 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: 10372593
    Abstract: A method includes generating a test model based on at least one of test group dependencies and test group constraints and generating a resource base. The method includes generating a cost model and generating a resource allocation plan based on the test model, the resource base, and the cost model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kathryn A. Bassin, Howard M. Hess, Sheng Huang, Steven M. Kagan, Shao C. Li, Zhong J. Li, He H. Liu, Susan E. Smith, Hua F. Tan, Li Wang, Jun Zhu
  • Patent number: 10169725
    Abstract: A method and associated systems for analyzing a change request of a project that involves an IT system, where IT system contains IT artifacts that have predefined relationships. One or more processors obtain a change request; use information contained in the change request to select an applicable decomposition agent; use information in the selected decomposition agent to decompose the change request into a set of component sub-change requests; correlate at least one of the sub-change requests with one of the IT artifacts; and display the sub-change requests. In alternate implementations, selecting the applicable decomposition agent may require additional user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hao Chen, Claudio Cozzi, Ya B. Dang, Howard M. Hess, Steven M. Kagan, Feng Li, Shao C. Li, Xin Zhou, Jun Zhu
  • Publication number: 20170139817
    Abstract: A method includes generating a test model based on at least one of test group dependencies and test group constraints and generating a resource base. The method includes generating a cost model and generating a resource allocation plan based on the test model, the resource base, and the cost model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Kathryn A. BASSIN, Howard M. HESS, Sheng HUANG, Steven M. KAGAN, Shao C. LI, Zhong J. LI, He H. LIU, Susan E. SMITH, Hua F. TAN, Li WANG, Jun ZHU
  • Publication number: 20170083842
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may evaluate a conflict risk between parallel projects. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a dependency risk between a first project and a second project is determined based on an artifact submission history of a historical project. Then an overlap risk between the first and second projects is determined based on time schedules of the first and second projects. Next, a conflict risk between the first and second projects is evaluated based on the dependency risk and the overlap risk. Further, embodiments of the present invention may optimize the time schedules of parallel projects thereby enabling parallelization of projects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Hao Chen, Claudio Cozzi, Ya Bin Dang, Howard M. Hess, Steven M. Kagan, Feng Li, Shao Chun Li, Jeffrey Lewis Robinson, Xin Zhou
  • Publication number: 20170083843
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may evaluate a conflict risk between parallel projects. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a dependency risk between a first project and a second project is determined based on an artifact submission history of a historical project. Then an overlap risk between the first and second projects is determined based on time schedules of the first and second projects. Next, a conflict risk between the first and second projects is evaluated based on the dependency risk and the overlap risk. Further, embodiments of the present invention may optimize the time schedules of parallel projects thereby enabling parallelization of projects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Hao Chen, Claudio Cozzi, Ya Bin Dang, Howard M. Hess, Steven M. Kagan, Feng Li, Shao Chun Li, Jeffrey Lewis Robinson, Xin Zhou
  • Patent number: 9594671
    Abstract: A method includes generating a test model based on at least one of test group dependencies and test group constraints and generating a resource base. The method includes generating a cost model and generating a resource allocation plan based on the test model, the resource base, and the cost model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kathryn A. Bassin, Howard M. Hess, Sheng Huang, Steven M. Kagan, Shao C. Li, Zhong J. Li, He H. Liu, Susan E. Smith, Hua F. Tan, Li Wang, Jun Zhu
  • Patent number: 9513873
    Abstract: A compute-implemented method and apparatus for assisting release planning, including steps of: obtaining remaining requirements that are expected to be included in a current release plan; obtaining the release plan, which comprises a set of planned requirements that are already included in the release plan and a set of release constraints; determining that there is a conflict between the release constraints and the planned requirements; rendering, in response to this determination, a proposal to create a modified release plan that is a function of the remaining requirements and of the current release plan; and forecasting, as a function of the remaining requirements and of the modified release plan, whether the addition of another requirement to the release plan would create a conflict with the release constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hao Chen, Claudio Cozzi, Ya B. Dang, Howard M. Hess, Steven M. Kagan, Feng Li, Shao C. Li, Xin Zhou, Jun Zhu
  • Publication number: 20160154728
    Abstract: A method includes generating a test model based on at least one of test group dependencies and test group constraints and generating a resource base. The method includes generating a cost model and generating a resource allocation plan based on the test model, the resource base, and the cost model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Kathryn A. BASSIN, Howard M. HESS, Sheng HUANG, Steven M. KAGAN, Shao C. LI, Zhong J. LI, He H. LIU, Susan E. SMITH, Hua F. TAN, Li WANG, Jun ZHU
  • Patent number: 9292421
    Abstract: A method includes generating a test model based on at least one of test group dependencies and test group constraints and generating a resource base. the method includes generating a cost model and generating a resource allocation plan based on the test model, the resource base, and the cost model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kathryn A. Bassin, Howard M. Hess, Sheng Huang, Steven M. Kagan, Shao C. Li, Zhong J. Li, He H. Liu, Susan E. Smith, Hua F. Tan, Li Wang, Jun Zhu
  • Publication number: 20150363378
    Abstract: An approach is provided for managing a display of document unit references. Units of an original version of a document and original references to the units are stored in nodes of a data structure. Responsive to an insertion of a new unit at a location in the document, a new node is inserted into the data structure at a corresponding location, or responsive to a deletion of a unit at the location in the document, a node is deleted from the data structure at the corresponding location. Unit(s) of the updated document resulting from the insertion or deletion are associated to respective original reference(s) in the data structure. During a conference between an editor and other participant(s), a display is generated and presented to the editor. The display includes the unit(s) of the updated document, current reference(s) to the unit(s), and the original reference(s) associated with the unit(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Blaine H. Dolph, Ava Hakim, Steven M. Kagan, Jennifer Martin
  • Patent number: 9202188
    Abstract: A method for impact analysis of change requests of a computing system is provided. The method includes, identifying artifacts and tasks that are impacted by a change request on a target project based on a change request repository, an artifact dependency network and a task-artifact mapping repository. The method further includes, determining an impact analysis priority for each of the identified tasks based on associations among the change request and the identified artifacts and tasks, and a project status tracking repository. The method further includes analyzing an impact of the change request on each of the identified tasks according to the determined impact analysis priority. The method further includes obtaining requirements, requirement dependencies and requirement constraints of the project scope to identifying artifacts and tasks that are impacted by a change request on the target project of the project scope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hao Chen, Claudio Cozzi, Ya Bin Dang, Howard M. Hess, Steven M. Kagan, Feng Li, Shao Chun Li, Jeffrey L. Robinson, Xin Zhou
  • Publication number: 20150121381
    Abstract: A method and associated systems for analyzing a change request of a project that involves an IT system, where IT system contains IT artifacts that have predefined relationships. One or more processors obtain a change request; use information contained in the change request to select an applicable decomposition agent; use information in the selected decomposition agent to decompose the change request into a set of component sub-change requests; correlate at least one of the sub-change requests with one of the IT artifacts; and display the sub-change requests. In alternate implementations, selecting the applicable decomposition agent may require additional user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Hao Chen, Claudio Cozzi, Ya B. Dang, Howard M. Hess, Steven M. Kagan, Feng Li, Shao C. Li, Xin Zhou, Jun Zhu
  • Publication number: 20150095875
    Abstract: A compute-implemented method and apparatus for assisting release planning, including steps of: obtaining remaining requirements that are expected to be included in a current release plan; obtaining the release plan, which comprises a set of planned requirements that are already included in the release plan and a set of release constraints; determining that there is a conflict between the release constraints and the planned requirements; rendering, in response to this determination, a proposal to create a modified release plan that is a function of the remaining requirements and of the current release plan; and forecasting, as a function of the remaining requirements and of the modified release plan, whether the addition of another requirement to the release plan would create a conflict with the release constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Hao Chen, Claudio Cozzi, Ya B. Dang, Howard M. Hess, Steven M. Kagan, Feng Li, Shao C. Li, Xin Zhou, Jun Zhu
  • Publication number: 20150067635
    Abstract: A method for impact analysis of change requests of a computing system is provided. The method includes, identifying artifacts and tasks that are impacted by a change request on a target project based on a change request repository, an artifact dependency network and a task-artifact mapping repository. The method further includes, determining an impact analysis priority for each of the identified tasks based on associations among the change request and the identified artifacts and tasks, and a project status tracking repository. The method further includes analyzing an impact of the change request on each of the identified tasks according to the determined impact analysis priority. The method further includes obtaining requirements, requirement dependencies and requirement constraints of the project scope to identifying artifacts and tasks that are impacted by a change request on the target project of the project scope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Hao Chen, Claudio Cozzi, Ya Bin Dang, Howard M. Hess, Steven M. Kagan, Feng Li, Shao Chun Li, Jeffrey L. Robinson, Xin Zhou
  • Publication number: 20150067636
    Abstract: A method includes generating a test model based on at least one of test group dependencies and test group constraints and generating a resource base. the method includes generating a cost model and generating a resource allocation plan based on the test model, the resource base, and the cost model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Kathryn A. BASSIN, Howard M. HESS, Sheng HUANG, Steven M. KAGAN, Shao C. LI, Zhong J. LI, He H. LIU, Susan E. SMITH, Hua F. TAN, Li WANG, Jun ZHU
  • Patent number: 8774389
    Abstract: A method and system to optimally route telephone calls between shared service centers is presented. Using a combination of service tiers, Agent Directory, Instant Messaging (IM), and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provides optimal routing of incoming calls for assistance. The method utilizes different protocols during normal operations, transitional operations, and emergency operations, and addresses Shared Service Center (SSC) planning and management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Kagan, Sandeep Khanna, John Arthur Ricketts, William M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8606613
    Abstract: Under the present invention when a business process is desired to be outsourced from a client (e.g., a company or governmental unit) to a third party outsourcer, an outsourcing project is initially planned. Typically, the plan includes a plurality of overlapping phases that extend over several time periods. Thereafter, a cost for implementing the outsourcing project is estimated. Should the cost exceed a planned budget of the client, the excess/investment is addressed while an agreement between the client and the outsourcer for the outsourcing project is being reached. This can involve reducing scope, restructuring the overlapping phases to reduce or eliminate the excess cost, and/or integrating funding options to address the cost as part of the agreement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Katherine C. Hegmann, Steven M. Kagan, John A. Ricketts
  • Publication number: 20120166236
    Abstract: A method and system for establishing an Efficient Frontier (EF) and Attainment Rate (AR) for Business Transformation Outsourcing (BTO) is presented. EF is the maximum service level achievable at a point in time for a specific business process or business process area. AR is the pace at which the EF can be reached from an initial value. Clients, outsourcers, and third-parties determine whether proposals are infeasible (above EF) or inefficient (below AR). Fact-based discussions of the merits and limitations of various implementation initiatives are supported. A determination is made as to whether there are any business segments to which different EF and AR apply. Any underlying factors for the EF and AR of each business segment are determined, and any change (rise or fall) of EF over time is predicted to maintain an optimally accurate EF and/or AR for each business segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Steven M. Kagan, John A. Ricketts
  • Patent number: 7885848
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method, a system and a computer program for managing services of human resources. The method comprises the steps of modeling human resources delivery services from a services provider to a client company to determine outputs from inputs and constraints; and constructing an objective function representative of services resources at said services provider. The method also comprises the steps of determining optimum levels of human resources based on said modeling, said constraints, and said objective function; and allocating said human resources based upon said optimum levels. Preferably, said optimum levels of resources are determined over tiers, sites and time periods. The preferred embodiment of the invention is a system and a method for resource allocation on BTO projects. This preferred system includes an optimization model, along with its inputs and outputs. This system may be used to address dynamic client needs before and during BTO projects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Kagan, Philip J. Morales, John A. Ricketts
  • Publication number: 20090138300
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for optimizing managed business processes, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for optimizing vendor payroll services. A method for allocating outsourced business processes among a plurality of performing entities includes defining a hierarchy of goals from a subset of data input to an optimization tool embodied in a computer infrastructure, wherein the data includes constraints, and iteratively running the optimization tool based on the data and the hierarchy. The method also includes relaxing at least one of the constraints to generate a solution that satisfies the data and the hierarchy, and outputting the solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven M. Kagan, John A. Ricketts