Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm James W. Soong
  • Patent number: 6829655
    Abstract: The A method and system for server synchronization with a computing device via a companion device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises synchronizing a device and an enterprise server via a companion device, which comprises retrieving a record extraction sequence from the server; providing the record extraction sequence to the handheld device from the companion device; and extracting records stored on a database according to the record extraction sequence, wherein the extracted records are not already stored on the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaofei Huang, Magnus Vejlstrup, Anupam Singhal, Pi-Yu Chung, David L. Rabbers, Martin Susser
  • Patent number: 6826745
    Abstract: The invention provides user configurable and reconfigurable scripting, methods of scripting, and systems for scripting for use by call centers, technical support centers, and marketers. Scripts are interactive tools that guide a telemarketer, a sales person, or a technical support technician through a telephone call with a customer. Scripts are characterized by going on to particular subsequent questions as a function of the customer's answer to a previous question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Coker, Matthew S. Malden, Kevin R. Nix
  • Patent number: 6804330
    Abstract: A system and method for providing access to CRM data via a voice interface. In one embodiment, the system includes a voice recognition unit and a speech processing server that work together to enable users to interact with the system using voice commands guided by navigation context sensitive voice prompts, and provide user-requested data in a verbalized format back to the users. Digitized voice waveform data are processed to determine the voice commands of the user. The system also uses a “grammar” that enables users to retrieve data using intuitive natural language speech queries. In response to such a query, a corresponding data query is generated by the system to retrieve one or more data sets corresponding to the query. The user is then enabled to browse the data that are returned through voice command navigation, wherein the system “reads” the data back to the user using text-to-speech (TTS) conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Shannon Jones, Richard Gorman, Jesse Ambrose, Joseph Harb, Chris Haven
  • Patent number: 6782383
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a method includes displaying a search center pane after a user selects a search icon from a search tool bar to begin a user session. The search center pane includes a search frame. The search frame includes a close button. The method also includes selecting a search category from a dropdown list of search categories in the search frame. The method further includes entering a search keyword. In addition, the method includes searching a database for data records matching the search category and the search keyword. Furthermore, the method includes caching the data records matching the search category and the search keyword to maintain persistency of the data records until the user selects the close button to terminate the user session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Pavitra Subramaniam, Jason Zoss, Jian-Jung Ying, Marc Caltabiano
  • Patent number: 6763351
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present mechanism, a method is provided in which a search request containing search criteria is received from a first user. A search is performed based on the search criteria to retrieve records in one or more databases that match the search criteria. A list of search results based on the retrieved records is displayed to the first user. In response to the first user's request to associate a particular search result in the list to a particular object, associate the particular search result to the particular object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Pavitra Subramaniam, Jason Zoss, Jian-Jung Ying, Marc Caltabiano
  • Patent number: 6754681
    Abstract: A method of and system for collecting, storing, and retrieving data in a data base management system. The database management system includes a master database server (4), at least one workgroup server (315), and a plurality of workgroup user clients (310). The workgroup server (315) is interposed between the master database server (4) and said workgroup user clients (310). The method creating a transaction in a local database resident on one of the workgroup user clients (310), entering the transaction into a transaction log resident on the workgroup user client (310), and creating a transaction file corresponding to the transaction in an outbox of said workgroup user client (310). Next, the transaction file is copied to an inbox identified to the workgroup user client (310) and updating the transaction file into a workgroup database (305) resident on the workgroup server (315). The workgroup database (305) includes a transaction log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Brodersen, Prashant Chatterjee, Peter S. Lim
  • Patent number: 6732100
    Abstract: Method and system for determination and granting of access to data and files by the file or database creator, owner or manager or by group or user access profiles. The database is partitionable among data owners, and access is awarded based upon the requestor's organizational attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen Brodersen, Thomas M. Rothwein, Matthew S. Malden, Mingte J. Chen, Anil Annadata
  • Patent number: 6732095
    Abstract: A method to convert data between a relational format and an XML document, by creating a set of XML Mapping Definition from metadata; selecting relational data from a relational application database, and converting the relational data to the XML document using the set of XML Mapping Definition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex S. Warshavsky, Chandrakant R. Bhavsar, Jeffrey M. Fischer
  • Patent number: 6732111
    Abstract: Attaching files and other objects in a distributed computing environment. This includes adding file attachments and non-database objects, such as, text file data, web file data, image file data, and other file attachment objects to databases. These objects may be retrieved at the convenience of a node to which the objects are sent. Visibility rules can be set to determine which attachments and objects are seen by a node. Distribution rules for an object determine whether a node must request the object or whether the node is forced to receive the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Brodersen, Prashant Chatterjee, Jeffrey I. Cohen, Peter Siam Sy Lim III
  • Patent number: 6728702
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a method includes displaying a search tool bar including a search icon. The method also includes displaying a search center pane after a user selects the search icon, wherein the search center pane includes a search frame. The method further includes selecting a search category from a dropdown list of search categories in the search frame. In addition, the method includes entering a search keyword. Furthermore, the method includes searching a database for data records matching the search category and the search keyword.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Pavitra Subramaniam, Jason Zoss, Jian-Jung Ying, Marc Caltabiano, Matthew S. Malden
  • Patent number: 6728960
    Abstract: Techniques for managing multiple threads in an asynchronous environment, such as a browser, are described. As a method, instantiating an event thread in response to a user event by a shell event handler block that provides shell functions for a user event. Once the event thread as been instantiated, managing the event thread by a generic thread manager block that provides a plurality of multithread management functions for the shell event handler. When required, blocking and unblocking the event thread by a blocking system that is arranged to block and unblock threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Loomans
  • Patent number: 6724399
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for enabling keyboard accelerators in software applications implemented via a browser application are disclosed herein. Keyboard accelerators are enabled by intercepting keyboard data before it can be utilized by the browser application for its own purposes, such as initiation of a keyboard accelerator native to the browser application. The intercepted keyboard data is evaluated to determine whether it corresponds to a defined remote application keyboard accelerator, and if so, then a remote application function module is called to implement the feature mapped to the particular identified keyboard accelerator. The keyboard data may then be removed from an event queue or otherwise deleted such that the browser application continues to be executed without reference thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernst Katchour, Shankar S. Nathan
  • Patent number: 6711565
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which a search request containing search criteria is received from a first user. A search is performed based on the search criteria to retrieve records in one or more databases that match the search criteria. A list of search results based on the retrieved records is displayed to the first user. In response to the first user's selection of a particular search result in the list of search results, details of the particular search result are displayed to the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Pavitra Subramaniam, Jason Zoss, Jian-Jung Ying, Marc Caltabiano
  • Patent number: 6684438
    Abstract: Updates made to a central database (3) or to another partially replicated database (23-1) are selectively propagated to a partially replicated database (23-2) if the owner of the partially replicated database (23-2) is deemed to have visibility to the data being updated. Visibility is determined by use of predetermined rules stored in a rules database. Stored rules are assessed against data content of various tables that make up a logical entity, known as a docking object that is being updated. The stored rules are assessed against data content of various tables that make up a docking object, not necessarily being the docking object that is being updated. The visibility rules of these related docking objects are recursively determined. Changes in visibility are determined to enable the central computer to direct the nodes to insert the docking object into its partially replicated database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Brodersen, Peter S. Lim
  • Patent number: 6665648
    Abstract: System and method for preparing, using, and displaying a state model of a process, as an industrial or business process, as a sequence of discrete steps. The state model defines the behavior of the logical objects making up a process model of the process as (1) a set of permitted states and (2) a set of permitted transitions between the permitted states. The state model is created by selecting a template for the state model, and selecting industrial or business object components for the state model (for example, by using “OOP” methods or other programming paradigms). The user then selects or defines state transitions for the state model, for example, by defining permitted state transitions from a “from state” to a “to state”. The defined or selected state transition rules are identified to State Transition Rule names.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen Cheung Brodersen, Michael Tsunghsi Yu, Jai-Jein Yu, Andrzej P. Mazur, Brian K. Groves
  • Patent number: 6609150
    Abstract: Client-server systems and methods for transferring data via a network, including a wireless network, between a server and one or more clients or browsers that are spatially distributed (i.e., situated at different locations). At least one local client computer provides a user interface to interact with at least one remote server computer which implements data processing in response to the local client computer. The user interface may be a browser or a thin client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: King-Hwa Lee, Robert Cram, Anil Mukundan
  • Patent number: 6604117
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a database. The database is a partially replicated database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases. Updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases are selectively propagated to one or more recipient partially replicated databases if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted. This is accomplished by first replicating a group or records as a single logical docking object. A single set of visibility rules is applied to the data content of the entire logical docking unit. The docking object is then applied to the recipient individual partially replicated database if the owner thereof has visibility to the data being transmitted in the single logical docking object. Also disclosed are methods of controlling and logging the propagation of docking objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter S. Lim, Robert Broderson
  • Patent number: 6604128
    Abstract: A method and system for passing information between a client, as a browser, and a server, as an application server, where the information is passed through a web server for processing between the application server and the browser. The webserver loads one or more template files. These template files contain standard markup language plus special tags. These tags are parsed, translated into commands for the application server, and sent to the application server. The application server returns the objects called to the web server, which passes the called objects to the client. The session is persistent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thanh Diec
  • Patent number: 6577726
    Abstract: A method and system for enabling a CTI user to log in at any work station in a network and utilize the system with the correct teleset, and also to transfer a CTI transaction or interaction to another CTI user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kuang-Yang Huang, Matthew S. Malden, Henry D. Jay, Anil Annadata
  • Patent number: 6367077
    Abstract: A method for upgrading (31-b of FIG. 1) a software application (35-b) from a prior version to a subsequent version while preserving user modifications to the prior application. The method includes comparing differences between the two versions of the software applications. This is followed by enumerating the differences between the two versions of the software applications; and determining which differences between the two versions of the software are conflicting and which are compatible. The compatible changes are made (7). Also disclosed is an article of manufacture containing computer readable program code for carrying out the above process, and a program storage device carrying the code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Brodersen, John L. Coker, Mark C Hastings