Patents Represented by Attorney Jim Boice
  • Patent number: 8027981
    Abstract: A method, system and program product for classifying data elements into different levels of a business hierarchy. The method includes identifying data elements to be classified into one or more levels of a business hierarchy, selecting a first logic decision tree for evaluating the data elements identified for classification into the hierarchy and executing the first tree for recursively evaluating each data element identified until the first tree has been traversed. Further, the method includes dynamically creating configurable anchor point classifications for the data elements evaluated through the first tree and assigning a respective anchor point classification to each data element evaluated, such that, a respective anchor point classification assigned to a data element evaluated links the data element to a lowest level of the hierarchy, and where the anchor point classification conveys classification information as to each higher level of the hierarchy that the data element belongs to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Episale, Mark A. Musa, David G. Ruest
  • Patent number: 8024202
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for facilitating ergonomics-based health in a user of a computer workstation is presented. The method includes the steps of detecting an ergonomics problem for a user of a computer workstation, wherein the ergonomics problem is directly related to a current real-time body position of the user, and wherein the ergonomics problem would likely cause an injury to the user if left uncorrected. A user health protection algorithm is then executed to generate an ergonomic recommendation. The user health protection algorithm utilizes user work parameters as inputs. The ergonomic recommendation, which will correct the ergonomics problem, is then presented to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Randolph W. Carroll, Ciaran A. Dellafera, Pamela K. Isom
  • Patent number: 8020146
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for managing changes to a library in a Producer IDE is presented. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of compiling user source code in a consumer's workspace using at least one class from an original class library to produce a user's executable binary files; searching the executable binary files for references to Application Program Interface (API) changes that occurred when the original class library was updated; and generating at least one work item for each of the API changes that is referred to by the user's executable binary files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas R. Hudson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8019912
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for managing USB ports on blades in a blade center are presented. A set of remotely-transmitted instructions causes a multiplexer to physically disconnect one or more selected USB ports on a blade. In one embodiment, the same one or more selected USB ports are also software-disabled by a USB software-based controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Candice Leontine Coletrane, Eric Richard Kern, Chambrea Michelle Little, Robyn Alicia McGlotten
  • Patent number: 8004387
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media to improve polling accuracy in RFID systems are disclosed. Embodiments comprise receiving information from one or more tags by a tag reader, comparing the information from the tags to other information, and adding the tag to an inventory if the tag does not exist in the other information. While some embodiments compare the tag information from the tags to baseline inventories for other areas, some embodiments compare it to current inventories for the other areas or compare it to a combination of both inventories. Some embodiments involve polling RFID tags in storage containers. Other embodiments involve machine-accessible mediums with instructions to receive information from the tag reader, analyze the information with baseline and current inventories of other areas, and store identification information for the tag in a current inventory database if the information is absent from the baseline and current inventories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rhonda L. Childress, Bradley Childs, Joann Huffman, Stewart J. Hyman, David B. Kumhyr, Stephen J. Watt
  • Patent number: 8001481
    Abstract: A computer-implementable method, system and computer-readable medium for implementing an interactive progress bar that is associated with an executing test program are presented. In a preferred embodiment, the computer-implementable method includes linking each of multiple sectors in a progress bar to a corresponding section of a test program. The progress bar is displayed while the test program is being executed, such that test program code is not displayed with the progress bar on the same User Interface (UI). In response to the system detecting a signal that a specific sector of the progress bar has been selected, the computer displays, on the UI, an underlying log of activities for the corresponding section of the test program, such that the test program continues to be executed while the underlying log is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Al Chakra, Robert Kainz, John F. Sefler
  • Patent number: 8001456
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for communicating data between a web application running on a server and a browser running on a client in a network environment. Information is requested at the client from the server. The requested information is received at the client. The requested information is separated into a data portion and a markup portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. McElroy, Yongcheng Li, Roderick C. Henderson, John J. Ponzo, Laurent D. Hasson
  • Patent number: 8001197
    Abstract: A method of routing an email message comprises receiving a message to be routed, receiving details of a first recipient of the message, receiving an indication of a second recipient of the message, the indication defining a relationship to the first recipient, obtaining an address for the first recipient, obtaining an address for the second recipient, and transmitting the email message to the first and second recipients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gordon Douglas Hutchison, Joseph Robert Winchester
  • Patent number: 7996706
    Abstract: A system for recovering a server blade, in a multiple server blade computer, that is lost during a flash update operation on a service processor in the server blade. Because of the flash update failure, the lost server blade is unaware of its location on a management pathway, which in an exemplary form may be a midplane or a bus, which connects the server blade and a management module in a server blade chassis. The lost server blade puts a signal on the management pathway indicating that the flash failed. The signal is put on a special channel reserved for such messages. The management module receives the signal, and then determines which of the multiple server blades are lost due to the flash update failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gerhard Nikolaus Buckler, Jeffery Michael Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson, Carl A. Morrell, David Robert Woodham
  • Patent number: 7992139
    Abstract: A method, system and program product for transforming a source code in one language into one or more target modules in one or more languages is provided. The method includes selecting one or more target programming languages suitable for transforming each source module of a source code into one or more target modules written in one or more target programming languages. The method further includes parsing the source code and looking up for a source function in the source code an equivalent target function in a target programming language, such that execution of the equivalent target function in the target programming language is optimized. The method further includes writing out in the target programming language the equivalent target function corresponding to the source function, such that each source module is transformed into one or more target modules whose execution in the one or more target programming languages is optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Milind Chitgupakar, Mark S. Ramsey
  • Patent number: 7992021
    Abstract: A power-managed server and method for managing power consumption is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a power-managed server data processing system is provided among a plurality of server data processing systems which comprises a power management communication port to communicatively couple the power-managed server data processing system to a power management server data processing system of the plurality of server data processing systems. The power-managed server data processing system of the described embodiment further comprises a system management processor coupled to the power management communication port which comprises power-managed logic configured to transmit power management data to the power management server data processing system and to receive a power management command utilizing the power management communication port. Moreover, the power management command is generated utilizing the power management data, and the power management data comprises power management capability data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sumanta K. Bahali, Warren D. Bailey, Jimmy G. Foster, Sr., Gregory D. Sellman
  • Patent number: 7979513
    Abstract: Method and system for determining a management complexity factor for an environment, such as an information technology (IT) environment, is disclosed. A management complexity factor represents the needless complexity, inefficiencies and waste in an environment. An IT environment includes different platforms, systems, and components that have an effect on changes and upgrades within the environment. The impact of the changes or upgrades is reduced if the environment has increased coordination, few single points of failure, high information availability, a high level of automation and the like. The management complexity factor is determined by evaluating several metrics according to objective criteria and weighing the metrics according to their importance. Using the management complexity factor, strategies and targets are identified to lower the complexity and inefficiencies within the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sean P. Garvey, Stephen T. O'Keefe, William S. Edgar, John G. Birch, Akilesh V. Duvvur, Gary R. Hix, Philip T. Spencley, Gerald T. Winner, Matthew G. Sharib, John F. Echaniz
  • Patent number: 7970880
    Abstract: A computer program product is presented for recovering a server blade, in a multiple server blade computer, that is lost during a flash update operation on a service processor in the server blade. Because of the flash update failure, the lost server blade is unaware of its location on a management pathway, which in an exemplary form may be a midplane or a bus, which connects the server blade and a management module in a server blade chassis. The lost server blade puts a signal on the management pathway indicating that the flash failed. The signal is put on a special channel reserved for such messages. The management module receives the signal, and then determines which of the multiple server blades are lost due to the flash update failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gerhard Nikolaus Buckler, Jeffery Michael Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson, Carl A. Morrell, David Robert Woodham
  • Patent number: 7966571
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program are disclosed for navigating within a user interface. Navigation within the user interface is monitored and, if detected navigation instructions satisfy a predefined criterion such as if they exceed a predefined rate of movement, one or more return points or bookmarks within the user interface are recorded to facilitate return to those positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Richard Phillips
  • Patent number: 7966619
    Abstract: The invention relates to Web Services Invocation Framework (WSIF) operations. “interactionSpec” and “connectionSpec” are Java 2 Enterprise Edition Java Connector Architecture interfaces. Their properties are exposed as data in WSIF operations. Thus WSIF support for the Java 2 Enterprise Edition Java Connector Architecture is made functionally more complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Henry Green, Piotr Przybylski
  • Patent number: 7966207
    Abstract: A method, system and program product for optimally managing fulfillment of orders that are channeled through a diversified manufacturing environment that utilizes different process models, product nomenclatures and communication methods. The method includes sending by a contemporary fulfillment application to a legacy application a scheduling request for an order that includes a code recommending that the order is deemed eligible for fulfillment by a specific manufacturing site. The method further includes returning by the legacy application a scheduling response providing scheduling information for the order and confirming that the order is to be fulfilled by the specific manufacturing site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brad M. Altice, Charles S. Atkinson, Robert J. Banker, Ji Yuan Bian, Edward H. Carter, Leonid Derbinsky, Docelyn Lordeus, Anandakrishnan Narayanan, Aparicio I. Ranghel, William J. Reilly, Jorge M. Salas, Yi-Wen C. Tan, Deirdre A. Wessel
  • Patent number: 7958244
    Abstract: Chat sessions are managed between at least one sending computer and a receiving computer. A first chat session is initiated by a receiving computer in response to a first request from a first sending computer. A second chat session is initiated by the receiving computer in response to a second request from a second sending computer. The first and second chat sessions are prioritized in accordance with priority parameters to identify a higher priority chat session and a lower priority chat session. The lower priority chat session is restricted until the higher priority chat session is downgraded to a priority level that is below the lower priority chat session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Liam Harpur, Patrick J. O'Sullivan, Barry E. Willner
  • Patent number: 7941806
    Abstract: A method of optimizing communication and processing functions between disparate applications includes sending, from a first application to a disparate second application, a request message. The request message, which has a reduced data size for optimizing communication, is formatted in a first request-format to provide unique data elements relevant to processing the request message. The received request message is reformatted into a second request format, and is then forwarded to a third application. The third application creates a response message that is in a first response format, and sends the response message to the second application. Each received response message is queued, by a messaging application, into a response message collection corresponding to a message type, before sending the response group to the first application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alphana B. Hobbs, II, Daniel P. Huskey, Shirish S. Javalkar, Tuan A. Pham, William J. Reilly, Allen J. Scribner, III, Deirdre A. Wessel
  • Patent number: 7930740
    Abstract: A router includes a relatively low bandwidth communication connection to a small computer, a relatively high bandwidth communication connection to a communication network; and a processing unit for executing in the router a set of permit rules for permitting flow of communication packets with respect to the connections for user initiated sessions, the permit rules including a default rule for discarding all packets with respect to the small computer in traffic not pertaining to sessions initiated by the small computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Davis, Kevin D. Himberger, Clark D. Jeffries, Mohammad Peyravian
  • Patent number: 7917940
    Abstract: Provided are methods, apparatus and computer programs for applying access controls to control operations on hierarchically organized data processing system resources. A number of different scopes of applicability can be set in association with an access control, such as an ACL, and this will determine the inheritability, non-inheritability or limited inheritability of the access control for resources in the hierarchy. When a request is received to perform an operation, the access controls for the relevant branch of the hierarchy are processed to determine an applicable access control—taking account of inheritance attributes which have been set for individual access controls. The invention is useful for controlling the application of ACLs to topics in a topic tree within a publish/subscribe message broker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Simon A J Holdsworth, Neil G S Young