Patents Represented by Attorney John Pivnichny
  • Patent number: 8307308
    Abstract: A virtual world controller receives an identifier of a detected interaction by a user within another world, separate from a particular virtual world environment accessible by the user, from a device that detects and reports user interactions within the other world. The virtual world controller identifies at least one particular trigger tag name assigned to the identifier of the detected interaction from among a plurality of separate detectable user interactions in a trigger tag database. The virtual world controller identifies at least one particular asset class from among a plurality of asset classes specified with the particular trigger tag name within a particular trigger asset coupling from among at least one trigger asset coupling in a trigger asset coupling database. The virtual world controller accesses at least one particular asset assigned to the at least one particular asset class in an asset class database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick A Hamilton, II, James R Kozloski, Brian M O'Connell, Clifford A Pickover, Keith R Walker
  • Patent number: 8253727
    Abstract: A three dimensional web store having product images is created. Three dimensional product images are rendered from manufacturing information instead of the products themselves. The location of all products, advertisements, aisles, signs, and displays is determined for a real world store. The web store is then created using three dimensional internet or virtual world viewing and maneuvering capabilities, to appear identical to the real world store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Robyn R. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 8250201
    Abstract: Server performance is monitored by inserting code into servlets running on the server. Code is inserted at the servlet beginning to record start time, servlet name and input parameters in a table in memory on the server. Code is also inserted at the exit and exception points of the servlet to record stop time in the table and to determine whether to add this information in the table to an array in a web page a log file. The web page or log file is then examined to determine server performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Hunt, John W. Lamb, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8065200
    Abstract: A three dimensional web store having product images is created. Three dimensional product images are rendered from manufacturing information instead of the products themselves. The location of all products, advertisements, aisles, signs, and displays is determined for a real world store. The web store is then created using three dimensional internet or virtual world viewing and maneuvering capabilities, to appear identical to the real world store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Robyn R. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 7979448
    Abstract: Access to data in a file created by a mail and calendaring client application is provided to other applications without the need for use of the mail and calendaring client. A request is received from the other application for a document in the file. The document is retrieved in XML form. Sections are expanded by creating URLs and inserting these into the retrieved document. Content of sections is then retrieved in HTML form from the file and inserted into the document at the location of the corresponding URLs. Data for attachments, image tags and other links is obtained and inserted into the document. An object is created containing the entire expanded document and sent to the requesting application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sean E. Aschen, James R. Doran, Brian P. Olore, Joseph Rudmann
  • Patent number: 7933816
    Abstract: An employee compensation system handles employees located world-wide using a single instance of global employee data. Compliance with various differing laws and regulations in separate countries is handled by separating and calculating unique requirements such as gross-to-net pay on a country specific basis. All other compensation tasks are processed on a global basis resulting in significant improvement and advantages over current art. Stock options and other benefits are likewise provided for using the single instance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas George Gardner
  • Patent number: 7921133
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for query meaning determination through a grid service are provided. A search service within a grid environment receives a free text string as a search query, wherein the free text string includes multiple specifications. The search service controls distribution of the free text string to a selection of grid components, wherein each of the selection of grid components is enabled to interpret a particular aspect of the meaning of the multiple specifications in the free text string. Multiple aspect interpretations of the free text string are received at the search service from the selection of grid components. Next, the search service synthesizes the aspect interpretations into a search-ready query, such that the search request is first interpreted by the selection of grid components to determine a thorough meaning of the free text string before submission to a search engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Zhendong Bao, Patrick J. Richards, Jr., William P. Shaouy
  • Patent number: 7914288
    Abstract: Learning activities in an organization are allocated for work apart, work embedded, and work enabled learning types. In work apart learning, employees leave the work itself and learn through traditional classroom or technology enhanced methods. Work embedded learning occurs on the job without interrupting the flow of work. Work embedded learning uses the power of experience and execution with small responsive training modules embedded in the work process. Work enabled learning provides knowledge transfer and comprehension through experiences and interactions within the context of the work place. A business process permits an organization to rework existing learning programs and allocate resources for new programs to optimally address employee learning needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: International Bussiness Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Ray Cowherd, Lynn Dorsett, Gordon Fuller, Nancy J. Lewis, Tony Michael O'Driscoll, Peter Z. Orton, Dick W. Richardson, Karen A. Ughetta, John Martin Wattendorf
  • Patent number: 7886967
    Abstract: An authorization code is entered into a chip card terminal from a chip card. The authorization code is first entered into a chip card and stored in a secret memory location. A state on the chip card is temporarily changed from a first state to a second state. When the chip card is inserted into a chip card terminal within a pre-defined period of time, the authorization code is transmitted to the chip card terminal and the state is reset from the second state to the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Volker Boettiger
  • Patent number: 7882063
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for synchronizing configuration values between a database and a remote input utility by configuring the database for remote input and loading the configuration values to a control file at the server, and copying the configuration values to a control file at remote system including the input utility, executing the input utility at a remote system using configuration values from the control file at the remote system to prepare data for input to the database, and responsive to the configuration values at the control file of the server, updating the configuration values in the control file at the remote system before migrating the new data from the input utility to the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Martin, Jr., Douglas G. Murray
  • Patent number: 7788118
    Abstract: A project management method and system provides process definition and relationship definition. Work patterns link steps with process listings in a series of useful scenarios for project management. Work product documents provide guidance to a project manager. A system may be entered either through a work pattern group or a domain of topic areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gerard Vahee, David M. Harris, Jan Heisterberg-Andersen
  • Patent number: 7719423
    Abstract: System and method for tracking inventory of a multiplicity of products. First RFID tags are associated with respective products or groups of products. Second Active RFID tags are associated with respective first containers for the multiplicity products. A third Active RFID tag is associated with a second container for the first containers. First RFID tags broadcast their respective identifications. Second Active RFID tags hash the identities of the first RFID tags within their respective first containers and broad their hashed values. Third Active RFID tag hash the hashed values broadcast by the second Active RFID tags. An expected value is compared to a result of the third Active RFID tag hashing the hashed values broadcast by the second Active RFID tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin D. Himberger, Clark D. Jeffries, Mohammad Peyravian
  • Patent number: 7720214
    Abstract: Studies of call center activities are performed by using a tool having timer buttons for timing call activities during a live or recorded call. Code values are assigned to specific activities and activity subtypes. The calls are assigned to a plurality of reviewers who gather data using the tool. Reviewer data is consolidated into a master database. The data is normalized with agent performance ratings. The normalized data is analyzed statistically to determine leverage points for improvement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: John Arthur Ricketts
  • Patent number: 7716108
    Abstract: An information technology services providing company manages a portfolio of software applications for a client company. A plurality of the applications are preselected along with a recommendation for each. The recommendations have value drivers with parameters. Values for the parameters are received from the client as responses to questions or through collaboration with the client. A business value is then determined for the value drivers using the parameter values. Total cash flow, return on investment, net present value, internal rate of return, or other financial measures may be calculated. The client decides to proceed with the recommendations and the services providing company delivers services and software according to the recommendations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Chiappetta, Jonathan M. Cohn, Marcelo C. Magalhaes
  • Patent number: 7712100
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for determining a capacity of a grid environment to handle a required workload for a virtual grid job request are provided. A bid controller receives a virtual job request for processing a job within a grid environment from a client system. The bid controller determines the total required workload for the virtual job request. Then, the bid controller calculates a capacity of the grid environment to handle the total required workload, such that a bid for performing the job is enabled to be automatically generated responsive to the virtual job request based on the capacity of the grid environment to handle the total required workload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Craig W. Fellenstein, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Joshy Joseph, James W. Seaman
  • Patent number: 7698746
    Abstract: A method for providing secure access to information held in a shared repository, for example to electronic business cards stored on a server. A data owner registers with the server and provides information to be shared with selected data users. The server returns public-key cryptography keys. To access the information, a data user sends its public key to the data owner. The data owner encrypts the public key using the data owner private key, and sends the result to the server, along with permission to transfer information to the data user. The server decrypts the received result using the data owner public key, and compares the outcome with the data user public key. If they match, the server records permission on an access list. In response to a request for information the server checks the access list to determine whether the data user has permission. If so, the server encrypts the information using the data user public key, and transfers the result to the data user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick James Richards, Jr., Matthew Bunkley Trevathan
  • Patent number: 7686217
    Abstract: A retail store has responsive environment apparatus installed which is controlled by processing apparatus. Trigger event sensors coupled to the processing apparatus, are positioned throughout the store. When customers enter and move about the store, the processing apparatus senses various trigger events and in response thereto creates a micro-environment in the vicinity of each customer, catering to the characteristics of that customer. The micro-environment physically moves as the customer moves about the store. The micro-environment is dynamic in that it is engaged in a continual response loop based on the response trigger events of the customer throughout this interactive cycle with the micro-environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas B. Heckel, Robyn R. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 7672891
    Abstract: An information technology services providing company manages a portfolio of software applications for a client company. A plurality of the applications are preselected along with a recommendation for each. The recommendations have value drivers with parameters. Values for the parameters are received from the client as responses to questions or through collaboration with the client. A business value is then determined for the value drivers using the parameter values. Total cash flow, return on investment, net present value, internal rate of return, or other financial measures may be calculated. The client decides to proceed with the recommendations and the services providing company delivers services and software according to the recommendations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Chiappetta, Jonathan M. Cohn, Marcelo C. Magalhaes
  • Patent number: 7624023
    Abstract: A business opportunity proposal is presented on a display device to a client. A business modeling capability installed on a computing device has parameters which can be altered to show calculations such as ROI relating to the business opportunity. An image capture device captures an image or video stream of the client during the presentation. Attentive technology software analyzes the image. Eye movement, facial expression, gestures and body motion in the image to detect a cued event situation. Parameters in the business modeling capability are altered during the presentation in response to the analyzing in order to more effectively communicate and reach agreement with the client on the proposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Clay, Robyn Ruth Levine, David A. Shuster, Kevin R. Wyne
  • Patent number: 7617141
    Abstract: An information technology services providing company manages a portfolio of software applications for a client company. A plurality of the applications are preselected along with a recommendation for each. The recommendations have value drivers with parameters. Values for the parameters are received from the client as responses to questions or through collaboration with the client. A business value is then determined for the value drivers using the parameter values. Total cash flow, return on investment, net present value, internal rate of return, or other financial measures may be calculated. The client decides to proceed with the recommendations and the services providing company delivers services and software according to the recommendations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Chiappetta, Jonathan M. Cohn, Marcelo C. Magalhaes