Patents Represented by Attorney Keith Stephens
  • Patent number: 6108662
    Abstract: A system software solution for controlling an enterprise comprising one or more components for controlling one or more aspects of an industrial environment with code that creates a database of components, each of the components containing control, diagnostic and resource information pertaining to enterprise resources utilized in the industrial environment. The system also generates code that controls resources comprising cognitive and timing information that synchronizes events throughout the enterprise. The database of components includes code that updates the database to reflect changes in the enterprise and integrates the new design, simulation, implementation and maintenance changes to optimize the manufacturing enterprise utilizing the database of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company, LLC
    Inventors: Josiah C. Hoskins, Ruven E. Brooks
  • Patent number: 5923576
    Abstract: This invention generally relates to improvements in digital audio processing and more particularly to digitally filtering stereo data in parallel to increase the quality of the audio information in an efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Alan Hajdu, Darryl Ray Polk
  • Patent number: 5758160
    Abstract: A human oriented object programming system provides an interactive and dynamic process for the incremental building of computer programs which facilitates the development of complex computer programs such as operating systems and large applications with graphic user interfaces (GUIs). The program is modeled as a collection of units called components. A component represents a single compilable language element such as a class or a function. The three major functionality are the database, the compiler and the build mechanism. The database stores the components and properties. The compiler, along with compiling the source code of a property, is responsible for calculating the dependencies associated with a component. The build mechanism uses properties of components along with the compiler generated dependencies to correctly and efficiently sequence the compilation of components during a build process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Object Technology Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Joseph McInerney, Bill Gibbons
  • Patent number: 5721901
    Abstract: A method, system and program for providing a graphical interface for a database are accomplished by the operation of a process in the memory of a processor. A selected entry in the database is dynamically used as input to a conditional definition dialog box. The definition of individual conditions, the definition of the relationship of conditions to the selected entries, the editing of conditions, and the editing of the relationship of conditions is simplified and rendered dynamic and interactive for the user thereby facilitating the completion of the task being performed. The user need not remember the related column information for a specified predicate because the system will provide that information simultaneously with the conditional definition in a form that supports the direct manipulation of the related information. The selected entries and their relationship are displayed simultaneously with the definition activities for both the initial definition and any subsequent editing activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Ray Banning, Wendy Sue James, Shih-Gong Li
  • Patent number: 5721900
    Abstract: A method, system and program for providing a graphical interface for a database are accomplished by the operation of a process in the memory of a processor. The definition of individual predicates, the definition of the relationship of predicates, the editing of predicates, and the editing of the relationship of predicates is simplified and rendered dynamic and interactive for the user thereby facilitating the completion of the task being performed. The user need not remember the related column information for a specified predicate because the system will provide that information simultaneously with the predicate definition in a form that supports the direct manipulation of the related information. The predicates and their relationship are displayed simultaneously with the definition activities for both the initial definition and any subsequent editing activities. The user may select this information and drag it to the desired location to proceed on the desired activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
    Inventors: Kenneth Ray Banning, Wendy Sue James, Shih-Gong Li
  • Patent number: 5634006
    Abstract: A data processing system for regulating access to a communication network is disclosed herein. The data processing system employs a component that can be implemented in hardware logic or software. The component regulates access to the priority queue or transmit channel that is attached to the shared medium local area network section. All access to the priority queue or transmit channel must pass through this component, thus subjecting all communication transactions to rejection or tracking by the component. The component allocates a frame size based on the information to be transmitted and the priority to assure the transmission will be completed in line with the quality of service required. The component monitors the rate and size of messages to assure that an application's actual throughput does not exceed its negotiated throughput. The component, moreover, is capable of operating in correction mode where throughput and frame size violations are prevented and reported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Baugher, John K. Bigler, Mark R. Simpson
  • Patent number: 5563720
    Abstract: A method, system and process for improving image enhancement tools through the application of expert systems. The improvements are accomplished by the operation of a process in the memory of a processor that enhances an image based on a set of criteria entered by a user. The image is enhanced in at least two ways and the two enhanced images are presented to the user. The user selects the image that appears best and the selected image is thereafter used for subsequent image enhancements according to the user criteria until a final image is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Albert D. Edgar, Steven C. Penn
  • Patent number: 5555368
    Abstract: A view system is provided for each application program in a computer system in order to display application-generated information on a display. To increase graphic speed, the view system transfers graphic information directly into the screen buffer into a screen buffer area defined by a visible area definition. In order to handle concurrently-operating view systems, each of which modifies the displayed contents of one of the multiple views, a concurrency control controls access to the visible area definitions. The concurrency control is also used to control access to update requests which are generated when a change to one view affects other views. This mechanism supports animation, tracking feedback and updating invalid areas of the display by multiple threads of execution. This mechanism also provides a framework to support unrelated threads drawing in separate views within a single window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Taligent
    Inventors: Debra L. Orton, David B. Goldsmith
  • Patent number: 5553282
    Abstract: A distributed program configuration database system is designed for use on a client-server network. The system consists of a plurality of program servers which maintain version information for various program components. A program developer, upon logging into a client terminal on the network, establishes a workspace or project and connects with one of the servers. After connection to the server has been made, a draft of the program configuration is retrieved from the server. The configuration draft may include information for constructing some of the program components and "bridge" information identifying other program servers where additional program components are located. The workspace uses the component information to assemble components and the bridge information to connect to other servers and retrieve the remaining components in order to assemble the complete source code for a program in the workspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Taligent, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff W. Parrish, Farzin Maghoul, P. Thyagarajan
  • Patent number: 5544302
    Abstract: An object-oriented framework is used to create container objects which are, in turn, used to hold both other objects and information in order to organize the information in a variety of ways. The framework contains a set of pre-defined class information which allows container objects to be constructed or instantiated. An instantiated container object can be accessed by a multitude of users and may contain other objects which can hold information defining other containers, such as shelves and trash cans, or which can hold information representing physical "things" such as locations, maps and people. The pre-defined class information includes member functions which provide default editing operations such as cut, copy, paste, drag, drop, selection, move, undo and redo, which editing operations are applicable to all objects in the container. Member functions are also provided to generate one or more presentations on a display which represent the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Taligent, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 5544301
    Abstract: A view system is provided for each application program in a computer system in order to display application-generated information on a display. To increase graphic speed, the view system transfers graphic information directly into the screen buffer into a screen buffer area defined by a visible area definition. The view system provides support for spatially laying out views. The support includes a class of objects that contain specific layout information. The layout information automatically provides horizontal or vertical orientation, size and constraints. The views are arranged in a hierarchy and the layout objects are inserted into the hierarchy at a level directly above the levels of the views to which the layout objects relate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Taligent, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra L. Orton, William F. Kraus, Erich Gamma
  • Patent number: 5537526
    Abstract: An object-oriented compound document architecture provides system level support for document processing features. The object-oriented compound document framework supports a variety of document processing functions. The framework provides system level support of collaboration, linking, eternal undo, and content based retrieval, among other things. System level support is provided for document changes, annotation through model and linking, anchors, model hierarchies, enhanced copy and pasting, command objects, and a generic retrieval framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Taugent, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Anderson, Jack H. Palevich, Arnold Schaeffer, Larry S. Rosenstein, Ryoji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5530859
    Abstract: A method and system for providing synchronization of the timing of various multimedia events, including MIDI data events. Clock objects are defined in the storage and associated with an internal or external source of current time. The clock objects are able to be displayed on the display, but can be hidden once their linkages are defined. One or more multimedia objects representative of audio, visual or other multimedia events, including a MIDI data object, are defined and linked to a particular clock object or clock objects. Then, a processor synchronizes the multimedia objects, including a MIDI data object, with the associated clock object or objects. Finally, the various multimedia events are performed in synchronization with their associated clocks. The multimedia objects, including the MIDI data, may include external multimedia sources managed by the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Taligent, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Tobias, II, Matthew L. Denman
  • Patent number: 5530864
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a command system is disclosed. Commands include variables that reflect the command's current appearance. This includes status information determinative of the command's state (enabled/disabled), its name, its associated graphic, and whether its appearance is currently valid. Each of these were initialized when the command was created. The invention creates a command including an object's data structure containing a command sequence. The command is added to a list of commands, and initialized as an invalid appearance. Later when the command is selected, the appearance state is recomputed based on the system state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Taligent
    Inventors: John R. Matheny, Christopher White, David R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5530799
    Abstract: A method and system for caching graphic information for display in a graphics processing system to avoid repeated rendering each time a graphic is required to be re drawn. A developer of an application program can specify which graphic objects should be cached, and request that caching be carried out for those graphics. Devices may also specify whether caching is desired, and this preference may be overridden by the caching system. The caching system may create a single cache object for several devices, or may create several cache objects for corresponding devices, depending on the characteristics of the devices. The objects are cached in a device-dependent manner. The cached graphic may be sent to methods and devices in the same mariner that any other graphic is sent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Taligent Inc.
    Inventors: Donald M. Marsh, Maire L. Howard
  • Patent number: 5524199
    Abstract: A view system is provided for each application program in a computer system in order to display application-generated information on a display. To increase graphic speed, the view system transfers graphic information directly into the screen buffer into a screen buffer area defined by a visible area definition. The view system provides support for minimal recomputation required for a correct display of data in several views when one view is changed. First, the view system generates an update request each time a change is made to one view, but the update request is only forwarded to those views which are affected by the change. Second, update requests are collected over a period of time and used to determine an invalid area caused by all of the requests and this latter invalid area is used to update each affected view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Taligent
    Inventors: Debra L. Orton, David R. Anderson, Keith Rollin
  • Patent number: 5524200
    Abstract: A view system is provided for each application program in a computer system in order to display application-generated information on a display. To increase graphic speed, the view system transfers graphic information directly into the screen buffer into a screen buffer area defined by a visible area definition. Since the view system creates a view defined by the visible area definition, the view can be made non-rectilinear by providing a suitable definition. The visible area definition may define a visible area of any arbitrary two-dimensional shape, including, but not limited to, rectilinear, disjoint, elliptical, etc. This mechanism makes it possible to provide a single drawing canvas comprised of non-contiguous areas and enhances traditionally rectangular window systems because it allows windows to have any arbitrary two-dimensional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Taligent, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra L. Orton, Maire L. Howard, Richard D. Webb
  • Patent number: 5522025
    Abstract: An object-oriented window manager provides coordination between window displays generated by separate application programs by computing and storing the visible area of each application window each time displayed windows are changed. Each application program directly communicates with the screen buffer memory in order to redraw portions of the screen corresponding to its display area using the visible area computed by the window manager. Each application program communicates with the object-oriented window manager by creating a window object which provides flexible display capabilities that are transparent to the application program. Several techniques are used to decrease the visible area computation time. First, as mentioned above a copy of the visible area is stored or "cached" in each window object. This copy can be used if the application program needs to redraw the window area and the visible area has not been changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Taligent, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry S. Rosenstein
  • Patent number: 5519510
    Abstract: A system and method for electronically developing an image recorded on film by applying a developer to and then scanning the film during the development at a number of spaced timed intervals. Images are captured during each of the spaced scans and are stored as digital representations of that scan. The stored digital representations are combined on a pixel-by-pixel basis to produce an output image that differs from any one of the stored representations. This combination of digital images allows for optimal image development without actually forming or storing the image on the film itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Albert D. Edgar
  • Patent number: 5519818
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for defining customizable pick, hit or find detection criteria for geometric types including curves and using the results of the search as a basis for determining whether to perform an action. According to the inventive method, a search protocol is defined for geometric types. The search criteria is compared with graphic objects to determine whether the object matches the criteria. Based on the results of the comparison, an output is produced. In addition to allowing customized hit criteria for primitive geometric types, the hit object framework allows hit criteria to be specified for geometric types created by the application developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Taligent, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Peterson