Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP
  • Patent number: 7530995
    Abstract: A method of protecting an upper and a lower body of a patient from high venous pressures comprising: providing an elongate valve stent, wherein the stent comprises a first stent member with a first tissue valve secured to a first support structure being disposed at a first end of the stent and a second stent member with a second tissue valve secured to a second support structure being disposed at an opposite second end of the stent, wherein both support structures are collapsibly expandable, the second end being connected to the first end with at least one elongate connecting member; passing the elongate valve stent through a blood vessel with the first and second support structures in a collapsed position; and securing the first support structure to an inferior vena cava and the second support structure to a superior vena cava with both support structures in an expanded shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: 3F Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodolfo C. Quijano, Patrick M. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 7526682
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention involves storing the operating time offset of a thread within an area of memory of the thread, and storing a load time and a relative load time for each frame of the thread stored within an area of memory of the frame. The operating time offset tracks the amount of time the thread has actively operated, the frame load time tracks the actual time the frame was loaded, and the relative frame load time tracks the time the frame was loaded after being adjusted for the inactivity of the thread. When a thread dump is performed at a specified time, a frame age and a relative frame age can be calculated for each frame based on the time of the thread dump, the operating time offset of the thread, the load time of the frames within the thread, and the relative load time of the frames within the thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph K. Chacko, Shirish T. Shenvi Kuncolienkar, Ajith Ramanath
  • Patent number: 7519164
    Abstract: A method for sending one or more telephone numbers between a first telephonic device and a second telephonic device while a telephone call is in progress comprises initiating a telephone call between a first telephonic device and a second telephonic device, entering a plurality of digits into a keypad of the first telephonic device to generate a plurality of dual-tone multi-frequency signals, measuring an elapsed time between the entry of each of the digits, comparing the elapsed time between the entry of each of the digits with a standard inter-digit time gap, determining a number of digit sequences entered based upon the comparison of the elapsed time between the entry of each of the digits and the standard inter-digit time gap, wherein the number of digit sequences entered corresponds with one or more telephone numbers, detecting the dual-tone multi-frequency signals with the digital signal processor of the second telephonic device, decoding the detected dual-tone multi-frequency signals with the digital s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Itzhack Goldberg, Aviad Zlotnick
  • Patent number: 7515899
    Abstract: Additional computing power is captured using the idle processing power of mobile phones incorporated into a grid computing system, wherein the system is capable of pushing projects out to available mobile phones for processing during idle operation times. To further efficiently utilize the unused processing cycles of mobile phones, a unique protocol is utilized to coordinate processing tasks which makes use of existing short messages techniques to communicate projects. The unique protocol is combination of bootstrapping using standard compression techniques along with an adaptive compression scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hollie Carr, Peter Mattison, Christopher E. Sharp
  • Patent number: 7512661
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for mounting email addresses in a file system by creating email virtual folders. The email virtual folders are created through the use of shell extensions in an operating system, and an email address is associated with the email virtual folder. The email virtual folders are utilized by adding one or more files to the email virtual folder. When the files are added to the email virtual folder, the files are sent to the email address(es) associated with the virtual folder. References to the files are stored and viewable in the virtual folder after the email is sent to allow additional file system commands to act upon the files added therein. The email virtual folder may be created and accessed through a graphical user interface or a command line interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony H. Phillips
  • Patent number: 7509433
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention provides a alternative hypertext protocol to enable the selection of quick-to-download/reduced content from a website. In one embodiment, this alternative hypertext protocol uses the same structure as HTTP, but contains a unique predefined Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) scheme for easy designation by clients. On the web server, content is defined for HTTP connections and a quick-to-download version of this content is defined for alternative hypertext protocol connections. The HTTP content is made available on a first port on the web server, and the quick-to-download alternative hypertext protocol content is made available on a second port on the web server. To access the quick-to-download content, an internet connection is established to the second port of the web server using the alternative hypertext protocol. Once a connection is established to the second port, the web server transmits the quick-to-download content via the alternative hypertext protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Hall, Brian D. Peacock
  • Patent number: 7506025
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of using a proxy to redirect downloads from a web server to one or more remote machines via a command issued from a local computer web browser. A user accesses the web server with a web browser on a local computer, and uses the web browser to initiate the download from the web server. Connection and authentication information for the download is sent to a router/proxy which is connected to both the local machine and the one or more remote machines. The router/proxy redirects the download to a process running on the one or more remote machines, where the download then saved. The web browser on the local computer then is notified when the download is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: George M. Blue, Philip G. Willoughby
  • Patent number: 7502997
    Abstract: New functions for a contact center system include: testing user's comprehension of informational messages with a quiz; capturing insight of superior users having a KPI score above a threshold by having those users submit information on why they perform so well; dynamically ordering solutions to issues by re-ranking the solutions periodically based on recency and frequency; integrating information for use by a contact center representative while online with a customer and information for use when not online; storing content items in a telecommunications industry taxonomy; directing user feedback on a content item to the proper owner/manager of that content; communicating solution information using a solutions taxonomy; displaying a dual information system having a CRM application as well as reference material that is context-appropriate; enforcing completion of a group of templates when creating a content item to be published; ensuring a group of templates for a content item are complete before publishing them
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH
    Inventors: Gregory S Reid, Timothy Ringo, David P Lane, Elizabeth H Lian, Daniel C Farrell, Craig Fenton, Elise Shearing, Randy Bell, Sevasti Wong, Anthony Lingham, Audrey Forrester
  • Patent number: 7502856
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method redirecting file access through a web server through the use of a symbolic link file. This symbolic link file is modified to include connection and authentication information of a file stored on a remote system but is accessible through a web server. When the modified symbolic link file is accessed on the local computer, the local computer recognizes that the symbolic link requires an internet connection to the linked file. The local computer establishes an internet connection to the web server using the connection and authentication connection information in the modified link file. The file is accessed and downloaded from the web server. The local computer is able to seamlessly access the modified symbolic link file as if it was a unmodified symbolic link file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony H. Phillips, Timothy E. Preece
  • Patent number: 7496876
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention includes a method for generating functional testcases for multiple boolean algorithms from a single generic testcase template. In one embodiment, the method includes the preliminary step of creating a generic testcase template containing user-entered mask levels shapes and grouping the shapes within each mask level of the template. Next, testcase generation code comprising mask build language is developed to copy and rename the mask levels from the template into the desired input levels necessary to test a mask build operation. Finally, testcase generation code is executed to generate a testcase. The testcase generation code can be easily modified as necessary to change the mask levels. Additionally, shape interactions for new mask level builds can be added into the generic testcase template, allowing the template to be reused to generate additional testcases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Punitha Selvam
  • Patent number: 7485843
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a touch proximity sensing system detecting the presence or absence of a triggering object. The system includes a reflective optical sensor, an active surface, and a light pipe in combination. The reflective optical sensor has an emitter for creating a light and a receiver for detecting a reflected light of the emitter. The active surface is suitable for receiving the triggering object, such as a stylus or finger, or the like. The light pipe is disposed between the reflective optical sensor and the active surface. The length of the light pipe is such that the reflective optical sensor and the active surface are spaced-apart from each other. The light pipe transports the light from the emitter to the active surface. In the presence of the triggering object, light from the emitter is reflected and the light pipe transports the reflected light to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Masstech Group Inc.
    Inventors: Sudy Shen, Dan Praisler
  • Patent number: 7485374
    Abstract: A heat exchanger which has i) a fin material comprising a triple-layer clad material constituted of a core material composed of an aluminum alloy containing from 0.5 to 1.8% by weight of Mn and from 0.5 to 3.0% by weight of Zn and, provided on both sides of the core material, a brazing filler material composed of an Al—Si alloy containing from 6.5 to 13.0% by weight of Si and from 0.15 to 0.60% by weight of Cu and ii) an aluminum alloy tube having a Zn concentrated surface; the both having been brazed with each other; wherein, after brazing, recrystallized grains of the core material have an average length of from 100 to 1,000 ?m in the lengthwise section of a fin and the recrystallized grains of the core material are 4 or less in average number in the thickness direction of that lengthwise section. This heat exchanger is improved in the durability of fin joints and fins themselves and their strength after corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Furukawa-Sky Aluminum Corp.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Suzuki, Nobuyuki Kakimoto, Junji Ninomiya, Yoshiyuki Oya
  • Patent number: 7486847
    Abstract: Considerable manufacturing efficiency and flexibility is provided by configuring the lower surface of a chip carrier to include multiple holes specifically designed to receive coupling fibers. By appropriately positioning these holes, the coupling fibers can be aligned with necessary optical elements of optoelectronic chips carried by the chip carrier. Similarly, the opposite end of the fibers can be appropriately configured and positioned for coupling to waveguide structures or fiber optic structures which may be embedded in printed circuit boards. By utilizing an appropriately configured chip carrier, and related fibers, a signal transmission structure is achieved which effectively bridges the gap between a chip carrier and a related printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Laurent A. Dellmann, Folkert Horst, Bert J. Offrein
  • Patent number: 7484451
    Abstract: A method of protecting a target from a projectile propelled from a firearm comprises detecting an approaching projectile, continuously monitoring the projectile and transmitting an actual position of the projectile to a controller, computing an estimated projectile trajectory based upon the actual position of the projectile, determining an actual position of a target with a plurality of position sensors and a plurality of attitude sensors, determining whether the estimated projectile trajectory coincides with the actual position of the target, and triggering a plurality of muscle stimulators operably coupled to the controller and to the target when the estimated projectile trajectory coincides with the actual position of the target, wherein the muscle stimulators stimulate the target to move in a predefined manner, and wherein the target moves by an amount sufficient to avoid any contact with the approaching projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Morf, Jonas R. Weiss
  • Patent number: 7486511
    Abstract: A server rack system comprises a server rack, a raised floor cooling system, and an exhaust system. The server rack includes a base, a front side, a rear side, and an interior portion including first, second, and third server rows. The raised floor cooling system includes a floor surface, ductwork disposed below the floor surface, a blower unit, and a vent. The exhaust system is coupled to the rear side of the server rack and includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and first, second, and third adjustable exhaust channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marc Griffel, Jacques Hummel, Michael Schaefer, Karl H. Uhl
  • Patent number: 7486196
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the performance of an application comprises determining an output of an application that requires monitoring, assigning an audible sound to the output, running the application and allowing the application to reach a state of equilibrium, determining a baseline for the output when the application is in the state of equilibrium, monitoring the output to detect a change relative to the baseline, emitting the audible sound assigned to the output when the detected change varies from the baseline by a predetermined amount, and adjusting configurable parameters of the audible sound to indicate the existence of the detected change, the magnitude of the detected change relative to the baseline, and the degree of deviation from the baseline. The amplitude of the audible sound may be adjusted to indicate the magnitude of the detected change from the baseline, and the pitch of the audible sound may be adjusted to indicate a positive change or a negative change from the baseline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Bicheno, Tim Dunn, Ian P. Hurworth, Xiaoming Zhang
  • Patent number: 7482529
    Abstract: A self-adjusting music scrolling method comprises providing a display screen, selecting a music score to be played by a musician, wherein the music score is cataloged and stored in a music score database as a first MIDI file, displaying a first portion of the selected music score on the display screen, recording musical notes played by a musician with a digital device, storing the recorded musical notes in memory as a WAV file, converting the WAV file into a second MIDI file, comparing the first MIDI file and the second MIDI file with a MIDI comparison algorithm, determining if the first MIDI file substantially matches the second MIDI file, automatically adjusting the music score on the display screen to show a second portion of the selected music score upon determining that the first MIDI file substantially matches the second MIDI file, and displaying one or more mistakes detected on the display screen upon determining that the first MIDI file does not substantially match the second MIDI file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Elisabetta Flamini, Doina L. Klinger
  • Patent number: 7483755
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and method for treating urinary incontinence generally rely on energy delivered to a patient's own pelvic support tissue to selectively contract or shrink at least a portion of that pelvic support tissue so as to reposition the bladder. The energy will preferably be applied to the endopelvic fascia and/or an arcus tendineus fascia pelvis. The invention provides a variety of devices and methods for applying gentle resistive heating of these and other tissues to cause them to contract without imposing significant injury on the surrounding tissue structures. Alternatively, heat-applying probes are configured to heat tissue structures which comprise or support a patient's urethra. By applying sufficient energy over a predetermined time, the tissue can be raised to a temperature which results in contraction without significant necrosis or other tissue damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Inventors: Frank Ingle, Garry Carter, Michael D. Laufer
  • Patent number: 7476242
    Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for treating tissue. In one embodiment the present invention provides a method of controlling a temperature of an applicator body, the method comprising providing an applicator body that comprises at least one contact surface A coolant is delivered through at least a portion of the applicator body at a substantially constant rate. Energy is delivered to the coolant through a heating element so that the contact surface of the applicator body is cooled to a desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: AMS Research Corporation
    Inventor: George Matlock
  • Patent number: D590111
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Hydramaster North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Wiljanen, Michael A. Stoy, Steve Brandt