Patents Represented by Attorney Stephen B. Tkacs
  • Patent number: 8204791
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for file fragment pricing in a segmented file sharing system. The mechanism allows peers to set a price for distributing a file through the file sharing system. A peer then becomes a file distributor on behalf of an original file provider. The original file provider may compensate the file distributor based on a compensation agreement. The peer's client may be configured to download file fragments from file distributors, or the original file provider, based on preferences, such as price, peer rating, upload speed, or similarity. As a result, a peer may download a file for a price that is less than the original price from the original file provider. Thus, the mechanism provides an incentive for peers to participate in file sharing, which results in larger swarms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy R. Chavez, Lisa S. DeLuca, Christina K. Lauridsen, Sushma B. Patel, Robert R. Peterson, Loulwa F. Salem
  • Patent number: 8086498
    Abstract: Embodiments include hardware and/or software for receiving an electronic receipt from a merchant that describes a transaction for a product by a purchaser and gathering product information from one or more sources such as the merchant, the product's manufacturer, the purchaser's bank, and/or an accessories dealer. Upon gathering the product information, the product information is associated with the transaction for the product on the electronic receipt and packaged in a standard, electronic format, an aggregated package, that is accessible and manageable by the purchaser's software, such as a personal finance manager (PFM) like Quicken™, Quickbooks™, Microsoft Money™, or the like. The aggregated package can then be sent to the purchaser via an email address supplied by the purchaser at the time of the purchaser or by the purchaser's bank while completing a funds transfer for the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Herman Rodriguez, Newton James Smith, Clifford Jay Spinac