Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Stephen C. Kaufman, Esq.
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Patent number: 6817538Abstract: A system and method for detecting parallel marketing of an item, include forming at least one of a coating and a code on the item, interrogating the at least one of the coating and said code, and determining from the interrogating whether the item has been transferred from an authorized merchant to an unauthorized merchant.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Claudius Feger, Marco Martens, Paul Andrew Moskowitz, Alejandro Gabriel Schrott, Charles P. Tresser, Robert Jacob von Gutfeld
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Patent number: 6810368Abstract: A method for constructing predictive models that can be used to make predictions in situations where the inputs to those models can have values that are missing or are otherwise unknown. The method can realize significant advantages because it can be readily applied in conjunction with any method for constructing models, including ones that require all input values to be known, thereby yielding combined methods for constructing models that tolerate missing values.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1998Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Edwin Peter Dawson Pednault
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Patent number: 6804373Abstract: A method (and system) of watermarking a half-toned image, includes grouping pixels of an image into blocks each containing a plurality of pixels, using as many gray levels as there are pixels in a block to halftone the image formed in the same blocks of pixels, based on a data set formed by the gray levels of the blocks of the halftoned image, generating at least one of a digital signature and a compressed version of the image, to form a generated unit, and inserting the generated unit in the halftoned image to form the watermark, by selecting how a predetermined number of pixels in a block are placed in the block.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2000Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Charles Philippe Tresser, Jean-Marc Gambaudo
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Patent number: 6791585Abstract: A computer method suitable for reconciling disparate data archival mediums. The method obviates the need for writing programs that are specific or uniquely tailored to each data archival medium, wherein it is desired to extract specific fields from a variety of spreadsheet or database output files.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2000Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Virgina Howard Brecher, Rhys F. Elliott, Menachem Levanoni
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Patent number: 6760632Abstract: A computer method for providing optimization for business processes for situations wherein there is defined a functional form y=f(x,b), where x comprises a set of independent controllable variables x={x1, . . . xn}, b comprises a set of functional parameters b={b1, . . . bm}, and y comprises a dependent uncontrollable business variable, f(x,b) subject to constraints on the dependent uncontrollable business variable y. The method comprises the steps of converting the constraints on y to constraints on b by using a functional estimate of y and its business variables (parameters) b; optimizing the function f(x,b) subject to the converted constraints on its business variables (parameters) b; and generating from step (ii) a set of optimized values of b which can optimize the dependent business variable y.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Aliza Rivka Heching, Ying Tat Leung, Menachem Levanoni, Gyana Ranjan Parija
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Patent number: 6748371Abstract: A computer method for enhancing product manufacturing management. The method includes the steps of providing a demand database comprising a compendium of individual demand history; providing a manufacturing database comprising a compendium of at least one of product manufacturing management solutions, product manufacturing information, and product manufacturing diagnostics; and, employing a data mining technique for interrogating the demand and manufacturing databases for generating an output data stream, the output data stream correlating a demand problem with a manufacturing solution.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2000Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Menachem Levanoni, Jerome M. Kurtzberg
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Patent number: 6746053Abstract: A system and method for detecting parallel marketing of an item, include forming at least one of a coating and a code on the item, interrogating the at least one of the coating and said code, and determining from the interrogating whether the item has been transferred from an authorized merchant to an unauthorized merchant.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1998Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Claudius Feger, Marco Martens, Paul Andrew Moskowitz, Alejandro Gabriel Schrott, Charles P. Tresser, Robert Jacob von Gutfeld
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Patent number: 6732099Abstract: A computer method for enhancing distribution centers management. The method includes the steps of providing a demand database comprising a compendium of individual demand history; providing a distribution database comprising a compendium of at least one of distribution centers management solutions, distribution centers information, and distribution centers diagnostics; and, employing a data mining technique for interrogating the demand and distribution databases for generating an output data stream, the output data stream correlating a demand problem with a distribution solution.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2000Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Menachem Levanoni, Jerome M. Kurtzberg
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Patent number: 6731994Abstract: A computer method for providing optimization for manufacturing processes for situations wherein there is defined a functional form y=f(x,b), where x comprises a set of independent controllable variables x={x1, . . . xn}, b comprises a set of functional parameters b={b1, . . . bm}, and y comprises a dependent uncontrollable manufacturing variable, f(x,b) subject to constraints on the dependent uncontrollable manufacturing variable y. The method comprises the steps of converting the constraints on y to constraints on b by using a functional estimate of y and its manufacturing variables (parameters) b; optimizing the function f(x,b) subject to the converted constraints on its manufacturing variables (parameters) b; and generating from step (ii) a set of optimized values of b which can optimize the dependent manufacturing variable y.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2001Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Aliza Rivka Heching, Ying Tat Leung, Menachem Levanoni, Gyana R. Parija
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Patent number: 6686839Abstract: A system (and method) includes a sound monitoring system, a detector for identifying a source of the sound, a computing system for processing the sound to trigger a notification event, and a user interface system for notifying at least one individual responsible for the sound.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2001Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Paul Bao-Luo Chou, Marco O. Gruteser, Jennifer C. Lai, Anthony Levas, Paul Andrew Moskowitz, Danny Chan Yong Wong
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Patent number: 6658309Abstract: The present invention discloses a computer system adapted for composing sound. Sound is composed via a combination of blocks and modifiers, where a block is an abstraction of a collection of data that, when processed by appropriate algorithms and hardware, produces sound. Further, the current invention also comprises one or more modifiers, each of which, when applied to a block, alters the sound produced by that block.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 1997Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven R. Abrams, Daniel V. Oppenheim, Donald P. Pazel, James L. Wright
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Patent number: 6658422Abstract: A computer method for enhancing regional product allocation management. The method includes the steps of providing a demand database comprising a compendium of individual demand history; providing a supply database comprising a compendium of at least one of regional product allocation management solutions, regional product allocation information, and regional product allocation diagnostics; and, employing a data mining technique for interrogating the demand and supply databases for generating an output data stream, the output data stream correlating demand problem with supply solution.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2000Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Menachem Levanoni, Jerome M. Kurtzberg
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Patent number: 6614348Abstract: A system and method for monitoring behavior patterns which effectively distinguishes between alarming and non-alarming behavior patterns, includes at least one sensor for detecting behavior patterns, a memory device coupled to the sensor, for storing standard behavior patterns, and a processor, coupled to the memory device, for comparing standard behavior patterns with detected behavior patterns, and causing a response to be activated when standard behavior patterns and detected behavior patterns have a predetermined relationship.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2001Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Arthur C. Ciccolo, Phillip Hobbs, John D. Mackay, Howard E. Sachar
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Patent number: 6603487Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a customer, an automobile dealership, a participating financial institution, and a credit bureau may be electronically connected in a system that preferably uses the internet in order to develop and process a legal document comprising a credit application. The system thereby eliminates a paper-based process of credit approval, providing an efficient interaction between businesses and their customer.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1996Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William Edward Bennett, Stephen Joy Boies, Lauretta Jones, Stephen Eric Levy, Douglas Charles Lovell, Neil Lustig, Paul Michael Matchen, Richard Dean Thompson
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Patent number: 6603965Abstract: A system (and method) for linking wireless and land line communications media, includes a connector for connecting a communications media, and an indicator for alerting a user of the state of a connection. The connector automatically initiates a continuous reestablishment operation after the indicator announces a state of disconnection and in which the system provides a conferencing capability using the Internet. A handset to be used in voice communications includes a housing including a receiver and transmitter for connecting to a computer network, a plurality of wireless protocols for use with the transmitter, and a universal telephone port coupled to the housing for connecting to a universal telephone jack.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2000Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Sam Dinkin
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Patent number: 6597639Abstract: The invention discloses an assembly/methodology for writing/erasing high-density data on a ferroelectric recording media. A preferred embodiment of the invention features a novel thermal near-field heater that may be employed in the assembly, particularly for realizing the methodology in a substantially thermal near-field mode. The invention provides advantages of data storage densities greater than that of diffraction limited systems, for example, data storage densities of approximately greater than 100 Gbit/inch2, and writing speeds approximately greater than 100 MHz.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2000Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Yves Martin, Hemantha Kumar Wickramasinghe
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Patent number: 6567172Abstract: An optical system includes a spectrometer and a multipass optical probe. The multipass optical probe includes a retroreflective element such that light propagating, in a first direction, from the probe to a sample under test and passing through or reflecting from the sample under test, is reflected back in a second direction opposite the first direction, so as to pass through the sample under test a total of at least two times.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2000Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Philip Charles Danby Hobbs, Richard John Lebel, Martin Patrick O'Boyle, Theodore Gerard van Kessel, Hemantha Kumar Wickramasinghe
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Patent number: 6535799Abstract: A method including providing force and acceleration sensors in a vehicle-enclosing device; transmitting data produced by the sensors during actual operation of the vehicle-enclosing device attached to a specific vehicle for subsequent analysis by a computer; and creating a force-and-acceleration map based on the sensor-based data.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Menachem Levanoni, Jerome M. Kurtzberg
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Patent number: 6532125Abstract: The invention discloses novel apparatus/methodology for writing/erasing high-density data on a digital recording media. A preferred embodiment of the invention features a novel thermal near-field heater that may be employed in the apparatus, particularly for realizing the methodology in a substantially thermal near-field mode. The invention provides advantages of data storage densities greater than that of diffraction limited systems, for example, data storage densities of approximately greater than 100 Gbit/inch2, and writing speeds approximately greater than 100 MHz.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1999Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Yves Martin, Hemantha Kumar Wickramasinghe
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Patent number: 6532366Abstract: An interactive method that optimizes telephone usage for a call or set of calls, given the call criteria, and makes it easy for the consumer to use the carrier that achieves this minimum cost when the consumer is ready to make the call.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1999Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jen-Yao Chung, Walter Charles Dietrich, Jr., German Sergio Goldszmidt, Marc Hubert Willebeek-LeMair