Patents Represented by Attorney Yee & Associates, P.C.
  • Patent number: 8234663
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments disclose sending content from a first application at a first location to a second application at a second remote location. In response to a user input indicating a selection of content for transfer to the second application, the selection of the content is copied to form copied content. The copied content is then automatically sent to the second application at the remote second location without requiring additional user manipulation of the copy content. Additionally, the destination may be another user. In this case, the second application is employed to automatically transfer the copied content to that second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Indran Naick, Jeffrey Kenneth Wilson
  • Patent number: 8234644
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing a system. The process stores information regarding performance of a system management task to form a task execution history in response to performing a system management task. After receiving a request to perform to subsequent system management task, the process determines whether a task execution history is present for the subsequent system management task. The process then presents the task execution history for the subsequent task to a user for use in selecting a system management product from a plurality of system management products in response to the task execution history being present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hari Haranath Madduri, Puthukode G. Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 8231083
    Abstract: A system and methods for airborne launch and recovery of aircraft. In one embodiment the system comprises a flexible tether configured to be towed behind an airborne mother ship. A drag device is secured to a distal end of the flexible tether to generate drag and maintain tension in the flexible tether. A reel associated with the mother ship anchors a proximal portion of the flexible tether and selectively lets out and takes up the flexible tether to adjust a length of the flexible tether. A capture mechanism associated with the aircraft engages the flexible tether to secure the aircraft to the flexible tether. In certain embodiments of the present methods, a flexible tether is deployed from an airborne mother ship. An aircraft translates forward and rearward along the flexible tether. Alternatively, the aircraft translates forward and rearward as the flexible tether taken up and let out from the mother ship. Prior to launch, the weight of the aircraft is transferred from the flexible tether to the wings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Aaron J. Kutzmann, Kevin R. Lutke, Zachary C. Hoisington
  • Patent number: 8233005
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for modifying objects. In one embodiment, tracking data is obtained which identifies a location of a set of avatars in relation to a range of the object. The range of the object includes a viewable field. In response to determining that the object requires modification, a size of the object is compared with a set of size constraints to form a comparison. Thereafter, the size of the object is modified based on the comparison to form a set of size modifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter George Finn, Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 8234124
    Abstract: An allergy prevention method and system. The method includes retrieving, by a computing system from a fidelity card, a user profile comprising information specifying first elements known to cause a user to have an allergic reaction. The computing system retrieves data associated with an item for purchase. The data comprises information specifying second elements comprised by the item. The computing system compares the first elements to the second elements to determine that a first element of the first elements matches a second element of the second elements. The computing system generates and presents to the user, a warning indicating that the first item may cause the user to have an allergic reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marco Canu, Sandro Piccinini, Luigi Pichetti, Marco Secchi
  • Patent number: 8234634
    Abstract: A method, computer program and system for consuming reusable software assets, said assets being described with elements and attributes, said assets containing at least one variable element (VPs) themselves containing at least one variant. The user executes a program on a computer by first choosing the asset to be consumed. A decision tree corresponding to the asset is traversed, each decision point corresponding to a variable element. The decision point is processed by asking the user inputs to modify the variants of the corresponding variable elements. The modified variable elements are stored. The dependency of the decision point is indicated by a dependency attribute in the variable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Regis Coqueret, Bertrand H. Portier
  • Patent number: 8234289
    Abstract: A first conversation between a user of a communications device and a first party is monitored. A conversation stub that includes information relating to a topic of the first conversation is generated and stored. It is determined whether a second party of a second conversation between the user of the communications device and the second party has expertise regarding the topic of the first conversation. Responsive to determining that the second party has expertise regarding the topic of the first conversation, the conversation stub is presented to the user during the second conversation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Negley Abernethy, Jr., Travis M. Grigsby
  • Patent number: 8234010
    Abstract: A system and method for positioning a mobile machine, such as a robot, using a tether line connected between two mobile machines. A first mobile machine, such as a boundary vehicle, is controlled to move along a path, such as a boundary defining an area. The first machine employs a localization device to determine and maintain its position on the path. A tether line is connected between the boundary vehicle and a second mobile machine, such as a roving vehicle. The first machine determines the position of the second machine relative to the first machine from a length of extension and angle of the tether line. The first machine controls movement of the second machine to perform a task or mission, such as a task performed in the area defined by the boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Thompson, Noel Wayne Anderson
  • Patent number: 8234639
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for installing software in a network data processing system. An event is detected in the network data processing system indicating that a software module is to be installed in a set of data processing systems in the network data processing system. A configuration of each data processing system in the set of data processing systems is discovered, and a set of instructions is created using a knowledge base of prior installations. The set of instructions is tailored for each data processing system in the set of data processing systems based on the configuration for the each data processing system in the set of data processing systems. The set of instructions for the software module to be installed is sent to the set of data processing systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Puthukode G. Ramachandran, John C. Sanchez, Lorin Evan Ullmann, Mark Williams
  • Patent number: 8229765
    Abstract: A drug interaction utility can retrieve the patient's current medications from a medication information card on the smart card by interacting with an identity selector on the provider's computer. The identity selector can transmit the current medications to the drug interaction utility without disclosing any information about the current medications to the provider and without disclosing any information identifying the patient to the drug interaction utility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Y. Choi, Christopher J. Hockings, Neil I. Readshaw
  • Patent number: 8229618
    Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a method and apparatus for controlling movement of a vehicle. Movement of an operator located at a side of the vehicle is identified with a plurality of sensors located in the vehicle and the vehicle is moved in a path that maintains the operator at the side of the vehicle while the operator is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Louis Tolstedt, Noel Wayne Anderson
  • Patent number: 8230429
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments manage deadlock in a data processing system during an IPL process that includes monitoring the usage of locks in the Hardware Object Model (HOM) of the data processing system. The process further includes detecting a deadlock condition in response to an indication of the IPL process in the data processing system entering a hung state when at least one lock is in use. The process also includes handling the deadlock condition by performing one or more of the following: recording error information for the deadlock condition, and terminating the IPL process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Van Hoa Lee, David Dean Sanner, Alan Hlava
  • Patent number: 8229867
    Abstract: Selecting bits in a string-based genetic algorithm is provided. A type of genetic operation to perform is determined. Responsive to a determination to perform a crossover operation, an input comprising a pair of strings is received. The strings in the pair of strings are compared to identify a set of non-matching points. A set of points from the set of non-matching points is randomly selected, forming a set of randomly selected non-matching points. A new string for the pair of strings is generated using the set of randomly selected non-matching points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jason F. Cantin, Donald R. DeSota
  • Patent number: 8230409
    Abstract: A way to use multiple-reader locks for those paths where no writes occur is provided. Only if one of the writing paths executes will a full writer lock be acquired. Two copies of the critical section comprising a reading version and a writing version are created. The default execution leads to the reader version, which only acquires a reader-lock. The reader version of the code executes prior to execution of the writer lock only version, otherwise bypassing the writer lock only version. If the execution leads to a path in which a write would occur, the reader only version branches to the beginning of the writer version. The writer version is identical to the original code and obtains a full writer lock. If execution in the reader lock does not lead to a path that writes, then only the reader lock is acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nikola Grcevski, Mark Graham Stoodley
  • Patent number: 8229593
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for object destruction. An object is detected in a receptacle and identified. Based on the type of object identified, the object may be destroyed in a shredder and a confirmation of the destruction of the object is recorded for reference. The object may also be directed to a secure bin where it will not be destroyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Herman Rodriguez, Newton James Smith, Clifford Jay Spinac
  • Patent number: 8229999
    Abstract: Workloads that are and are not appropriate for transformation and processing on a cloud computing environment are identified. A user entity is provided with a measurement of at least one of the value which will be realized, and the effort which will be required. A plurality of attributes are specified Input data represents the extent to which the user entity processing system possesses the given attribute. The input data for each attribute is employed to derive a corresponding numerical parameter value, which are to compute a final score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Murthy V. Devarakonda, Vijay K. Naik
  • Patent number: 8226414
    Abstract: A method and computer usable program product for generating meal plans based on a set of nutritional policies. The process determines nutritional requirements specified by a set of nutritional policies in response to receiving a request for a set of meal plans for a set of users. The set of nutritional policies correspond to the set of users. The process identifies a set of potential meal plans in response to determining the nutritional requirements specified by the set of nutritional policies. Each potential meal plan in the set of potential meal plans satisfies all nutritional requirements for the set of nutritional policies. The process generates a listing of ingredients required by the selected meal plan that is unavailable in a current inventory in an amount required by the selected meal plan, in response to receiving a selection of a potential meal plan to form a selected meal plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Patent number: 8230042
    Abstract: An auditing system is disclosed comprising a Policy Validation Mechanism Program (PVMP) that operates in conjunction with a Workflow Engine (WE), and a Policy Validation Server Program (PVSP) that operates on a Policy Validation Server (PVS) connected to the WE by a secure communication link. The PVMP converts a workflow to a workflow representation (WR) and sends the WR to the PVS. The PVSP compares the steps in the WR to a security policy identified for that WR and determines whether the WR is in compliance. In addition, the PVSP validates a checksum for the WR and logs the checksum for subsequent comparisons. The PVSP uses the checksum to determine whether a policy has changed during execution of the workflow. If the WR is not in compliance, if the checksum cannot be validated, or if a policy has changed, then a failure notification is sent to the WE. Otherwise, a success notification is sent to the WR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rhonda L. Childress, Edmond Chow, David Bruce Kumhyr, Stephen James Watt
  • Patent number: 8228532
    Abstract: A computer implemented method and data processing system for providing a hardware controlled one-time write for fiscal printers. A signal from a fiscal printer is received at a memory controller in an electronic journal or fiscal memory card. The signal comprises transaction data and an address in a memory space in the electronic journal or fiscal memory card. The memory controller checks a marker bit corresponding to the address to determine if the marker bit is in a written state. Responsive to a determination that the marker bit is not in a written state, the memory controller sets the marker bit to the written state. The memory controller then writes the transaction data to the address in the memory space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Julie Anne Morris, James Manson White
  • Patent number: 8224962
    Abstract: An automatic network domain diagnostic, repair, and mapping tool facilitates access by a user to shared resources on a network. A user provides an address, such as a domain name system (DNS) provided address, of the shared resource and user identification information, such as a username and password. The provided address is checked and repaired if necessary to identify the network server having the shared resource. The identified server is checked, such as by pinging the server, to ensure that it is actually responding. The supplied user identification is checked, such as by querying a domain controller, to confirm whether the user identification corresponds to an existing account. When the checks are complete, and everything is found to be in order, the shared resource is mapped automatically for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Courtney Seth Bair, Christopher Todd Heublein, Kimberly A. Jones