Patents Represented by Attorney Yee & Associates, P.C.
  • Patent number: 7992107
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for displaying a secondary layer of information in a graphical user interface where the second layer of information is revealed when a point on the circumference defined by radius “r” originating at the x,y coordinates of the cursor covers a point in a secondary content of the second layer. The circumference may be set to trigger appearance of secondary content gradually, all at once or to trigger the appearance of all secondary content in a predefined zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony Edward Martinez
  • Patent number: 7992051
    Abstract: An apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed in a processor for dynamically, during runtime, allocating memory for in-memory hardware tracing. The processor is included within a data processing system. The processor includes multiple processing units that are coupled together utilizing a system bus. The processing units include a memory controller that controls a system memory. A particular size of the system memory is determined that is needed for storing trace data. A hardware trace facility requests, dynamically after the data processing system has completed booting, the particular size of the system memory to be allocated to the hardware trace facility for storing trace data that is captured by the hardware trace facility. The firmware selects particular locations within the system memory. All of the particular locations together are the particular size. The firmware allocates the particular locations for use exclusively by the hardware trace facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ra'ed M. Al-Omari, Alexander E. Mericas, William J. Starke
  • Patent number: 7992150
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, a data processing system, and computer usable program code for improving thread posting efficiency in a multiprocessor data processing system are provided. Aspects of the present invention first receive a set of threads from an application. The aspects of the present invention then group the set of threads with a plurality of processors based on a last execution of the set of threads on the plurality of processors to form a plurality of groups. The threads in each group in the plurality of groups are all last executed on a same processor. The aspects of the present invention then wake up the threads in the plurality of groups in any order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Larry Bert Brenner
  • Patent number: 7991877
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for discovering an unauthorized router in a network. The process in the illustrative embodiments first obtains a physical address of a suspected router or destination device. A data packet is created which comprises at least a destination media access control field, a destination internet protocol field, and a time-to-live field, wherein the destination media access control field comprises the physical address of the destination device, wherein the destination internet protocol field comprises a bogus internet protocol address, and wherein the time-to-live field comprises a value indicating the data packet has exceeded a time limit. The data packet is sent to the destination device using the physical address in the destination media access control field. If a time exceeded message is received from the destination device, the destination device is determined to be enabled for routing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susann Marie Keohane, Gerald Francis McBrearty, Shawn Patrick Mullen, Jessica Carol Murillo, Johnny Meng-Han Shieh
  • Patent number: 7991665
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for automatically managing incentives associated with an electric vehicle charging transaction is provided. Incentives are received from a set of sources to form received incentives, by an incentive service. Applicable incentives are selected from the received incentives based on an identification of an electric vehicle, a charging station, and a set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction, by the incentive service. A set of selected incentives is identified from the received incentives for utilization in the electric vehicle charging transaction. The set of selected incentives is sent to an energy transaction planner, wherein the energy transaction planner incorporates the set of selected incentives into an energy transaction plan that is used to control the electric vehicle charging transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Hafner, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Patent number: 7991996
    Abstract: A Centralized Authentication & Authorization (CAA) system that facilitates secure communication between service clients and service providers. CAA comprises a Service Request Filter (SRF), a Service Client Authentication Program (SCAP), a Service Authorization Program (SAP), and an Authorization Database (ADB). The SRF intercepts service requests, extracts the service client's identifier from a digital certificate attached to the request, and stores the identifier in memory accessible to service providers. In the preferred embodiment, the SRF forwards the service request to a web service manager. The web service manager invokes SCAP. SCAP matches the identifier with a record stored in ADB. SAP queries ADB to determine if the service request is valid for the service client. If the service request is valid, SAP authorizes the service request and the appropriate service provider processes the service request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Messaoud Benantar, Yen-Fu Chen, John W. Dunsmoir, Randolph Michael Forlenza, Wei Liu, Sandra Juni Schlosser
  • Patent number: 7992136
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for profiling an application. Data is collected for analyzing performance of the application using a device driver for a profiler in an operating system kernel in response to the application executing in a virtual machine. Data is stored in a buffer. A report is generated containing the data from the buffer in response to an event in the virtual machine, wherein the application is profiled using the report. Collection of the data is halted in response to the application terminating execution in the virtual machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Trent A. Gray-Donald, Frank E. Levine
  • Patent number: 7992005
    Abstract: The Pattern Based Password Tool provides a user with a unique, single-use password that is hard to steal, but easy for the user to remember. The Pattern Based Password Tool assigns a password to a user, wherein the password specifies a spatial position of at least one element of a plurality of elements on a matrix. The Pattern Based Password Tool populates the plurality of elements on the matrix with randomly generated characters. After reading a password entry, the Pattern Based Password Tool verifies that the password entry is a correct combination of the characters from the plurality of elements on the matrix that correspond to the spatial position of the at least one element as specified by the password.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Torres, Douglas S. Brown, Jehan Moghazy, James R. Rudd
  • Patent number: 7990299
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding data. A first pair of optical signals having a first phase difference is generated in response to receiving an input signal having a voltage. A second pair of optical signals having a second phase difference is generated in response to receiving an input signal having a voltage. The first pair of optical signals is combined to form a first optical signal having a first intensity. The second pair of optical signals is combined to form a second optical signal having a second intensity. The first intensity of the first optical signal reaches a peak at a different time from the second intensity of the second optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: John A. Bell
  • Patent number: 7991587
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for testing a material. A signal is sent into the material using the transmitter. The signal has a frequency range that falls within a selected frequency range to form a transmitted signal. An actual response to the transmitted signal is received at a sensor. A simulated response of the material to the transmitted signal is generated using a functional model capable of modeling responses of the material to different frequency ranges falling within the selected frequency range. The simulated response is compared to the actual response to determine if a change has occurred in the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jeong-Beom Ihn
  • Patent number: 7987394
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for expressing high availability (H/A) cluster demand based on probability of breach. When a failover occurs in the H/A cluster, event messages are sent to a provisioning manager server. The mechanism of embodiments of the present invention filters the event messages and translates the events into probability of breach data. The mechanism then updates the data model of the provision manager server and makes a recommendation to the provisioning manager server as to whether reprovisioning of new node should be performed. The provisioning manager server makes the decision and either reprovisions new nodes to the H/A cluster or notifies the administrator of detected poisoning problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ming Chen, Thomas J. Lumpp, Juergen P. Schneider, Andrew N. Trossman
  • Patent number: 7986330
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for generating antialiased lines for display in a data processing system. Graphics data is received for display, wherein the graphics data includes primitives defining lines. A gamma correction is applied to the graphics data on a per primitive basis to form antialiased lines. The antialiased lines are displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Brokenshire, Bruce David D'Amora, Gordon Clyde Fossum, Charles Ray Johns, John Samuel Liberty, Brad William Michael
  • Patent number: 7986791
    Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a method and system for automatically muting a headphone. The headphone detects a sound external to the headphone. A volume threshold and a frequency threshold are received, wherein the volume threshold and the frequency threshold define a sound of interest. A determination is made as to whether the sound external to the headphone is the sound of interest. Responsive to a determination that the sound external to the headphone is the sound of interest, a signal is transmitted to automatically mute an active state of the headphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Edward Bostick, Brian Wayne Hansen, Raghuraman Kalyanaraman
  • Patent number: 7987464
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for logical partitioning and virtualization in heterogeneous computer architecture. In one illustrative embodiment, a portion of a first set of processors of a first type is allocated to a partition in a heterogeneous logically partitioned system and a portion of a second set of processors of a second type is allocated to the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael N. Day, Michael Karl Gschwind, Mark R. Nutter, James Xenidis
  • Patent number: 7986420
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable program code are provided for detecting printer conditions. A set of signals are received from a sensor in a printer. A current state of the printer from a plurality of states is detected within the set of signals. Responsive to the current state being a selected state, a response signal is sent to the printer based on a policy. The response signal is a printer condition, which may be a paper jam, out-of-paper, or a cover open condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Hunter Harris
  • Patent number: 7987110
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing organizational resources. The process combines social group data with management information data to form social network data, wherein social group data is derived from interactions among a plurality of users of a social group. The process analyzes the social network data to identify associations among the plurality of users, and generates a multidimensional social network model using the associations among the plurality of users. Thereafter, the process presents a set of recommendations for allocation of the organizational resources, wherein the set of recommendations are derived from the social network model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Moises Cases, Candice Leontine Coletrane, Bhyrav Murthy Mutnury, Scott Lee Winters
  • Patent number: 7987453
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for determining computer flows autonomically using hardware assisted thread stack and cataloged symbolic data. When a new thread is spawned during execution of a computer program, new thread work area is allocated by the operating system in memory for storage of call stack information for the new thread. Hardware registers are set with values corresponding to the new thread work area. Upon context switch, values of the registers are saved in a context save area for future restoration. When call stack data is post-processed, the operating system or a device driver copies call stack data from the thread work areas to a consolidated buffer and each thread is mapped to a process. Symbolic data may be obtained based on the process identifier and address of the method/routine that was called/returned in the thread. Corresponding program flow is determined using retrieved symbolic data and call stack data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jimmie Earl DeWitt, Jr., Frank Eliot Levine, Christopher Michael Richardson, Robert John Urquhart
  • Patent number: 7981379
    Abstract: The invention uses a feed of atmospheric air and mixes the air with hydrogen. The hydrogen and air mixture is fed into a catalytic reactor where a deoxygenation reaction occurs. The deoxygenation reaction uses a platinum catalyst to produce water from oxygen and hydrogen. The nitrogen passes through the catalytic reactor without reacting with the hydrogen, the oxygen, or the water. The water is separated from the nitrogen in a dryer. The nitrogen may then be used in drilling and production operations. The water is fed into an electrolyzer where an electrolysis reaction occurs. The electrolyzer passes an electrical current through the water to produce gaseous oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen is recycled back to the catalytic reactor and the oxygen may be vented or sold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Sunstone Corporation
    Inventors: William James Hughes, Mark Dunbar
  • Patent number: 7984142
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for monitoring the performance of a system. The mechanism of the present invention provides an interface in the form of a graphical user interface (GUI) to communicate multiple layers of system performance data to an operator. An operator monitors this display of information and uses it to determine how to adjust the system to optimize system performance. This mechanism of the present invention provides immediate feedback to an operator by displaying a trail of metric points, wherein the metric points indicate the status of system performance over a period of time. In this manner, the display mechanism of the present invention immediately conveys to an operator whether the system is operating within predefined margins, the results of performance adjustments made to the system, as well as predictions or trends for the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rhonda L. Childress, David Bruce Kumhyr, Neil Raymond Pennell
  • Patent number: 7982684
    Abstract: Method and structure for a microwave antenna module is provided. The method includes, creating a laminate structure by laminating a plurality of conductive layers and dielectric layers; creating a plurality of layers within the laminate structure to interconnect the plurality of conductive layers and dielectric layers; laminating a base plate to a bottom of the laminate structure; wherein the baseplate operates as a heat sink; and laminating a seal ring to a top periphery of the laminate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John B. O'Connell, Peter T. Heisen, Stephen L. Fahley, Richard N. Bostwick, Julio A. Navarro