Patents Assigned to The International Business Machines Corporation
  • Patent number: 9307692
    Abstract: Controlled release of one or more agricultural chemicals is provided by microcapsules adapted to rupture in a magnetic field. The microcapsules, which may be applied to soil, seeds and/or plants, each have a shell that encapsulates an agricultural chemical, such as a fertilizer, herbicide or insecticide. One or more organosilane-coated magnetic nanoparticles is/are covalently bound into the shell of each microcapsule. For example, (3-aminopropyl)trimethylsilane-coated magnetite nanoparticles may be incorporated into the shell of a urea-formaldehyde (UF) microcapsule during in situ polymerization. In one embodiment, microcapsules encapsulating a fertilizer are applied during seed planting. Controlled release is subsequently triggered after an appropriate period of dormancy by positioning a magnetic field generating device proximate the microcapsules to generate a magnetic field sufficient to rupture the microcapsule shells through magnetic stimulation of the organosilane-coated magnetic nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dylan J. Boday, Joseph Kuczynski, Robert E. Meyer, III
  • Patent number: 9312367
    Abstract: A gate cavity is formed exposing a portion of a silicon fin by removing a sacrificial gate structure that straddles the silicon fin. An epitaxial silicon germanium alloy layer is formed within the gate cavity and on the exposed portion of the silicon fin. Thermal mixing or thermal condensation is performed to convert the exposed portion of the silicon fin into a silicon germanium alloy channel portion which is laterally surrounded by silicon fin portions. A functional gate structure is formed within the gate cavity providing a finFET structure having a silicon germanium alloy channel portion which is laterally surrounded by silicon fin portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Hong He, Ali Khakifirooz
  • Patent number: 9311193
    Abstract: For data backup and recovery based on linked file repositories with each of the linked file repositories representing an individual file system capable of storing at least one version of a file and being connected to at least one server system, each of the linked file repositories are placed in a certain position for storing a certain version of the file. Each position of each of the linked file repositories is continuously numbered. A number of the versions of the file are determined by the position of the one of the linked file repositories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nils Haustein, Thorsten Krause, Harald Seipp, Daniel J. Winarski
  • Patent number: 9311146
    Abstract: Accepting a job having a job size representing a number or quantity of processors; computing an expected size, and a standard deviation in size, for the accepted job; adding the expected size to the standard deviation in size to determine a sum; comparing the sum to a number or quantity of available clusters at each of a plurality of non-leaf nodes of a tree representing a high-performance computing environment; and when the number or quantity of available clusters is more than the sum at a sub-tree of the tree and, going down one level further in the sub-tree, the number of available clusters is less than the sum, selecting the sub-tree for the accepted job such that the accepted job is placed on one or more clusters associated with the selected sub-tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hani Talal Jamjoom, Dinesh Kumar, Zon-Yin Shae
  • Patent number: 9313285
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for performing a dynamic social content selection. According to an embodiment, a method may include determining, via one or more computing devices, a plurality of status indicators available to be associated with social content associated with a first user. The method may also include defining one or more rules for the plurality of status indicators based on, at least in part, a recipient characteristic. The method may further include selecting one of the plurality of status indicators to associate with the content for a second user based on the one or more rules. The method may further include providing the content and the selected one of the plurality of status indicators to the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Denise A. Bell, Lisa Seacat DeLuca, Jana H. Jenkins, Jeffrey Alan Kusnitz
  • Patent number: 9313282
    Abstract: Managing a co-browsing session of multiple users where there are multiple roles that each user may have, and each respective user has a role. Software manages a computer system to: (i) monitor the co-browsing session to detect a condition; and (ii) responsive to detection of the condition, change the role(s) of at least one user. The change of role(s) is made automatically and without human intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Judith H. Bank, Lisa M. Bradley, Lin Sun
  • Patent number: 9311114
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for creating a virtual display overlay are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A first value of a visual characteristic of a presentation and an ambient condition are detected at a first time, the ambient condition changes a user's perception of the first value of the visual characteristic to a perceived value of the visual characteristic. A difference is identified between the perceived value of the visual characteristic and a preference specified by a user. The virtual display overlay having an adjustment value is generated responsive to the identifying. the adjustment value when applied to the perceived value of the visual characteristic reduces the difference to less than a tolerance threshold. The virtual display overlay is displayed on the display device such that the virtual display overlay covers the presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Puthukode G. Ramchandran, Shunguo Yan
  • Patent number: 9311899
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to detecting and describing visible features of a data set on a visualization. Visible features among a set of data in a view-space are detected. The visible features include potential data clusters and trends. These visual features are characterized using data-space. The characterized detected features are overlaid on visualization for supporting interaction and exploration of the data. Detected features are explored across two or more clusters for comparison of select data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Eser Kandogan
  • Patent number: 9313210
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for the automated suggestion of a privacy level setting for a new connection in a social network. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for automated suggestions of privacy level settings for a new connection in a social network is provided. The method includes receiving a new connection for an end user of a social network and identifying mutual connections between the new connection and the end user. Thereafter, a suggested privacy setting for the new connection can be displayed in a display of a computer based upon privacy settings of the identified mutual connections. Optionally, a selection can be received of a different privacy setting than the suggested privacy setting and the different privacy setting can be established for the new connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Candice L. Coletrane, William G. Pagan, Adam J. Parker
  • Patent number: 9313816
    Abstract: A first mobile device receives, from each of a plurality of other mobile devices, information related to the availability of at least one network resource provided by at least a first network offered for sharing by the respective other mobile device. The first mobile device also receives a request from a second mobile device to access the network resource provided by the first network shared by at least one of the plurality of other mobile devices. The first mobile device selects at least one of the other mobile devices to share the network resource provided by the first network with the second mobile device. The first mobile device communicates to the second mobile device peer-to-peer network connection information of the selected at least one of the other mobile devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan Dunne, Paul B. French, James P. Galvin, Jr., Yi Han, Patrick J. O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9311062
    Abstract: An approach for consolidating and reusing portal information within different web applications. The approach includes a method that includes retrieving, by at least one computing device, code from an application. The method includes deconstructing, by the at least one computing device, the code into code fragments. The method includes validating, by the at least one computing device, each of the code fragments. The method includes matching, by the at least one computing device, each of the code fragments with server-side components. The method includes generating, by the at least one computing device, a portlet based on the matching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley J. Braun, Donald P. Defelice, Mark R. Ernstberger, Susan A. Hearn, Linwood E. Loving, Martin G. McLaughlin, Lindsey M. Mewse, Donald P. Muller, James S. K. Young
  • Patent number: 9311420
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a solution for developer customization of Web 2.0 applications based on relationships between a content creator and a content requester. In the solution, Web 2.0 content can be received from a content creator. One or more creator established customizations can also be received where the customizations are each a set of one or more users. In the method, a communication can be established with a user who requests the Web 2.0 content. It can be determined that the user is a member of a set specified by the content creator. The customization associated with the set can be applied. Web 2.0 content as modified by the customization can be served to the user. In one embodiment, users can also establish customizations, which are also applied to the served Web 2.0 content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William V. Da Palma, Victor S. Moore, Wendi L. Nusbickel
  • Patent number: 9312136
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes depositing a gate dielectric layer lining a recess of a gate structure formed on a substrate with a first portion of the gate dielectric layer covering sidewalls of the recess and a second portion of the gate dielectric layer covering a bottom of the recess. A protective layer is deposited above the gate dielectric layer and then recessed selectively to the gate dielectric layer so that a top surface of the protective layer is below of the recess. The first portion of the gate dielectric layer is recessed until a top of the first portion of the gate dielectric layer is approximately coplanar with the top surface of the protective layer. The protective layer is removed and a conductive barrier is deposited above the recessed first portion of the gate dielectric layer to cut a diffusion path to the gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Ando, Johnathan E. Faltermeier, Su Chen Fan, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Injo Ok, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9311340
    Abstract: Multiple partial-image selections are received. Each of the multiple partial-image selections includes a user-selected portion of one of a group of images. Partial-image search criteria are derived from a combination of the multiple partial-image selections. A search is performed for images that correspond to the partial-image search criteria derived from the combination of the multiple partial-image selections. Visual search results are returned. The visual search results include at least one identified image that includes features that correspond to the partial-image search criteria derived from the combination of the multiple partial-image selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kimberly H. Cady, Scott B. Greer, Andrew J. Lavery, Sarah R. Plantenberg
  • Patent number: 9311359
    Abstract: Partitioned join operations are performed between a first database object and a second database object by determining an agent group for an agent in response to the agent receiving rows of the second database object to process; partitioning the rows to determine a target hash table for each row and adding the partitioned rows to work to be performed by the agent group; and distributing the work for the group to agents of the group by assigning to a single agent all the rows associated with a particular hash table to perform a join operation on the assigned rows. Each partition is assigned a first counter value indicating an upper bound of a task id range that is most recently assigned to an agent in the agent group for processing, and a second counter value indicating the highest task id that has been processed for that partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gopi K. Attaluri, Vijayshankar Raman
  • Patent number: 9311264
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a switch system includes an external host connected via a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) port to a switch system, the external host being configured to perform functionality of a management plane and a control plane for the switch system, the external host having a processor. In another embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code including computer readable program code configured to perform functionality of a management plane and a control plane for a switch system using a processor of an external host. Other systems, computer program products, and methods are described according to more embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander P. Campbell, David Iles, Keshav G. Kamble, Dar-Ren Leu, Vijoy A. Pandey
  • Patent number: 9311467
    Abstract: Detecting propensity profile for a person may comprise receiving artifacts associated with the person; detecting profile characteristics for the person based on the artifacts; receiving a plurality of predefined profiles comprising a plurality of characteristics and relationships between the characteristics over time, each of the plurality of predefined profiles specifying an indication of propensity; matching the profile characteristics for the person with one or more of the plurality of predefined profiles; and outputting one or more propensity indicators based on the matching, the propensity indicators comprising at least an expressed strength of a given propensity in the person at a given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anni R. Coden, Keith C. Houck, Ching-Yung Lin, Wanyi Lin, Peter K. Malkin, Shimei Pan, Youngja Park, Justin D. Weisz
  • Patent number: 9313025
    Abstract: A method and system for generating and processing an authenticity certificate. A request for a step certificate is received from a requester entity. The step certificate authenticates an involvement of the requester entity about an object. The request includes an object identifier, a requester entity type of the requester entity, and a requester identity certificate of the requester entity. The object identifier is hashed. A signature is created and includes the hashed object identifier, the requester entity type, a certifier identity certificate, and the requester identity certificate. A hashing result is generated by hashing a concatenation of the object identifier, the requester entity type, the certifier entity certificate, the requester identity certificate, and the signature. The step certificate is generated and includes the hashing result. The step certificate is encrypted. The encrypted step certificate is sent to the requester entity for subsequently storing the step certificate on a media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederic Bauchot, Gerard Marmigere, Christophe Mialon, Pierre Secondo
  • Patent number: 9311360
    Abstract: A method for associating data with a target biological sequence includes identifying, in a network, one or more references to data, where the data has a relevance level greater than a predetermined threshold. The method includes associating the one or more references to one or more probe sequences corresponding to a segment of a biological sequence to which the data pertains The one or more probe sequences are ranked based on one or more criteria and the probe sequences are assigned a level of affinity to a segment of the target biological sequence based at least on the ranking of each reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James R. Kozloski, Clifford A. Pickover, Jacinta M. Wubben, Ruhong Zhou
  • Patent number: 9311501
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using different secure erase algorithms to erase chunks from a file associated with different security levels. A request is received to secure erase a file having a plurality of chunks stored in at least one storage device. A determination is made of a first secure erase algorithm to apply to a first chunk in the file in response to the request and of a second secure erase algorithm to apply to a second chunk in the file in response to the request. The first secure erase algorithm is applied to erase the first chunk and the second secure erase algorithm is applied to erase the second chunk. The first and second secure erase algorithms use different processes to erase the chunks to which they are applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shah Mohammad R. Islam, Sandeep R. Patil, Riyazahamad M. Shiraguppi, Divyank Shukla