Patents Examined by Adrian McPhillip
  • Patent number: 8412561
    Abstract: A system and method to offer a one or more experiences using various layers to at least one customer is disclosed. The method includes user experience layer having a first plurality of components owned by at least one service provider to evaluate a plurality of experimental changes of the at least one customer. The method further includes user service layer having a second plurality of components owned by the at least one service provider to offer a first plurality of services for the at least one customer. The method further includes an adaptation layer, a network service layer, a protocol layer and a platform layer having one or more components to provide one or more functionalities. Additionally, the method further includes a monitoring and control layer with one or more components to build management information across the one or more layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Infosys Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jithesh Sathyan, Naveen Krishnan Unni, Anil J. Rajan
  • Patent number: 8341005
    Abstract: Gradually automation of a workflow by a configuration change management system is provided by a first workflow template having a relatively low level of automation and complexity in which at least a plurality of tasks require manual input, manual response, or manual approval, operating the first workflow by a workflow automation system engine, monitoring a measurement of the maturity level of the process during the operation the first workflow, and responsive to detecting the maturity level meeting pre-determined benchmark, automatically selecting, engaging, and operating a second workflow template which increases automation by automating one or more subprocesses, adding one or more subprocesses, or eliminating one or more subprocesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Puthukode G. Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 8332256
    Abstract: A monitoring method and system. The method retrieving by a computer, first data associated with a marketing plan associated with social networks and second data associated with marketing plan objectives. The computer processor identifies social network effects associated with the marketing plan objectives, business key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with the marketing plan objectives, and social network KPIs associated with the associated social network effects. The computer processor represents a marketing plan measurement model comprising a mathematical relationship between the business KPIs and the social network KPIs. The computer processor monitors changes associated with the business KPIs and the social network KPIs and generates and stores a report indicating the changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kuntal Dey, Natwar Modani, Amit Anil Nanavati, Subramanya Kabbinahithlu Narayana Prasad, Zheng Zhu
  • Patent number: 8306853
    Abstract: What has been developed is a method for testing ophthalmic plastic lenses and ophthalmic plastic lens-making processes for compliance with federal safety performance requirements. The method of the invention provides an easier, less costly, and more effective means for complying with these safety performance requirements than what current methods provide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Colts Laboratories
    Inventors: John Young, Daryl Neely
  • Patent number: 8301480
    Abstract: A system, a method, computer-readable medium for conveying software, or business methods for gradually automating a workflow in a configuration change management system by providing a first workflow template having a relatively low level of automation and complexity in which at least a plurality of tasks require manual input, manual response, or manual approval, operating the first workflow by a workflow automation system engine, monitoring a measurement of the maturity level of the process during the operation the first workflow, and responsive to detecting the maturity level meeting pre-determined benchmark, automatically selecting, engaging, and operating a second workflow template which increases automation by automating one or more subprocesses, adding one or more subprocesses, or eliminating one or more subprocesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Puthukode G. Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 8280757
    Abstract: A demand forecast system and method. A planning module normalizes historical forecast data, and generates a forecast error interval according to the historical forecast data and a Grey forecast model. An adjustment module adjusts a target forecast value of a target-planning bucket according to the forecast error interval and/or the distance between the forecast error interval and a benchmark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuan-Fu Liao
  • Patent number: 8271316
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus of the present invention collect data associated with a consumer through generation of a consumer feedback communication via a wide area network. A business to which the consumer feedback communication is directed is identified in response to input from a consumer via the wide area network. Feedback data relating to the business is obtained from the consumer via the wide area network. At least a portion of the consumer feedback communication is automatically generated using the feedback data. Data associated with the consumer is then collected from the obtained feedback data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Buzzmetrics Ltd
    Inventors: Peter E. Blackshaw, Daniel M. Coates, Olivier Fischer, Michael C. Kunz
  • Patent number: 8095413
    Abstract: Management information is processed. A first set of computer data is acquired that represents a model of an organization of people having fundamental components, such as processes or capabilities, that are represented in the first set of computer data by data items. The first set of computer data is associated with a second set of computer data that represents a portfolio of management concepts, such as management goals. A report of management concepts is issued based on the second set of computer data and is sorted by fundamental component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Virtualagility, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas F. Beaven
  • Patent number: 8065174
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media for evaluating business-critical criteria relating to exploring entity mobility/productivity opportunities are provided. A method according to the invention may include calculating a hierarchy of a plurality of decision elements regarding the opportunities. The calculating can include forming a matrix of values corresponding to the relative importance of each of the decision elements with respect to one another. The method can also include calculating a weighted composite score for each sub-process specified in each of the plurality of decision elements. The method may include compiling a favorability rating for each sub-process. The favorability rating for each sub-process may be based, at least in part, on the weighted composite score for each sub-process and the matrix of values corresponding to the relative importance of each of the decision elements with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Bonk, Kristin Chouteau, Alex Costa, Michael Hanes, Jill Heddleson, Melinda Jones, Brenda Lahaie
  • Patent number: 8060396
    Abstract: A system for monitoring orders processed by order processing applications implemented on computer systems is provided. The order processing monitor comprises an application to process a portion of an order and to write application data to a log file, the application data related to the processing of the order by the application, a log adapter operable to communicate with the log file to obtain at least a portion of the application data, a log agent operable to monitor a resource data related to a computer system used by the application to process at least some of the order, and a monitor component in communication with the log adapter to obtain the portion of the application data and operable to obtain at least a portion of the resource data, the monitor component using the application data and resource data to determine order status information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: James E. Bessler, James T. Deel, Shawn M. Hudson, Madan Mohan
  • Patent number: 8019639
    Abstract: A system and method is provided that provides an early indication of consensus of opinion among a number of users regarding an event or observation indicated by a user. Such an opinion may be interesting to an information consumer, who may be interested in determining the outcome of the consensus relating to the event or observation, or may otherwise desire to perform surveillance or survey of a particular issue or subject. Such recognition of early events or observations may be useful in different areas, such as healthcare, finance, etc., where initial observations, if provided early, allow resulting decisions to be made much earlier. The opinion may, for instance, be used as an early indicator of problem with a product, company, etc. that would permit an information consumer to perform an action at a much earlier point than if he/she relied on traditional sources of information. Thus, such opinion information may be invaluable as a tool for monitoring events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sermo, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Palestrant, Graham Gardner
  • Patent number: 8015051
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an automated way for a non-technical person to create or modify software functionality in support of a business process without needing expertise in software. According to the invention, an automated matching tool may apply user input expressed semantically to a database of semantic information associated with syntactic information, to match the user input with a service (e.g., an application program) capable of performing a business process step corresponding to the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Shuyuan Chen, Kaj Van De Loo