Patents Examined by Andre Boyce
  • Patent number: 9953284
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a prioritization of the focus and allocation of available resources and/or funding for due diligence analyses of a variety of candidate projects competing for limited funding are disclosed. Various methods may also determine a confidence level metrics associated with the information and/or estimates associated with the candidate projects. Evolutionary algorithms may be applied to perform multi-objective optimization of objectives based, at least in part, on currently available information and/or estimates associated with the candidate projects. A priority score, for the purpose of allocating due diligence attention and resources to increase confidence levels in assumptions associated with candidate projects, may be determined for a particular project based, at least in part, on the current confidence level associated with that particular project and the percentage of non-dominated projects within which the particular project is included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Smith, Matthew Phillip Ferringer
  • Patent number: 9928472
    Abstract: A system for determining asset configuration in a service delivery environment, comprises a simulation module developing a simulation model reflecting features of the service delivery environment, a search module using the simulation model and constraint data to determine a plurality of asset configurations for evaluation, a first evaluation module determining a value of each of the asset configurations, and determining the asset configuration of the plurality of asset configurations that yields a value meeting a predetermined objective, and a second evaluation module determining a deviation from a current configuration that would be caused by each of the asset configurations, and determining the asset configuration that yields a lowest deviation of the plurality of asset configurations, wherein the second evaluation module uses the value meeting the predetermined objective from the first evaluation module as a constraint when determining the asset configuration that yields the lowest deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gargi Dasgupta, Nirmit V. Desai, Yixin Diao, Aliza R. Heching
  • Patent number: 9922298
    Abstract: A system for determining asset configuration in a service delivery environment, comprises a simulation module developing a simulation model reflecting features of the service delivery environment, a search module using the simulation model and constraint data to determine a plurality of asset configurations for evaluation, a first evaluation module determining a value of each of the asset configurations, and determining the asset configuration of the plurality of asset configurations that yields a value meeting a predetermined objective, and a second evaluation module determining a deviation from a current configuration that would be caused by each of the asset configurations, and determining the asset configuration that yields a lowest deviation of the plurality of asset configurations, wherein the second evaluation module uses the value meeting the predetermined objective from the first evaluation module as a constraint when determining the asset configuration that yields the lowest deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gargi Dasgupta, Nirmit V. Desai, Yixin Diao, Aliza R. Heching
  • Patent number: 9916588
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for computer-aided determination of quality assessment for locate and marking operations. In one example, information related to a locate and marking operation is electronically analyzed such that a quality assessment is made using assessment parameters that are dynamically selected based at least in part on first information describing at least some aspects of the locate and marking operation as performed by a field-service technician and second information relating to a description of the locate operation to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: CertusView Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Nielsen, Curtis Chambers, David Pennington, Jeffrey Farr
  • Patent number: 9785972
    Abstract: A content delivery system using social affine targeting may include a device that determines, based on presence information received from mobile devices, users in a vicinity of an electronic billboard. The device may further determine, based on user behavior information relating to the users, affinities of the users; and determine commonality of the affinities of the users. Still further, the device may select, based on the determined commonality of the affinities, one or more advertisements to present by the electronic billboard; and transmit the selected one or more advertisements to the electronic billboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Madhusudan Raman, Renu Chipalkatti, Jeffrey M. Getchius
  • Patent number: 9659268
    Abstract: A ticket approval system and method of performing quality control in a field service application. The method includes obtaining a ticket, performing at least one task associated with the ticket, collecting data associated with at least one task, and transmitting the data to a work management server including database and approval applications. Also provided is a method of reviewing the data received by the approval application for quality control purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: CertusVies Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Nielsen, Curtis Chambers, David Pennington
  • Patent number: 9626643
    Abstract: A method to be performed in a computer system in association with initiating a physical operation includes receiving a request object that corresponds to a request to initiate a physical operation. The method includes generating, using the request object, an information collection object configured to represent performance of the physical operation. The method includes obtaining data generated in the performance of the physical operation and recording the data in the information collection object. A computer system includes a request management module configured to generate the request object upon receiving a request to initiate a physical operation, and an information collection module configured to generate the information collection object using the request object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Ami Heitner, Irena Kull, Amit Yaniv, Pavel Sosin, Sergio Rozenszajn, David Boaz
  • Patent number: 8856020
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing the consumption of telecommunications services in user groups. The method allows analyzing in real time the effectiveness of the multiple attributes of the commercial products associated with telecommunication services offered on a telecommunications network without excess calculations having to be generated, and at the same automatically acting accordingly on those attributes, optimizing the objective functions established by the telecommunications operator in the shortest possible time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonica, S.A.
    Inventors: Fernando Díaz Barroso, Francisco Javier Carrasco López, Omar Briones Vilar, Pablo Aguiló Pastrana
  • Patent number: 8825510
    Abstract: Techniques for smart reminder management. A method includes receiving input pertaining to a user task for which a schedule reminder is to be managed, automatically determining a timing and repetition management scheme for the schedule reminder based on a user model, analysis of current user context and a model of oscillators, determining a confidence level for the schedule reminder, associating the confidence level with the timing and repetition management scheme, and conveying the schedule reminder to the user in accordance with the timing and repetition management scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick A. Hamilton, James R. Kozloski, Clifford A. Pickover, Irina Rish
  • Patent number: 8826256
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for performing object collocation on a computer system are provided. The method includes analyzing a sequence of computer instructions for object allocations and uses of the allocated objects. The method further includes creating an allocation interference graph of object allocation nodes with edges indicating pairs of allocations to be omitted from collocation. The method also includes coloring the allocation interference graph such that adjacent nodes are assigned different colors, and creating an object allocation at a program point prior to allocations of a selected color from the allocation interference graph. The method additionally includes storing an address associated with the created object allocation in a collocation pointer, and replacing a use of each allocation of the selected color with a use of the collocation pointer to collocate multiple objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Doyle, Pramod Ramarao, Vijay Sundaresan
  • Patent number: 8825511
    Abstract: A system and article of manufacture for smart reminder management include receiving input pertaining to a user task for which a schedule reminder is to be managed, automatically determining a timing and repetition management scheme for the schedule reminder based on a user model, analysis of current user context and a model of oscillators, determining a confidence level for the schedule reminder, associating the confidence level with the timing and repetition management scheme, and conveying the schedule reminder to the user in accordance with the timing and repetition management scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick A. Hamilton, James R. Kozloski, Clifford A. Pickover, Irina Rish
  • Patent number: 8788312
    Abstract: An automated interactive method dynamically identifies an unplanned maintenance task during execution of a planned maintenance task on equipment. A user device displays a maintenance menu system for data entry and access and provides an input relating to unplanned maintenance task discovered on the equipment. The unplanned maintenance task is associated with the planned maintenance task at least with respect to a location. The automated interactive method sequentially processes unplanned maintenance task information based on the input from the user device. The automated interactive method establishes and stores an unplanned maintenance task data record including a selected geographical location, a selected item, a selected work category, a selected task type, a selected task description, and selected component data of the unplanned maintenance task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael Wetzer, Gary R. Garrow, David P. West, II, Patrick E. Weir, Gary Ashby, Charles P. Newton, III
  • Patent number: 8768752
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide improved computer systems for the evaluation of the performance of employees. Embodiments may use an engagement algorithm to calculate a single engagement score for each employee. Embodiments may use a second algorithm for skills to calculate a single skills score for each employee. A third algorithm may plot the employee's engagement score against the employee's skills score on a two-dimensional graph and indicate what scores are needed for a good evaluation and what scores are needed for a great evaluation. Various embodiments of the invention prescribe specific aspects of a job to coach to improve the employee's performance. Embodiments of the system archive and maintain all evaluations and scores for employees and provide access to them to subsequent supervisors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd.
    Inventor: Alan B. Buckelew
  • Patent number: 8751336
    Abstract: A method and program product comprising collecting from the network sales data for at least one product from a plurality of entities in the supply chain management system over a period of time; maintaining an electronic database of products, with each product having associated therewith in the database one or more items of equipment used to produce the product; if a criteria is met, performing a calculation to obtain usage data at a particular entity for an item of equipment of a particular type; accessing at least one equipment supplier electronic catalogue that contains the particular type of equipment represented by the item of equipment, selecting at least one of the items of equipment in the catalogue based on the usage data for the item of equipment and a characteristic; and displaying the selected one of the catalogue items of equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Restaurant Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony F. Menninger
  • Patent number: 8738415
    Abstract: Various systems, methods, and programs embodied in computer readable mediums are provided that facilitate the automated merger of print workflow information into job tickets that express the characteristics of a document to be printed. In various embodiments, a job ticket that describes a number of characteristics of a finished document to be printed is automatically modified in a processor-based system. The modifications are performed by merging at least a portion of a print workflow with the job ticket where the print workflow specifies a process to print the finished document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: James M. Sangroniz, Jody Lee Terrill
  • Patent number: 8738425
    Abstract: A method of determining a set of future actions includes providing an interface to a user, the interface including an adjustable element associated with a future value of an influencer. The influencer is associated with an action. The method further includes receiving via the interface an adjusted future value of the influencer, projecting a future value of a performance indicator based at least in part on the adjusted future value of the influencer, and providing a results interface to the user indicative of the future value of the performance indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: DataInfoCom USA Inc.
    Inventors: Atanu Basu, Joachim Hubele
  • Patent number: 8719178
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for prioritizing social activity postings. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request for prioritized social activity postings, the request being associated with a company identifier. Social activity postings are identified. The social activity postings are available to users on a social activity system of one or more computers, and each social activity posting is associated with a user identifier. For each social activity posting, the user identifier associated with the social activity posting is matched with a customer identifier associated with the company identifier. A respective priority rating is determined for the social activity posting using configuration information associated with the customer identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Lihui Zhang, Krithika Manohar
  • Patent number: 8712816
    Abstract: Methods for identifying industries for potential transfer of a job function capability involve the use of a database that correlates, for a job function in a first industry, the first industry with a set of second industries with respect to which a job function capability of the job function is potentially transferable. The database can be accessed to identify the second set of industries. A symbolic representation of a job transfer between the first industry and a second industry or a symbolic representation that categorizes a subject of a user's job transferability query may be used to access the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: RightOptions LLC
    Inventors: Laura T. Putnam, Eileen C. Shapiro, Steven J. Mintz
  • Patent number: 8706542
    Abstract: A method of allocating a location-related order to one of a number of mobile agents, such as taxicabs, delivery or repair vehicles. The method involves the following steps: a) holding current order details which identify at least the location and time at which each agent is expected to become free to fulfill new orders; b) keeping a listing of locations, where each location in the listing is prioritised for an agent according to the availability of the agent to reach that location after the agent becomes free; c) receiving a new order and recording the location and time at which this order is to be fulfilled; d) deciding, based on the prioritised listing of locations, which agent(s) are most suitable to take the new order; and e) allocating the new order to the identified agent(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cian E O'Meara, Michael Brosnan, Paul Kelly, Derek Hyland, Damian Killeen
  • Patent number: 8688497
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a distribution of each of a plurality of inner packs to a plurality of stores. Mismatch cost data and product demand data are received for the plurality of stores. A first inner pack quantity for distribution is determined based on the product demand data. A supply difference amount is determined, where the supply difference amount is a difference between the first inner pack quantity and the number of first inner packs available for distribution. A determination is made that adjusting the first inner pack quantity for the particular store based on the supply difference amount would have less effect on mismatch costs than other stores, and the first inner pack quantity is adjusted for the particular store based on the supply difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: SAS Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Teresa DePaola McMains, Thomas Burkhardt, Robert William Pratt