Patents Examined by Andre Boyce
  • Patent number: 8452631
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for keeping calendars up-to-date, whereby a person's working hours, events, and actual availability are accurately reflected. In response to user-generated input and/or application-generated input, working hours can be updated and calendar events can be added to, deleted from, or changed on the user's calendar. This makes it easy for users to keep calendars (including working hours) up-to-date and helps both people and applications that use calendar data. Profiles are preferably used to specify working hours, and a particular user may have one or more profiles available (including a default profile); the user can then easily select from among these profiles to update the working hours for a date/day, or a range of dates/days. Preferences may be associated with the profiles, providing a convenient way of isolating information that applies only to a particular set of working hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: J. Smith Doss, Renee M. Kovales, Diane P. Pozefsky, Robert J. Sundstrom
  • Patent number: 8452635
    Abstract: In one arrangement, a method for estimating sales of a particular type of item by a first entity through a first channel versus sales of the particular type of item by the first entity through a second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: IMS Software Services Ltd.
    Inventors: Jerome Caron, Pierre St-Martin, Carlos Rios, Lino Pirollo
  • Patent number: 8447640
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods of handling user requests. For example, a method includes: receiving an electronic representation of a submitted request; calculating request-related information, submitter-related information, and/or recipient-related information; based on the request-related information and the submitter-related information, determining one or more recipients for the request; distributing the request to said one or more recipients; and storing the request and one or more responses received from said one or more recipients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Yedda, Inc.
    Inventors: Yaniv Golan, Avichay Nissenbaum
  • Patent number: 8442850
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a services architecture design that provides enterprise services having accounting functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Martin Schorr, Michael Sylvester, Georg Dopf, Dirk Henrich, Gunther Liebich, Michael Conrad, Andreas Reccius, Markus Klein, Michael Hohendorf, Andrea Roesinger, Rainer Soltek, Juergen Kind, Ralf Dinkel, Peter Von Zimmermann, Daniel Bock, Udo Laub, Thomas Schachner, Gerald Paetzold, Kai-Michael Roesner, Edwin Himmelsbach, Torsten Bachmann, Volker Faisst, Otfried Von Geisau, Michael Meyringer, Ralf Klein, Dieter Krisch
  • Patent number: 8438053
    Abstract: Projects of any type require sophisticated management software programs. In reality, these management software programs are provided by various vendors and for different professional fields. For example, scheduling programs for construction professionals, blue print programs for drafting professionals, accounting programs for cost-control professionals. In addition, there are numerous other unofficial and official documents generated by managers of different levels for reporting or track-record-keeping purposes using popular word processing programs and spread-sheet programs. Documents generated by different software programs can only be viewed under the programs they are generated under or compatible programs. This poses a problem in that there is a lack of organized control resulting in difficulty in locating and viewing documents in a timely manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: 4 U Services
    Inventor: Liang J. Chen
  • Patent number: 8428989
    Abstract: A cross-functional area service identification method and system. The method includes reading by a computing system, processes. The computing system processes process elements associated with the processes. The computing system identifies a first functional area associated with a first current process element of the process elements and a second functional area associated with a first parent process element of the first current process element. The computing system compares the first functional area to the second functional area and determines if the first functional area comprises a same functional area as the second functional area. The computing system generates and stores results indicating if the first functional area comprises a same functional area as the second functional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Shankar Arunachalam, Ahamed Jalaldeen
  • Patent number: 8428991
    Abstract: A method and system for scheduling is disclosed. A computer generated generic matrix is provided allowing for creation of discrete pairs of discrete elements in combination, permutation, and the like. Applications of the method and system include, but are not limited to, sports scheduling, labor scheduling, manufacturing scheduling, laboratory experiments scheduling, sales performance scheduling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Inventor: Dennis Brian Rooks
  • Patent number: 8428992
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method to estimate training development hours includes receiving data on factors selected by a user using a user interface and using a computer processor to estimate training development hours based on the data on the factors. The method may further include determining the training development hours based on the data on the factors an assigned base development hours, estimated contact hours and an analysis percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Douglas W. Cox, Philip J. Millis
  • Patent number: 8423407
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments describe an automatic, adaptive system and method for efficiently and effectively scheduling advertising spots in commercial break locations across various networks, zones, channels, dates, times, and specific products, for example. The disclosed embodiments make use of fixed and relative factors, that may be user-defined, which assign a “cost” to one or more particular breaks which thereby allow for quick and accurate scheduling of spots. The “costs” may represent a value, or desirability, of a break for the advertiser and may be a function of both the fixed and relative factors. The fixed and relative factors may be configurable and may change for different advertising clients, different contract lines, different networks, different spot placement, etc. The placement of spots may be accomplished through the use of an ordered list which may be generated based on a number of inputs that may be user-selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Andrew LLC
    Inventors: Trisha Schepers, Stephen Falk
  • Patent number: 8423396
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for process discovery. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to defining a trace using process data, the trace comprising a collection of events, analyzing the trace to detect nodes and arcs between the nodes using relationships between the collection of events, and detecting interleaving in the arcs by analyzing relationships between the collection of events and the detected nodes and arcs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Maria Guadalupe Castellanos, Fabio Casati, Ming-Chien Shan
  • Patent number: 8417559
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method described for facilitating selection of an assortment of products to offer for sale. The method includes receiving transaction data representing characteristics of a plurality of commercial transactions including a first product and a second product. Product attribute data representing attributes for at least the two products are also received. Substitution demand data for the second product is estimated which represents demand for the second product given the first product is not available, the estimation being based on the transaction data and product attribute data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Fair Isaac Corporation
    Inventors: Ashutosh Umakant Joshi, Zhenyu Yan, Marc-david Cohen, Shailesh Kumar
  • 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: 8412550
    Abstract: Projects of any type require sophisticated management software programs. In reality, these management software programs are provided by various vendors and for different professional fields. For example, scheduling programs for construction professionals, blue print programs for drafting professionals, accounting programs for cost-control professionals. In addition, there are numerous other unofficial and official documents generated by managers of different levels for reporting or track-record-keeping purposes using popular word processing programs and spread-sheet programs. Documents generated by different software programs can only be viewed under the programs they are generated under or compatible programs. This poses a problem in that there is a lack of organized control resulting in difficulty in locating and viewing documents in a timely manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Inventor: Liang J. Chen
  • Patent number: 8401884
    Abstract: A computer-implemented shift scheduling system and method are disclosed that present data to workers relating to unfilled work shifts. Selected shifts are compiled as shift data for each worker. Worker accreditation may be tracked and used to determine access to the database of unfilled work shifts. Work shift data may be grouped into categories according to an employers worker needs for specific shifts. Pay rate incentives may be associated with one or more categories and indicated on presentment of the work shift data. Remote worker access to the scheduling system may be provided in LAN or WAN environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventor: Lorane Kinney
  • Patent number: 8401890
    Abstract: A system for identifying one or more business transactions and one or more business systems is provided. The system includes a consolidated logical database comprising an information domain hierarchy comprising a set comprising one or more defined data requirement elements. The system includes a physical database, comprising one or more business transactions. An identification routine is used to select a defined data requirement element to identify the business transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Randall Brack, Michaela R. Fite, Randy R. Herigon, Charles L. Micklavzina, Jerry W. Tally
  • Patent number: 8396731
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing service procurement. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service interface operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Project Processing process component; a Purchase Request Processing process component; a Purchase Order Processing process component; a Purchasing Contract process component; a Goods and Service Acknowledgement process component; a Supplier Invoice Processing process component; an RFQ Processing process component that; and a Time and Labor Management process component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Arthur Berger, Bettina Jaeger, Peter Fitz, Karin Brecht-Tillinger, Arnulf Schueler, Paola Sala, Armin Schwarz, Otfried Von Geisau, Peter J. Neumayer, Matthias Tebbe, Jens Freund, Stefan Kaetker, Gerd Moosmann, Peter Latocha
  • Patent number: 8386291
    Abstract: The invention relates to a triple-deck elevator equipment planning support system, arranged such that the average number of times of being stopped per going-round is calculated on the basis of a given building specification and cage specification data in a triple-deck elevator system; a total value of getting-on/off time periods of passengers, a total value of door-opening/closing time periods, and the total value of running time periods are calculated based on the average number; and a going-round time period of an elevator is calculated from these calculation results, and a practical transportation capacity per on triple-deck elevator is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shiro Hikita
  • Patent number: 8380559
    Abstract: Transaction-level data and size of wallet data may be used to identify luxury merchants. In an embodiment, luxury merchants are identified based on their average record of charge (ROC) size in combination with the percentage of high-wallet consumers who transact with the merchants. Customers having a high share of wallet spent at luxury merchants may be identified as luxury consumers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Karlyn Heiner Crotty, Prashant Kalia, Suby P. Philip, Danny M. Yelle
  • Patent number: 8380560
    Abstract: The subject invention relates generally to satisfaction metrics, their methods of administration, and computer programmable products loaded with the satisfaction metrics. The satisfaction metrics of the subject invention allow the participant to assess his or her satisfaction with general and specific attributes of any organization and to assign a relative value to the attribute relative to the other attributes. A weighted satisfaction score can be computed from the relative values and raw satisfaction scores of the general and specific attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventor: Tony Barr
  • Patent number: 8374897
    Abstract: A computer-readable medium to direct a computer to function in a specified manner includes executable instructions to: generate a set of qualitative assessments; convert the set of qualitative assessments into a set of quantitative assessments; produce a quantitative forecast from the set of quantitative assessments; and translate the quantitative forecast to a qualitative forecast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Business Objects Software
    Inventor: John Malcolm MacGregor