Patents Examined by Brian E Weinrich
  • Patent number: 8078653
    Abstract: A network storage server implements a method to perform fast crawling of a hierarchical storage structure. The hierarchical storage structure contains data entities stored by a network storage server. The hierarchical storage structure can be recursively divided into a plurality of sections. A plurality of parallel-processing threads can be used to process the plurality of sections. Each thread selects and processes one of the plurality of sections at a time to generate a sorted list of metadata corresponding to the section of the hierarchical storage structure. The sorted lists generated by the plurality of threads are merged to a baseline list. The baseline list contains sorted metadata for entities managed by the hierarchical storage structure. The baseline list can then be outputted as a representation of the state of data stored by the network storage server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Bisson, Shankar Pasupathy, Yuvraj Patel
  • Patent number: 8073867
    Abstract: Providing category-specific electronic content includes receiving a request for electronic content. The request has an attribute. The attribute of the received request is compared to an attribute related to a query included in a log of search queries. An indication of a category that represents a search query from a log of search queries that is related to an attribute that matches the attribute of the received request is accessed, and electronic content that is representative of the identified category is accessed and provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: AOL Inc.
    Inventor: Abdur R. Chowdhury
  • Patent number: 8051087
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for customizing a geographic location index based on user preferences. The system obtains geographic data provided by a user and generates a customized geographic region based on the obtained geographic data. The system generates relationship data corresponding to the new customized geographic region. The system updates the geographic location index based on the new customized geographic region and corresponding relationship data. Thereafter, on-line content may be delivered to an audience associated with the new customized geographic region, thereby allowing the user, such as an advertiser or publisher, to define targeting regions that are optimal to their specific business environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Andrew Campbell, Eddie Babcodk
  • Patent number: 8037106
    Abstract: A database system for storing information technology (IT) management operational data and a method and apparatus for managing IT data are provided. The database utilizes an integrated database schema. IT operational data is stored into the database using the integrated database schema and the database is accessed by plural applications and/or products using the integrated database schema.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Computer Associates Think, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark J. Barrenechea
  • Patent number: 8032528
    Abstract: A system and method may include assigning a review request to a queue based on a content subject matter category of content, the review request requesting review of the content, and generating a notification message indicating that the review request is pending in the queue. The system and method may further include providing access to the content via a network for review, processing a response message to the notification message, and determining whether to publish the content based on the response message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: About Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R J B Donovan, Jonathan Matthew Durr, James Keith Toothman
  • Patent number: 8024353
    Abstract: A method for accessing data in a data structure includes determining a node type of a first entry in a node array that defines a hierarchical relationship of a plurality of nodes in a markup language schema and determining based on the node type of the first entry whether the first entry includes an explicit size value. The method further includes identifying, in response to determining that the first entry does not include an explicit size value, a predetermined size value associated with the node type of the first entry. Additionally, the method includes calculating an index for a second entry in the node array based on one of the explicit size value and the predetermined size value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Takuki Kamiya
  • Patent number: 8010578
    Abstract: A database development system is provided. The system includes a current-state source representation of a database that can be captured in a model of the database and a metadata component that preserves user intentions describing when a user interacts with the system to perform a refactoring operation (or other code enhancement) for use in subsequent operations by the system. A deployment component is provided that utilizes the preserved user intentions to optimize behavioral upgrades to the system, where simulations can be run against the model to facilitate efficient and automated deployments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Laflen, Jason D. Clark, Gerrit Erwin Randolph Drapers, Liangxiao Zhu, Amy L. Myhre, Duncan L. Davenport
  • Patent number: 8001161
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the process obtains avatar tracking data that identifies a location of an avatar in relation to a range of an object. The range includes a viewable field. In response to the location of the avatar being within the range of the object, the process queries a data structure storing cloning data for a record of a clone of the object. Thereafter, the process instantiates the clone of the object in response to the presence of the record of the clone of the object in the data structure. The process then invokes a set of object methods associated with the record of the clone in the data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter George Finn, Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 7970772
    Abstract: Techniques for monitoring abnormalities in a data stream are provided. A plurality of objects are received from the data stream and one or more clusters are created from these objects. At least a portion of the one or more clusters have statistical data of the respective cluster. It is determined from the statistical data whether one or more abnormalities exist in the data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charu C. Aggarwal, Philip Shi-Lung Yu
  • Patent number: 7958113
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically and adaptively determining query execution plans for parametric queries. A first classifier trained by an initial set of training points is generated. A query workload and/or database statistics are dynamically updated. A new set of training points is collected off-line. Using the new set of training points, the first classifier is modified into a second classifier. A database query is received at a runtime subsequent to the off-line phase. The query includes predicates having parameter markers bound to actual values. The predicates are associated with selectivities. A mapping of the selectivities into a plan determines the query execution plan. The determined query execution plan is included in an augmented set of training points, where the augmented set includes the initial set and the new set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Fan, Guy Maring Lohman, Volker Gerhard Markl, Nimrod Megiddo, Jun Rao, David Everett Simmen, Julia Stoyanovich
  • Patent number: 7958138
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and article of manufacture of the present invention detects the presence of references to the same concept in separate sections of text, and, with no input required from the reader, presents the reader with information concerning the detected references to the concept. The information provided may comprise information related to the location of the reference to the concept in other sections of text, and the reader also is provided the ability to move from one reference to a concept directly to another reference to the same concept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventor: Philip R Krause
  • Patent number: 7953730
    Abstract: A method for displaying a search history for a user is shown. The method includes generating a search history for a user including one or more listings of search results, displaying a first search result listing on a web page, and displaying at least a second search result listing on the web page, the second search result listing having a relationship to the first search result listing within the search history.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin D. Bleckner, Colin M. Saunders
  • Patent number: 7937403
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for displaying related search terms in a time sequence format. In example embodiments, a user search database, for retaining search terms that were used during specific times, may be available. The user search database may be searched to find which users have searched on a selected anchor term. The frequency of use of such anchor term may then be displayed in a time sequence format, e.g., over a week time period. The users that have used this selected anchor term may have also searched on other search terms, and the search terms that belong to a selected category of interest and were also used by the anchor term users may also be located in the user search database. These search terms from the selected category may also be displayed in a time sequence format, e.g., in the month preceding or proceeding the anchor use display's time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Kehl
  • Patent number: 7930290
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable media are disclosed for providing virtual Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds to requesting users. In one aspect, an embodiment of the method may include receiving a search query for one or more virtual Really Simple Syndication feeds. The method further includes comparing a keyword to a database of keywords associated with the virtual Really Simple Syndication feeds. Additionally, the method includes determining which of the associated keywords match with the keywords. Moreover, the method includes providing the associated virtual Really Simple Syndication feeds that correspond to the matched keywords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Karim T. Farouki
  • Patent number: 7925676
    Abstract: A fact repository stores objects. Each object includes a collection of facts, where a fact comprises an attribute and a value. A set of objects from the fact repository are designated for analysis. The presentation engine presents the facts of the objects in a user interface (UI) having a table. Through manipulation of the UI, an end-user can add or remove facts from the table, and sort the table based on the values of particular facts. The presentation engine also presents the facts of the objects in a UI having a graph. Through manipulation of the UI, the end-user can add or remove facts from the graph, and can sort the facts shown in the graph based on values that are shown, or not shown, in the graph. The presentation engine can further present the facts of the objects in UIs including maps and timelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew W. Hogue, David J. Vespe, Alexander Kehlenbeck, Michael Gordon, Jeffrey C. Reynar, David B. Alpert
  • Patent number: 7921081
    Abstract: In one embodiment, at least one snapshot thread manages a point in time snapshot of a file system stored within the space allocated to the file system. The snapshot thread tracks, for at least one block of the plurality of blocks of the file system, a separate entry in a snapshot map specifying if each at least one block is newly allocated following the creation of the point in time snapshot and specifying an addressed location of a snapshot copy of the at least one block if copied. Separately, a file system handling thread tracks a mapping of an allocation state of each of said plurality of blocks of the file system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Janet E. Adkins, Joon Chang
  • Patent number: 7912815
    Abstract: A monitoring server remotely communicates with a storage server in order to monitor utilization of storage space of a write out-of-place file system on the storage server, the file system including a persistent point-in-time image (PPI) of its active file system, the PPI including at least part of the active file system, but does not duplicate said part of the active file system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Smoot, Barry P. Schwartz, Nagender Somavarapu, Brian M. Hackworth, Benjamin B. Swartzlander
  • Patent number: 7908275
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed in this application, a large audio database in a multiprocessor system may be searched for a target audio clip using a robust and parallel search method. The large audio database may be partitioned into a number of smaller groups, which are dynamically scheduled to available processors in the system. Processors may process the scheduled groups in parallel by partitioning each group into smaller segments, extracting acoustic features from the segments; and modeling the segments using a common component Gaussian Mixture model (“CCGMM”). One processor may also extract acoustic features from the target audio clip and model it using the CCGMM. Kullback-Leibler (KL) distance may be further computed between the target audio clip and each segment. Based on the KL distance, a segment may be determined to match the target audio clip; and/or a number of following segments may be skipped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Yurong Chen
  • Patent number: 7904457
    Abstract: Improved techniques for flow analysis in messaging systems are disclosed. For example, a method for finding correlations between messages of a system based on content includes the following steps. For one or more executions of the system, obtaining the messages of the system, wherein each message has a schema associated therewith. The messages are categorized into groups, wherein each group has a common schema. Pairs of messages from disparate groups are found wherein, for the messages of a pair, there is a feature in common in their contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wim De Pauw, Robert L. Hoch, Yi Huang
  • Patent number: 7873657
    Abstract: In a method and system for hosting a programming environment and processing user input within an information retrieval system, a definition of an expression is received from a user, during a first session between the user and an information retrieval system, the definition specifying an expression format, a response type, and a display format. The definition is stored. During a second session between the user and the information retrieval system, an expression having a semantic structure is received. The semantic structure of the expression is evaluated. A response to the expression is displayed to the user in a user interface according to the display format specified by the definition of the expression type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: SAS Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Emmanuel Roche, Yves Schabes