Patents Examined by Christopher Buchanan
  • Patent number: 7308421
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for preparing a price quote for a product. The product is selected from among a plurality of products. A determination is made as to whether the product is a member of a particular product collection. This determination includes evaluating a dynamic selection rule set associated with the particular product collection. When the product is determined to be a member of the particular product collection, the method includes the additional steps of (i) identifying one or more price rules associated with the particular product collection and (ii) applying these price rules to the product in order to determine the price quote for the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Vendavo, Inc.
    Inventors: Sri Raghupathy, Shankar Sundaram, Narayanan Vijaykumar
  • Patent number: 7305360
    Abstract: A method comprises making a set of personal profiles available, from at least one buy-side user to at least one sell-side user, each personal profile in the set of personal profiles including a first set of first values for a plurality of information fields, the plurality of information fields relating to commercial transactions. Based upon the at least part of the set of personal profiles, the method receives a request to enter into a trusted relationship from the at least one sell-side user at the at least one buy-side user, and receives a set of trusted relationship information from the at least one sell-side user at the at least one buy-side user. The method sends the set of trusted relationship information, from the at least one buy-side user to the at least one sell-side user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Financial Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Lamoureux, Paul Jaminet, Alexis Kopikis, Zenobia Moochhala
  • Patent number: 7299196
    Abstract: Disclosed is a present messenger service system and method of operating the same including a DB storing information of various products, a web server connected with the DB and displaying various information in accordance with a demand of the customer, a proposal program established in the web server, a message transmission server connected with the web server, transferring a message transferred from the web server to a corresponding receiving party and established in accordance with a communication means of the present provider, a gateway server, a relay server and the like, whereby a present request message of the customer is correctly transferred to the present provider regardless of time. Thus, an information provision to a final present delivery are carried out in order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Ki Kuk Lee
  • Patent number: 7295998
    Abstract: A method for managing tax audit (TA) information for a business entity using a server system is provided. The server system is coupled to a centralized database and at least one client system. The method includes receiving at the server system TA information from the client system, storing TA information received at the server system in the centralized database, tracking TA information stored in the centralized database, updating the centralized database periodically with newly received TA information to maintain TA information, and providing TA information in response to an inquiry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravindra Raghunath Rao Kulkarni, John Joseph Ryan, Susan Elaine Byrd, Carol Sue Vigliano, Thomas Forrest Harlacher, Jason Robert Hinds
  • Patent number: 7287001
    Abstract: The invention discloses a printed label and a display shelf for a business establishment, including a display shelf having a length and at least one area on which at least one product is to be placed. The area has a length and a depth. The label includes product information printed thereon for identifying the at least one product for display on the shelf, and first and second space indicators for indicating a position, corresponding to a portion of the length of the shelf, at which the at least one product is to be placed. The label is constructed and arranged to have a predetermined length that is coextensive with the portion of the length of the area of the shelf on which the at least one product is to be placed. The first and second space indicators define the predetermined length. The first space indicator indicates where the portion of the length of the area of the shelf begins and the second space indicator indicates where the portion of the length of the area of the shelf ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: IPMS, Inc.
    Inventors: S. Douglas Falls, Ernest J. Dale, Rod Matheson
  • Patent number: 7287089
    Abstract: A networked commercial interaction management method assembles information into bundles that include a data element reference and meta data describing the data element. The method distributes the meta data and the data element reference from the bundles through the network, and distributes copies of the data elements in the bundles from the network node of their respective data owners to the network nodes of accessors using the meta data and the data element reference distributed through the network. In at least one embodiment, the method periodically issues bundle version identifying signals to different nodes of the network. The bundle version identifying signals indicate changes to the data elements to the network nodes of accessors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Financial Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Lamoureux, Paul Jaminet, Edward Shea, Alexis Kopikis, John Boland Constantine, Jr., Matthew Kuntz, Todd Bremner
  • Patent number: 7283976
    Abstract: A system for processing invoices including a front-end requisition and catalog system; a back-end procurement system; a scanner for scanning images of invoices; an image system and store for storing said scanned images and serving them to said workstation keyed to said invoice in connection with positive or negative confirmation processing of the invoice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Alexander Aber, Patricia Ann Chauncey, Susan Bumgardner Cirulli, Glenn Paul Modrak, William Montgomery Sjostrom, Sherry Lee Wilson
  • Patent number: 7275040
    Abstract: An optical disc has a security feature in the form of an RFID tag that communicates with a voltage controlled optical modifier layer in the optical disc. In the presence of an interrogation signal, the RFID tag allows the optical disc to be used normally by outputting a voltage to the optical modifier layer. In the absence of an interrogation signal, the optical modifier layer prevents a laser from reading from or writing on the optical disc. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC
    Inventors: Ian J. Forster, Michael G. Ginn
  • Patent number: 7264058
    Abstract: An arrangement and a method to control and regulate the bottom hole pressure in a well during subsea drilling at deep waters: The method involves adjustment of a liquid/gas interface level in a drilling riser up or down. The arrangement comprises a high pressure drilling riser and a surface BOP at the upper end of the drilling riser. The surface BOP havs a gas bleeding outlet. The riser also comprises a BOP, with a by-pass line. The drilling riser has an outlet at a depth below the water surface, and the outlet is connected to a pumping system with a flow return conduit running back to a drilling vessel/platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Ocean Riser Systems AS
    Inventor: Borre Fossli
  • Patent number: 7266530
    Abstract: This invention relates to a terminal device capable of communicating with an accounting center, an accounting system, and a data processing method. A point memory 45 of a recording/reproducing device 10 stores accounting point information. An HDD 15 stores information distributed from an external source. A CPU 11 updates the accounting point information stored in the point memory 45 and updates attributes of the distributed information when the distributed information is stored onto the HDD 15. Thus, such inconvenience that communication with a distribution/accounting center 1 is carried out every time information is distributed to the recording/reproducing device 10 is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Fumitake Yodo
  • Patent number: 7255180
    Abstract: A modular transfigurable drilling rig comprises one or more transfigurable containers with drilling equipment to form an operational drilling rig. The transfigurable containers include a first and second load bearing support and a load bearing bottom disposed between the first and second load bearing supports, thereby forming a space. The container includes drilling equipment rotatably attached to the load bearing supports or the load bearing bottom. The drilling equipment is disposed within the space. The drilling rig further includes one or more connectors adapted to engage at least two transfigurable containers together. The drilling rig further includes piping adapted to connect the drilling equipment together, cabling adapted to provide communication between the drilling equipment, and a power source connected to the drilling equipment, wherein the power source is adapted to provide power to the drilling equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignees: Drillmar, Inc., Itrec B.V.
    Inventors: Christopher Louis Beato, Joop Roodenburg
  • Patent number: 7254554
    Abstract: Transaction data representing a transaction to be processed is input through an input terminal. An interface unit assigns the input transaction data a business code identifying the business activities of a company involved in the transaction represented by the transaction data, and a type code identifying an account title classified based on a cost element. A journalizing unit refers to a master information storage unit, and journalizes the transaction data based on the business code and the type code. The journal result is stored in a database accessible from the terminal device of the accounting division.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kazuo Tawara, Naoki Yoshida, Shiro Tamatani, Toru Hanya, Masatoshi Mizuno, Chiaki Tanaka, Naoki Nishimura, Yukiyoshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 7249097
    Abstract: A virtual payment system for ordering and paying for goods, services and content over an internetwork is disclosed. The virtual payment system comprises a commerce gateway component (52) and a credit processing server component (53). The virtual payment system is a secure, closed system comprising registered sellers and buyers. A buyer becomes a registered participant by applying for a virtual payment account. Likewise, a seller becomes registered by applying for a seller account. A buyer can instantly open an account on-line. That is, the credit processing component (53) immediately evaluates the buyer's virtual payment card application and assigns a credit limit to the account. Once an account is established, a digital certificate is stored on the registered participant's computer. The buyer can then order a product, i.e., goods, services or content from a seller and charge it to the virtual payment account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: eCharge Corporation
    Inventors: Robin B. Hutchison, Robert J. Llewellyn, Andre F. Viljoen, David Griffiths, David Birch, Iain M. Begg
  • Patent number: 7233918
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for applying a volume discount scheme and rating transactions accordingly on a continuous basis, in a continuous processing system. At the time of a transaction or potential transaction, a cost including applicable volume discount is provided to a customer with reference to his current accumulated usage. When a customer is shopping on-line or placing a phone order, he can learn what discount he will obtain if he spends an incremental amount. A person using a service can inquire what the discounted cost or applicable rate is for a contemplated transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Sha Ye, David S. Labuda
  • Patent number: 7216699
    Abstract: An inner tubular member of a subsea wellhead assembly carries a locking member that moves between a locked and unlocked positions lands within an outer tubular member having a grooved profile in its bore. The inner tubular member joins to a portion of the conductor casing extending from a low pressure wellhead housing above the mudline of the seafloor. In the locked position, the locking member engages the grooved profile on the outer tubular member to connect the outer tubular member and inner tubular member. The inner tubular member also carries a hydraulically actuated, axially moveable locking sleeve that slidingly engages the locking member to move the locking member between the locked and unlocked positions. An ROV supplies hydraulic fluid through an ROV port to actuate the locking sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: John Edward Nelson, James A. Gariepy
  • Patent number: 7201229
    Abstract: A subsea production tree has an external annular profile formed on an upper portion of the tree. A vertical passage extending from a lower end of the tree to an upper end of the tree for communicating with a string of tubing extending into the well. A lateral passage in the tree extending from the vertical passage. A flow path in fluid communication with the lateral passage extends laterally from the tree, the flow path having an upward facing receptacle. An adapter lands on the upper portion of the tree and connects to the profile, the adapter having a passage that registers with the vertical passage of the tree while the adapter lands on the tree. A flow interface device mounts to and lands with the adapter, the flow interface device having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, one of the conduits being connected to the passage in the adapter, the other of the conduits stabbing into sealing engagement with the receptacle as the adapter lands on the tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. White, Paul F. Milne, Norman Brammer
  • Patent number: 7191837
    Abstract: A motion compensator is used on a floating vessel servicing a subsea well. The motion compensator includes a first frame assembly adapted to be connected to a cable extending from a lifting structure. When connected to the cable, the first frame assembly extends longitudinally along an axis substantially parallel with that of the cable. The motion compensator also includes a second frame assembly connected to the first frame assembly. The second frame assembly overlaps a longitudinal portion of the first frame assembly. The first and second frame assemblies are moveable relative to each other and define an expanded position and a contracted position. The motion compensator further includes a piston assembly positioned between the first and second frame assemblies. The piston assembly has a piston chamber and a piston that slidingly engages the piston chamber when the first and second rod assemblies move relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Inventor: Robert A. Coles
  • Patent number: 7188677
    Abstract: A device for tensioning and relieving production tubing (49) extending from a subsea hydrocarbon well (107) up through a riser (63) to a floating installation (87), a continuous production tubing extension (85) passing through a telescopic unit (67) in the upper part of the riser (63), preferably extending above a production deck (89) on the floating installation (87), where the production tubing (49) is provided with a tubing tensioner unit (1) below and in the proximity of the lower end of the telescopic unit (67).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: National Oilwell Norway AS
    Inventor: Magne Mathias Moe
  • Patent number: 6850899
    Abstract: A transferable online shopping basket is used in a business process and apparatus for online shopping at online stores. At least one online shopping basket is acquired by a buyer from an online store and is customized according to rules specified by the buyer. The buyer places zero or more items in the online shopping basket(s) before they are given to at least one shopper by the online store. The shopper(s) may further customize the online shopping basket(s) with rules that do not conflict with those specified by the buyer. The shopper(s) then place zero or more items in the online shopping basket(s) and return the basket(s) to the online store. An e-mail is sent to the buyer notifying the buyer the shopper(s) are finished shopping. Multiple online shopping baskets are merged into a single basket, and the buyer reviews the items in the merged online shopping basket and adds or removes items as necessary. The buyer then purchases the remaining items from the online store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Kingsum Chow, John Du
  • Patent number: 6688640
    Abstract: A vehicle instrument panel assembly includes a substrate having a recess formed therein with a deployable air bag assembly positioned within the recess. The air bag assembly is attached to the substrate by an attachment bolt. An air bag cover is secured to the substrate by a snap-in attachment feature to enclose the air bag assembly within the recess. The air bag cover includes an integrally molded tether which is connected to the attachment bolt such that deployment of the air bag assembly causes detachment of the snap-in attachment feature to allow air bag deployment outside the recess while the tether maintains its connection with the attachment bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph J. Davis, Jr., John J. H. Faarup, Sr.