Patents Examined by David England
  • Patent number: 7370325
    Abstract: An object-focused workflow system for processing a received object in accordance with a declarative workflow specification. The specification includes modules and attributes, where module execution results in the evaluation of attributes, and may include the initiation of a side-effect action performed by an external component. Whether modules are to be executed for a particular received object is determined by associated enabling conditions. Attributes may be evaluated in accordance with computation rules and a combining policy, where the computation rules specify how values are to be contributed to an attribute, and the combining policy indicates how those contributed values are combined in order to assign a value to the attribute. Tasks in the workflow system may be executed eagerly in order to improve the performance of the workflow system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Baxter Hull, Bharat Kumar, Francois Llirbat, Gang Zhou
  • Patent number: 7366757
    Abstract: Image data communication equivalent to facsimile communication using a public network is realized on e-mail communication. When a communication apparatus for transmitting/receiving e-mail data by connecting to the Internet is to communicate e-mail data having facsimile-format image data attached, communication concerning functional information is performed in addition to the communication of the e-mail data. The functional information can be exchanged by an optimum method matching the form of connection to the Internet. This allows maximum utilization of the capability of each apparatus function in facsimile image communication using e-mail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsutoshi Ushida
  • Patent number: 7356580
    Abstract: A process chamber with a computer system that controls the process chamber is connected to one or more sensors, which are used to monitor the process in the process chamber. The sensors are connected to the computer system in a client/server relationship, in a way that allows the sensors to be hot swappable plug and play sensors. The computer system exchanges various messages with the sensors, synchronizes with the sensors, and integrates and utilizes data sent from the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Chung-Ho Huang, Andrew Lui, David J. Hemker
  • Patent number: 7356617
    Abstract: A controller controls a time stamp providing unit to provide a periodic transfer packet with a time stamp showing the synchronous timing of periodic control designated by the control period timer using the global time indicated by a global timer. Devices are corrected to synchronize operation period timers with the periodic control, by using the time difference between the synchronous timing time of periodic control indicated by the time stamp of the transmitted periodic transfer packet and the global time indicated by global timers, at periodic operation timing of the operation period timers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Suzuki, Yuusuke Ushio, Shinichiro Chino, Satoru Nakai
  • Patent number: 7346699
    Abstract: A reliable multicast service is operated between a source device and multiple destination devices participating in a multicast group. The source device includes a first source application instance (AI) producing a first unit of work stream, and communication services (CS). Each destination device in the multicast group includes CS, and at least one destination AI which consumes units of work. Communication services/fabric provide communication between the source device and the multiple destination devices. Multiple source and destination resources (SDRs) implement corresponding multiple reliable transport services between the source device and corresponding multiple destination devices in the multicast group for delivery of the first unit of work stream to the corresponding destination devices and guaranteeing strong ordering of the first unit of work stream received at the corresponding destination devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael R. Krause, Fred B. Worley, Kimberly K. Scott
  • Patent number: 7343407
    Abstract: In a system for remotely monitoring networked devices and appliances, email messages are sent across networks, the email messages containing configuration, status or other information. For flexibility, it is desirable to quickly and easily change the message type designation, and to easily determine a data structure definition based on the received message type. To achieve this goal, the message type designation of a given message's information may be defined within the message itself, and extracted at the receiving end before the information is analyzed or stored according to the data structure definition. Thus, a large number of devices is allowed to communicate configuration, status and/or other types of information in a variety of message types. A method is provided for receiving information concerning a remotely monitored device, the information being contained in a message that also includes a message type designation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Motoyama, Avery Fong
  • Patent number: 7328270
    Abstract: A communication protocol processor is presented including a transmit unit and a receive unit, each having multiple microprocessor cores connected in series. Each microprocessor core performs an operation upon a stream of communication data, conducted along a data path, according to instructions and associated data stored within a code memory unit. A change in the operation performed by a given microprocessor core is effectuated during communication protocol processor operation by transmitting new instructions and associated data to the microprocessor core along the data path. The new instructions and data modify the existing instructions and associated data stored within the code memory unit. The transmit unit of the communication protocol processor receives packet (i.e., transmit) data in parallel units and produces a framed serial transmit data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Reents, Donald G. Craycraft, Carl K. Wakeland
  • Patent number: 7296238
    Abstract: A number of items of data from a data source (12) can be processed and then deposited in at least one data destination (16, 17). The data can be image data, text data, numeric data or some other type of data, or a combination of these types of data. The processing of the data is controlled by a project definition (14, 71, 101) which includes a plurality of modules selected from a variety of available modules (Tables 1-4). The modules have input and output ports which are interrelated by binding information. Execution of the project definition can be initiated by various events. One such event is the receipt of a communication expressed in a publication communication protocol. Another such event is an update to the data in the data source, resulting in automatic initiation of the execution of the project definition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Corel Corporation
    Inventor: John C. Zurawski
  • Patent number: 7231426
    Abstract: An email client is configured to watch for attachment events and to automatically package a web page as a single-file attachment to an email note. When an attachment event is recognized by the email client, a determination is made as to whether the attached file is an HTML document. If the attached document is an HTML document, then a determination is made as to whether the HTML document has supporting resource files. If the HTML file has supporting resource files, then the registry is checked to see if the user has specified to include all supporting resource files with any HTML attachment. If not, then the user is prompted by a dialog box to select whether the supporting resource files should be attached. If the user expresses a desire to have the supporting resource files attached then the web page and all supporting resource files are packaged into a single file in Web Archive (e.g., MHTML) format. This single file is attached to the email note and transmitted with the email note to the recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel J. Hall, Alan Ramaley
  • Patent number: 7225250
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed which predict whether a performance problem within a network is likely to be encountered during future operation. Furthermore, a preferred embodiment not only predicts the likelihood of a performance problem, but further determines the appropriate preventative measures to be taken in an attempt to prevent a predicted performance problem from occurring. In a preferred embodiment, a management system (MS) that oversees the operation of a network is implemented to predict likely performance problems within the network, and may determine appropriate preventative measures for preventing predicted performance problems within the network. Polling gateway(s) may be utilized to periodically poll the network resources in order to retrieve status information for such resources, including but not limited to status of disk(s), database(s), memory, CPU(s), and operating system(s) within the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Harrop
  • Patent number: 7216165
    Abstract: A streaming media assessment system comprises assessment servers, media clients, data collection points, helper agents, and report servers. An assessment tool is downloaded or otherwise installed on an end-user client machine and associated with its media player. An assessment server is in communication with the assessment tool over the network and can send control messages to conduct tests and gather information from the assessment tool. The client machine media player is controlled to stop and start by the assessment tool and it will provide measurements that can be forwarded to the assessment servers. Analyses are then produced by the assessment servers of the actual media streams that were received by many such client machine media players. The report servers issue various formatted reports for the system's sponsors and subscribers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Amy Dalal, Edward H. Perry
  • Patent number: 7194509
    Abstract: A collaboration client's behavior is changed according to context while collaborating on an internet. An HTTP request from a customer-side browser is sent to a web server via an information terminal support server. The web server then sends context in response to the request to the customer-side web browser via the information terminal support server. The information terminal support server then checks the contents of the context, and when it is determined that there is agreement with a predetermined condition, a command is inserted into the context. Context without the command inserted is sent to the customer-side web browser, and context with the command inserted is sent to the agent-side web browser. A client program of the agent-side information terminal then reads the embedded command using an API possessed by a web browser and carries out processing in order to prohibit form submission and form alteration and conceal specific forms or fields in accordance with the contents of this command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Kawase, Akira Ohkado, Yoichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7185097
    Abstract: One or more addresses are encoded into a single regular expression. The regular expression may be used for configuring and/or storing addressing information in a network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Okoziem Allen, Richard Crump
  • Patent number: 7092991
    Abstract: A collaboration client's behavior is changed according to context while collaborating on an internet. An HTTP request from a customer-side browser is sent to a web server via an information terminal support server. The web server then sends context in response to the request to the customer-side web browser via the information terminal support server. The information terminal support server then checks the contents of the context, and when it is determined that there is agreement with a predetermined condition, a command is inserted into the context. Context without the command inserted is sent to the customer-side web browser, and context with the command inserted is sent to the agent-side web browser. A client program of the agent-side information terminal then reads the embedded command using an API possessed by a web browser and carries out processing in order to prohibit form submission and form alteration and conceal specific forms or fields in accordance with the contents of this command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Kawase, Akira Ohkado, Yoichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7076546
    Abstract: An apparatus, program product, and method that track where particular users are browsing within a multi-user computer environment, and provide such information to one or more users within the environment to permit greater interactivity among the users. By enabling users to identify and interact with other users in a browsing environment, users may be permitted to access lists of favorite documents, home pages, navigational histories, etc. of other users while browsing to facilitate the dynamic location and retrieval of useful information. Also, users may be permitted to directly communicate with one another while browsing, e.g., via electronic messages, real-time discussions, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cary Lee Bates, Jeffrey Michael Ryan
  • Patent number: 7058706
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining latency between multiple servers and a client receives requests for content server addresses from local domain names servers (LDNS). POPs that can serve the content are determined and sent latency metric requests. The content server receives the request for latency metrics and looks up the latency metric for the requesting client. Periodic latency probes are sent to the IP addresses in a Latency Management Table. The IP addresses of clients are masked so the latency probes are sent to higher level servers to reduce traffic across the network. The hop count and latency data in the packets sent in response to the latency probes are stored in the Latency Management Table and is used to determine the latency metric from the resident POP to the requesting client before sending the latency metric to the requesting server. The BGP hop count in the Latency Management Table is used for the latency metric upon the first request for an IP address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shankar Iyer, Sridhara Lanka
  • Patent number: 7054905
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that replaces an attachment to an email message with a reference to a location where the attachment is stored. Upon receiving the email message, the system examines the email message to determine if the email message includes an attachment. If the email message includes the attachment, the system stores the attachment at a location on a communication network from which the attachment can be retrieved. The system also modifies the email message by replacing the attachment with a reference specifying the location of the attachment, and sends the modified email message to a recipient of the email message. In one embodiment of the present invention, the recipient receives the modified email message and uses the reference specifying the location of the attachment to retrieve the attachment across the communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Hanna, David C. Douglas, Yassir K. Elley, Radia J. Perlman, Sean J. Mullan, Anne H. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7051068
    Abstract: A collaboration client's behavior is changed according to context while collaborating on an internet. An HTTP request from a customer-side browser is sent to a web server via an information terminal support server. The web server then sends context in response to the request to the customer-side web browser via the information terminal support server. The information terminal support server then checks the contents of the context, and when it is determined that there is agreement with a predetermined condition, a command is inserted into the context. Context without the command inserted is sent to the customer-side web browser, and context with the command inserted is sent to the agent-side web browser. A client program of the agent-side information terminal then reads the embedded command using an API possessed by a web browser and carries out processing in order to prohibit form submission and form alteration and conceal specific forms or fields in accordance with the contents of this command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Kawase, Akira Ohkado, Yoichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6961782
    Abstract: There is provided a method for routing packets on a linear array of N processors connected in a nearest neighbor configuration. The method includes the step of, for each end processor of the array, connecting unused outputs to corresponding unused inputs. For each axis required to directly route a packet from a source to a destination processor, the following steps are performed. It is determined whether a result of directly sending a packet from an initial processor to a target processor is less than or greater than N/2 moves, respectively. The initial processor is the source processor in the first axis, and the target processor is the destination processor in the last axis. The packet is directly sent from the initial processor to the target processor, when the result is less than N/2 moves. The packet is indirectly sent so as to wrap around each end processor, when the result is greater than N/2 moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Monty M. Denneau, Peter H. Hochschild, Richard A. Swetz, Henry S. Warren, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6665727
    Abstract: Multicast addresses on a computer network are dynamically assigned to a temporary node task. In particular, a server dynamically assigns a multicast address to a data stream in response to a request for the data stream from a client. The server assigns the multicast address in cooperation with other servers from a pool of network-allocated but unassigned multicast addresses. Once the data stream is terminated, the assigned multicast address is deassigned and returned to the pool of unassigned multicast addresses for possible reuse by the nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Peter C. Hayden