Patents Examined by Fazlul Quader
  • Patent number: 8150819
    Abstract: In order to efficiently search web pages, an MFP has browsing processing portion to receive a web page from a Web server, an execution instruction accepting portion to accept an execution instruction specifying processing to be executed with respect to the received web page, and a user relating portion to store a URL for access to the web page when the accepted execution instruction specifies processing other than the processing for display. Thus, an efficient search of web pages can be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazusei Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8150832
    Abstract: This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for determining a natural hierarchy for a data set. The method determines one or more pair-wise combinations within the data set. The one or more pair-wise combinations each include a first field and a second field from the database. The method then determines a distinct count for each entry in the first field grouped by the second field of the one or more pair-wise combinations, and determines that the distinct counts for each entry has a value equal to one. The method further includes based on the determination that the distinct counts for each entry have a value equal to one, setting the first field in the pair-wise combination as the parent and the second field in the pair-wise combination as the child in a default hierarchy for the data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan Isaac Helfman
  • Patent number: 8145617
    Abstract: A document retrieval system generates snippets of documents for display as part of a user interface screen with search results. The snippet may be generated based on the type of query or the location of the query terms in the document. Different snippet generation algorithms may be used depending on the query type. Alternatively, snippets may be generated based on an analysis of the location of the query terms in the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandre A. Verstak, Anurag Acharya
  • Patent number: 8140549
    Abstract: Embodiments include systems, apparatuses, transformations, code, state machines or other logic to perform spreadsheet operations. Some embodiments may provide a text-based interface to a spreadsheet. In further embodiments, a spreadsheet may create, modify, and access spreadsheet objects in response to text entered into the text-based interface. The text-based interface may comprise a command interface. Many embodiments may provide networks to a spreadsheet. The networks may include nodes, flow objects, and the assignment of flow objects to nodes. Several embodiments may enable the assignment of units to elements of a spreadsheet. Numerous embodiments may operate with arrays of three or more dimensions. Some embodiments may comprise non-spreadsheet applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Juan Carlos Barinaga
  • Patent number: 8140470
    Abstract: In a method and system for updating data in a distributed system, a server receives a request to read data stored in the server. A data structure is populated with the requested data, and a first unique identifier is generated by applying a hash function to the data stored in the data structure. The data and the first unique identifier are transmitted to the requesting client. From the client system, the server receives the first unique identifier and changes to the requested data performed on the client system through a web service application. The changes include an extension to the requested application data to include customer-specific data. Following receipt of the changed data and the first unique identifier, a second data structure is populated with the requested data. A second unique identifier is generated by applying a hash function to the data stored in the second data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventor: Andreas Kemmler
  • Patent number: 8126904
    Abstract: A system and method for assessing one or more job applicants responding to a job posting with the system disclosed herein as incorporating at least one processor coupled to a memory and in communication with a network interface for retrieving digital footprints, images, or profiles as they may relate to an applicant, wherein the processor may be programmed to invite a job applicant to submit a first digital profile having one or more links relating to the applicant and generate an independent digital profile having one or more links relating to the applicant to determine whether there are any discrepancies between the first digital profile and the independent digital profile, and, in response to a discrepancy determination, issue a notice to the job applicant associated with the first digital profile requesting an explanation regarding the discrepancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventors: Jon S. Bettinger, Nell Cox
  • Patent number: 8108371
    Abstract: Presenting both hyperlinks and thumbnail versions of search engine results is described in this application. More specifically, a graphical user interface (GUI) having multiple display areas is described. One display area is configured for displaying the hyperlinks returned from a search-engine query. Another display area is configured to display thumbnail versions of the one or more web pages related to the search-engine query. The thumbnail versions are retrieved after a search-engine query is submitted and after hyperlinks to relevant web pages are received. Each relevant web page is retrieved on one or more background threads. The retrieved web pages are then stored, and their thumbnail versions are presented along with the hyperlinks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Baskaran Dharmarajan, Christopher L. Butler
  • Patent number: 8108380
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for searching business objects. According to one embodiment, a method of searching one or more business objects can comprise receiving a set of search criteria and identifying attributes of the business object that match the search criteria by searching an indexed composite document representing the business object based on the search criteria. The indexed composite document can comprise an indication of a value of one or more attributes of the business object and metadata associated with at least one of the values. Searching the indexed composite document can comprise performing a keyword search on the metadata of the composite document based on the search criteria. An indication of the identified attributes of the business object can be returned ordered by relevance to the search criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventor: Alan Fothergill
  • Patent number: 8103682
    Abstract: Methods and systems for text data analysis and visualization enable a user to specify a set of text data sources and visualize the content of the text data sources in an overview of salient features in the form of a network of words. A user may focus on one or more words to provide a visualization of connections specific to the focused word(s). The visualization may include clustering of relevant concepts within the network of words. Upon selection of a word, the context thereof, e.g., links to articles where the word appears, may be provided to the user. Analyzing may include textual statistical correlation models for assigning weights to words and links between words. Displaying the network of words may include a force-based network layout algorithm. Extracting clusters for display may include identifying “communities of words” as if the network of words was a social network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Icosystem Corporation
    Inventors: Pablo Funes, Elena Popovici, Paolo Gaudiano, Daphna Buchsbaum, Denis Garagic, M. Ihsan Ecemis, Eric Bonabeau, Chris Bingham
  • Patent number: 8103657
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for locating and retrieving specified data content in a database. The data comprises compressed digital audio or video data files associated with the recorded speech. Retrieval of the specified content requires decompression of only a portion of the compressed data. A method for locating specified content of the above type is provided. A compressed audio file comprising recorded speech is converted into a corresponding text file. A searchable index is constructed from the text file. One or more specified search arguments are used to search respective elements of the searchable index in order to detect one or more text segments. The identifiers of respective detected segments are then used to locate the specified content in the audio file. Only portions of the audio file that contain specified content require decompression, in order to retrieve the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver K. Ban, Timothy A. Dietz, Anthony C. Spielberg
  • Patent number: 8069148
    Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for improving configuration of database audits. Multiple audits can be created for a database. Any one of the audits can be turned off without impacting an operation of any remaining audits. Database audits can be ported from one database server instance to another. Database audit metadata is stored in a database separately from a database server instance to which the database is attached. The database can be detached from the database server instance and attached to a second database server instance, with the database audit metadata moving along with the database automatically. Any audits associated with the database audit metadata are automatically activated for the second database server instance. Database audits can be configured using a hierarchical model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jack S. Richins, Robert E. Walters, Sung Soo Kang, Ruslan P. Ovechkin, Sameer A. Tejani, Craig Gick, Raul Garcia, Liying Jiang
  • Patent number: 8065330
    Abstract: An information management and entertainment system (1) comprises user terminals (2), and a switching system (5, 40-43) having interfaces (21, 23, 31) for receiving media streams and for routing the streams to the terminals. The system (1) comprises at least one management server (15) for routing control signals to components of the system. The server (15) and the terminals (2) execute a middleware engine (65, 70) for communication within the system. The middleware engine comprises a services processor (65) executing on a server (15) and functions executing on the terminals (2) for controlling provision of information management and entertainment services to users via the terminals (2). The system further comprises at least one vending machine (16) for vending user cards for usage of services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Lincor Solutions Limited
    Inventors: Enda Murphy, Patrick O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 8065270
    Abstract: An information processing system using apparatus data recorded in a database in accordance with a data definition updated as needed, comprises a storage unit configured to store a data definition history that makes a data definition version and a period during which a data definition for the data definition version was used to correspond to each other, a data definition library in which the data definition version and the data definition for the data definition version are registered in correspondence with each other, and a detection unit configured to detect, from the data definition history, a data definition version of a data definition used in a period designated via a user interface, to detect a data definition for the detected data definition version from the data definition library, and to provide the detected data definition version and data definition to the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Itai, Kunitaka Ozawa, Hiroaki Fujiwara, Yoshihiro Kawauchi, Hisao Nakagawa, Hajime Nakamura, Mitsuhiro Masuda
  • Patent number: 8060472
    Abstract: An information processing system which utilizes apparatus data recorded in a database in conformity with a data definition which can be updated as needed, comprises a storage unit configured to store a data definition history in which a data definition version is associated with a period for which a data definition in the data definition version is used, a data definition library configured to register a data definition version and a data definition in the data definition version in association with each other, an extractor configured to extract, from the database, apparatus data which meets an extraction condition including an extraction period designated via a user interface, and a converter configured to convert an expression of the apparatus data extracted by the extractor into an expression conforming to a data definition designated via the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Itai, Kunitaka Ozawa, Hiroaki Fujiwara, Yoshihiro Kawauchi, Hisao Nakagawa, Hajime Nakamura, Mitsuhiro Masuda
  • Patent number: 8051088
    Abstract: A particular computer-implemented method includes generating a plurality of intent maps based on a plurality of documents. The plurality of intent maps includes a first intent map based on a first document and a second intent map based on a second document. Each intent map of the plurality of intent maps corresponds to a document of the plurality of documents and includes a set of event structures. Each event structure includes data descriptive of an actor and an action described in the document that corresponds to the intent map. The method also includes performing a comparison of event structures of the first intent map and event structures of the second intent map. The method further includes determining, based on the comparison, whether at least a portion of the first document is duplicative of at least a portion of the second document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Timothy A. Tibbetts, Debra A. Rigdon
  • Patent number: 8046391
    Abstract: Decrease in the write speed is prevented even when overwriting the entire file. When a NAS apparatus receives a file size change request from a computer as an access request source for changing the size of a file, the NAS apparatus creates a new file related to the file in a file system with a processing performance that is higher than a file system containing the file as an entity of that file, associates the new file and the foregoing file, deletes the file on the condition that the new file and the file has been associated, and executes data write processing of writing data into the new file on the condition of subsequently receiving a data write request from the access request source for writing data into the file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobumitsu Takaoka, Hitoshi Kamei
  • Patent number: 8041671
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a homogeneous view of a distributed common information model (CIM) within a heterogeneous virtual system environment is disclosed. The virtual system environment includes local and remote host systems, each of which includes a CIM Object Model (CIMOM) and a CIM repository of provider applications. The method includes selecting one of the CIMOMs to serve as a single access point to the CIMOMs for all client requests and configuring provider applications of the selected CIMOM to communicate with non-selected CIMOMs. The configuration includes using a discovery or registration process to identify all of the local and remote host systems in the virtual system environment and provide access points between the provider applications of the selected CIMOM and the hosts. In response to a client request, the selected CIMOM uses the access points to retrieve, aggregate, and forward the information to a client application as a homogeneous view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Arnold Beilmann, Patrick Hartman, Wolfgang Reichert
  • Patent number: 8041699
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for retrieving information in large heterogeneous data bases, wherein information retrieval through visual querying/browsing is supported by dynamic taxonomies; the process providing the steps of: initially showing (F1) a complete taxonomy for the retrieval; refining (F2) the retrieval through a selection of subsets of interest, where the refining is performed by selecting concepts in the taxonomy and combining them through boolean operations; showing (F3) a reduced taxonomy for the selected set; and further refining (F4) the retrieval through an iterative execution of the refining and showing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventor: Giovanni Sacco
  • Patent number: 8041722
    Abstract: A method for factorizing a property metadata filter in a service registry includes receiving a user's request for factorizing a property metadata with a specific name and value in a registry; generating a new filter for the property metadata with the specific name and value; applying the new filter to a search that has other filters; determining whether the search has an existing filter for name only, where the name is equal to the name in the new filter; and determining whether the search has an existing filter for value only, where the value is equal to the value in the new filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Seager, Martin J. Smithson
  • Patent number: 8024308
    Abstract: A method for providing a viewable search results log to allow determination of the effectiveness of search strategies and sharing results of searches with others. The search results log reveals search strategies utilized by a human searcher with which the search results log is associated. The search results produced by at least one human searcher are stored in the search results log and presented according to a view format selected by a viewer. The search results log can be interrelated to other systems such as a blog or a search engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: ChaCha Search, Inc
    Inventors: Scott A. Jones, Brad Bostic, Eugene M. O'Donnell, Thomas E. Cooper