Patents Examined by Janice A Mooneyham
  • Patent number: 7636674
    Abstract: A system is provided for facilitating the distribution of unused theater tickets. The system includes a central distribution processor to which theater patrons are provided access for determining the availability of theater tickets and purchasing available theater tickets at a discounted rate. The system further includes a plurality of remote ticket offices of distinct theaters linked to the central distribution processor, the remote ticket offices including interface software compatible with the central distribution processor for facilitating the uploading of relevant ticket information to the central distribution processor. The interface software further provides a user interface through which the plurality of remote ticket offices selectively enter available theater ticket information which is subsequently uploaded to the central distribution processor for access and purchase by theater patrons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Inventor: Mitchell J. Francis
  • Patent number: 7634417
    Abstract: A controller for directing operation of an air pollution control (APC) system, requires a consumable to perform a process to control emissions of a pollutant. The process has multiple process parameters (MPPs). One or more of the MPPs is a controllable process parameters (CTPPs) and one of the MPPs is an amount of the pollutant (AOP) emitted by the system. A defined AOP value (AOPV) represents a limit on an actual value (AV) of the emitted AOP. An interface receives a value corresponding to a unit cost of the consumable. A control processor determines the cost of operating the system based on the received value corresponding to the unit cost of the consumable, and directs control of at least one of CTPPs based on the current value of that CTPP and the determined operating cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott A. Boyden, Stephen Piche
  • Patent number: 7630904
    Abstract: System and methods resolving an electronic commerce dispute involving one or more parties by selecting one of two modes of resolving the dispute, the first mode being completely driven by an electronic agent and the second mode involving a human dispute resolution specialist; and presenting the resolution of the dispute to the one or more parties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Square Trade, Inc.
    Inventors: Lalitha Vaidyanathan, John Quinn, Ahmed Khaishgi, Cara Cherry
  • Patent number: 7610206
    Abstract: Provision to a customer of equipment already installed into a specified enclosure to create an assembly is accomplished in an advantageous manner by the disclosed process. A manufacturer obtains the enclosure and the components of the specified equipment, installs the equipment in the enclosure and performs appropriate tests on the completed assembly before sending the assembly to the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Edward Kuhlmann, Francis E Noel, Jr., Norman Clark Strole
  • Patent number: 7606717
    Abstract: A method of developing a computer software system comprising defining a first interface between a proposed view sub-system and a proposed business logic sub-system, defining a second interface between a proposed handler sub-system and the proposed business logic sub-system, creating the view sub-system in accord with the second interface, and creating the handler sub-system in accord with the second interface. In another form, the invention provides is a related computer software system and computer program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Vijay Seetharaman, Sundaresan Venkataraman, John Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 7603281
    Abstract: A method, computer program, and system for automatically pushing flight status information to passengers and/or their agents whenever an airline flight is delayed, cancelled, or otherwise subject to a status change. The invention is implemented with a computer program that instructs a host computer operated by a global airline distribution provider. The computer program includes: a code segment for receiving and storing in a database scheduled times of departure or arrival for substantially all U.S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Worldspan LP
    Inventors: Paul J. Miller, Asit K. Jena
  • Patent number: 7493261
    Abstract: A system and method for travel management that utilizes multiple computer reservation systems (CRSs) for making travel related bookings. In one embodiment, a server provides access to a plurality of computer reservation systems (CRSs) for a client initiating a travel booking request. The client can book a travel item segment from any one of the accessible CRSs. CRSs for particular travel item segments are predefined for the client, along with particular conditions, prior to a travel booking request. The predefined CRSs are accessed to check the availability of travel items. The available travel items are displayed to the client for booking. When the client books a travel item, the booked travel item segment is stored in a super passenger name record (PNR). In some embodiments, the super PNR includes a CRS designation associated with each travel item segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: GetThere L.P.
    Inventors: Jerome Chen, Robert Jay GaBany, Narendra Goyal