Patents Examined by Mark D Fearer
  • Patent number: 8019875
    Abstract: Methods and Systems for determining a user state for a member of a social network are described. According to one embodiment, a method comprising receiving in a network of associated users user state information for a first user, wherein the network of associated users comprises user established relationships between users, determining a current user state for the first user; and outputting to a second user the user state information based at least in part on the current user state and a relationship based permission status is set forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Alan Nielsen
  • Patent number: 8019808
    Abstract: Several embodiments of the present invention comprise a storage platform that provides a synchronization service that (i) allows multiple instances of the storage platform (each with its own data store) to synchronize parts of their content according to a flexible set of rules, and (ii) provides an infrastructure for third parties to synchronize the data store of the storage platform of the present invention with with other data sources that implement proprietary protocols. In various embodiments, storage-platform-to-storage-platform synchronization occurs among a group of participating “replicas.” For example, it may be desirable to provide synchronization between the data store of the storage platform with another remote data store under the control of another instance of the storage platform, perhaps running on a different computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Ashish Shah
  • Patent number: 8010421
    Abstract: An automatic account generation system includes an account generator having an IP address and exhibiting an account management function, a printer and at least one apparatus capable of providing wireless Internet access. The Internet user access authentication information can be acquired and printed from the account generator via an input device of the printer. When a user inputs the Internet user access authentication information into a wireless access apparatus, such as a notebook or a PDA equipped with a WLAN card, he or she can automatically access the WLAN where he or she is located. Moreover, the present system is equipped with a payment apparatus that can be connected to the account generator, so that it can accept payment made, whether by cash or by credit card, for getting the Internet user access authentication information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Handlink Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Por-Horng Lin, Ying-Tsai Hsu
  • Patent number: 7996569
    Abstract: Methods and systems for zero copy in a virtualized network environment are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include a plurality of GOSs that share a single NIC. The NIC may switch communication to a GOS to allow that GOS access to a network via the NIC. The NIC may offload, for example, OSI layer 3, 4, and/or 5 protocol operations from a host system and/or the GOSs. The data received from, or to be transmitted to, the network by the NIC may be copied directly between the NIC's buffer and a corresponding application buffer for one of the GOSs without copying the data to a TGOS. The NIC may access the GOS buffer via a virtual address, a buffer offset, or a physical address. The virtual address and the buffer offset may be translated to a physical address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Israel Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Eliezer Aloni, Uri El Zur, Rafi Shalom, Caitlin Bestler
  • Patent number: 7970915
    Abstract: Under the present invention, when a TCS receives a data command (e.g., a read or write command) pursuant to a communication session between the TCS and an application, it will first request permission from a permission system to execute the data command. By applying a set of rules to a setting of a state variable associated with the TCS, the permission system will determine whether to grant the permission. If so, the TCS will execute the data command and change the setting of the state variable. If a close command is later received by the TCS to close the communication session, permission will once again be requested from the permission system, which will again apply a set of rules to the current setting of the state variable to determine if the session can be safely closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Erik J. Burckart, David B. Gilgen, Craig A. Lanzen, William D. Wigger
  • Patent number: 7970852
    Abstract: A system and method for migrating a client partition between computer electronic complexes (CECs) while maintaining access to a Storage Area Network. An active and inactive world wide port name are generated for a client virtual channel adapter. A query is sent to a name server from the VIOS on the source CEC. The name server creates a list of small computer system interface (SCSI) targets that are available. The list is used by the VIOS on the destination CEC to verify whether any physical ports in the destination CEC have access to the same SCSI target. The client partition may be migrated between a source CEC and a destination CEC and the access to the Storage Area Network access may be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Michael Paul Cyr, James A. Pafumi, Vasu Vallabhaneni
  • Patent number: 7949760
    Abstract: A system and method for serving an application to different types of client devices. The application is served from a J2EE-compliant application server, to clients operating a variety of communication protocols (e.g., HTTP, Telnet). The application is developed according to a single application model, but can be served to heterogeneous clients. The application communicates via a request/response format (e.g., HTTP), thereby requiring clients communicating via other formats or protocols (e.g., Telnet byte streams) to connect to the application via one or more other components of the application server. Illustratively, the application server includes a Telnet resource adapter for maintaining persistent communication connections with Telnet clients, and an EJB (Enterprise Java Bean) configured to discretize continuous Telnet data streams into discrete application requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Varouj Armen Chitilian, Joseph Michael Rozier
  • Patent number: 7945676
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for processing requests transmitted using a first communication directed to an application that uses a second communication protocol. A request is received from a client over a network in a first communication protocol. A determination is made as to whether the request includes an identifier of an application indicated in a data structure. A socket is processed that enables communication between the application identified by the identifier in response to determining that the identifier included in the request is indicated in the data structure. The socket is provided to the application associated with the requested resource to enable the application to communicate with the client over the network using a second communication protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Allen Kaczmarski, Sumant Padbidri
  • Patent number: 7937491
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for initializing application server services on demand are disclosed. In one embodiment, an application server may provide clients with a variety of services, where the clients may be applications and/or other services. During startup of the application server, some of these services may be initialized while others may not be initialized. In most embodiments, services necessary to the basic function of the application server, like a naming service, may be initialized during startup, while other services, e.g. transaction management, may go un-initialized. The naming service may include an on-demand service initiator, which may intercept service lookup requests. The on-demand service initiator may determine whether a requested service has been initialized, and if not, may initiate the initialization of the requested service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventor: Tony C. Ng
  • Patent number: 7933958
    Abstract: The present invention is a system, method and apparatus for for real-time blogging. In a preferred aspect of the invention, a real-time bi-directional blogging system can include a blog and a bi-directional syndication interface to the blog. Importantly, an instant messaging system can be coupled to the syndication interface of the blog. The instant messaging system of the present invention can include a chat server and at least one chat client. Notably, a bot can be coupled to the chat server. The bot can be programmed to communicate blog postings received in the chat server to the chat client or clients. The bot can be further programmed to communicate responses to the blog postings received from the chat client or clients to the blog through the syndication interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Derek W. Carr, Peter P. Eacmen, Ronny A. Pena, Rodney Smith, Ajamu A. Wesley
  • Patent number: 7930342
    Abstract: The basic concept of the method for requesting location related information of a mobile communication terminal device comprises an encoding of a location request. The location request contains information and commands for instructing a receiving location serving networked device to retrieve location related information accordingly and a transmitting of the encoded location request to the location serving networked device. The basic concept of the method for serving for serving location related information of a mobile communication terminal device comprises a receiving of a location request as defined above, a retrieving of the location related information in accordance with the location request, an encoding of a location response in accordance with the retrieval results and containing at least the retrieved location related information and transmitting of the encoded location response to the mobile communication terminal device. Devices performing these methods are shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Arto Mattila, Timo Kivinen, Tommi Ojala
  • Patent number: 7930422
    Abstract: A number of improvements in network adapters that offload protocol processing from the host processor are provided. Specifically, mechanisms for handling memory management and optimization within a system utilizing an offload network adapter are provided. The memory management mechanism permits both buffered sending and receiving of data as well as zero-copy sending and receiving of data. In addition, the memory management mechanism permits grouping of DMA buffers that can be shared among specified connections based on any number of attributes. The memory management mechanism further permits partial send and receive buffer operation, delaying of DMA requests so that they may be communicated to the host system in bulk, and expedited transfer of data to the host system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Morgan Freimuth, Elbert C. Hu, Ronald Mraz, Erich M. Nahum, Prashant Pradhan, Sambit Sahu, John Michael Tracey
  • Patent number: 7925724
    Abstract: A system and method includes providing a chassis comprising multiple slots, with each slot having a unique slot number assigned thereto. Multiple servers, each having at least one globally unique identifier associated therewith, are provided to plug into one or more of the slots. At least one storage device is provided having one or more storage volumes. To map volumes to specific servers, a volume may be assigned to a slot by identifying a slot number associated with the slot. This slot may then be mapped to a globally unique identifier associated with a server plugged into the slot. In selected embodiments, the globally unique identifier includes a WWNN, a WWPN, or other unique identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond R. Gomez, Esteban Rios, Ashaki A. Ricketts
  • Patent number: 7925768
    Abstract: A method and network for adapting a network management protocol (e.g., TL-1) for various transmission protocol terminologies (e.g., SDH and SONET). A network element operates in one transmission protocol mode and sends network management messages to a network management device in a managing terminology based on another transmission protocol mode. The network management device then translates the network management messages to be presented in a user interface at the network management device to an operating terminology based on the operating transmission protocol mode used by the network element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Parker, Chris Ramsden
  • Patent number: 7899885
    Abstract: A data backup and recovery system that includes a backup and recovery (EBR) management network system. The EBR management network system includes an infrastructure for performing information storage, backup, and recovery operations for a business enterprise that is fully scalable and sharable. The EBR management network system includes the following modular backup and recovery models: (1) LAN network based backup and recovery models for applications requiring <200 GB; (2) LAN network based GigE backup and recovery model for applications requiring >500 GB and <1.5 TB; LAN-Free dedicated tape drive backup and recovery models; (3) LAN-Free shared tape drive backup and recovery models; (4) Server-Free backup and recovery models; and (5) application storage manager (ASM) backup and recovery models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Joseph L. Aultman, Richard J. Kittinger
  • Patent number: 7895343
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for improving the procedures for error detection and recovery in data communication systems and thereby facilitating a better use of data transmission resources. According to the invention, different protocols capable of re-transmission of data are made to communicate with each other in order to avoid that several protocols simultaneously re-transmit the same data towards the same interface. The transmitting entity of a higher layer protocol will, according to the invention, await the result of the transmission of a certain protocol data unit by a lower layer protocol before making the decision of whether or not the transmitting entity of the higher layer protocol should re-transmit the certain protocol data unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Ingemar Backlund
  • Patent number: 7895274
    Abstract: A display displays a capture mode displaying source image data and a send mode displaying processed image data, which is to be sent. The display simultaneously displays, upon a switch from the capture mode to the send mode, the processed image data and a manipulation. The manipulation includes pixel values of the source image data and dummy values. An input inputs an address of a terminal to which the processed image data is to be transmitted. A transmitter transmits an address of a terminal together with the processed image data over a network to a server such that the server executes a processing for providing the processed image data to the terminal. An image data processor determines an image processing capacity of the terminal and converts an image size of the source image data such that the processed image data is commensurate with the image processing capacity of the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hirohito Kondo, Tomoki Shiono, Hiroshi Nagatani, Yosuke Kaneda, Takaaki Sakai
  • Patent number: 7895279
    Abstract: A threaded list of e-mail messages is provided by checking each received message against previous messages to determine whether the new message is associated with previous messages. If so, then a new thread is created. The new thread has an associated thread header, which stores metadata bout the messages in the thread. If the received message is related to messages in an existing thread, then the received message is added to that thread, and the thread header for that thread is updated to reflect data from the received message. The thread header appears with messages in a message list view of the inbox, and provides data about the thread. Messages that are not part of a thread are shown in the same view as threaded messages, without a thread header. This allows a user to view both threaded and non-threaded messages in a single view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Forstall, Gregory N. Christie, Steve Lemay
  • Patent number: 7890587
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, an electronic mail message is identified such that at least one of a date and a time associated with the electronic mail message may be corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: McAfee, Inc.
    Inventor: Gopi Krishna Chebiyyam
  • Patent number: 7882179
    Abstract: The current invention allows a user to evaluate web pages, emails, or software across different operating systems without requiring the user to have the operating system being tested. The patent has a novel method to (1) generate screen captures in parallel, (2) create counter-anti-spam reporting and (3) a method to remotely interact any arbitrary operating system (DVA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Compuware Corporation
    Inventor: John Witchel