Patents Examined by Susanna M. Diaz
  • Patent number: 6853974
    Abstract: In a workflow system capable of simultaneously executing a plurality of business processes, an exception handling unit extracts an exception condition from a business status definition table and transfers the exception condition to a status watcher, the status watcher refers to data contained in an application data base and, when there is a change meeting a predetermined exception condition, transfers the change to a user retrieval unit, the user retrieval unit refers to a working data base to retrieve a user and gives information to the computer of the related user, whereby, when one of interdependent business processes is discontinued, information that the business process is discontinued is given to the computers executing the other interdependent business processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Software Engineering Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Akifuji, Toshiaki Sakaguchi, Yoko Seki, Masato Tamaki, Atsushi Aoki, Yoshiki Matsuda, Osamu Tosaka, Shigeki Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6842739
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns reward points from a plurality of independent reward points issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned reward points in a user reward point account stored on a rewards server (such as a frequent flyer account or a credit card loyalty account). A trading server accumulates some or all of the user's earned reward points from the reward servers and credits the accumulated points into a single reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated reward points. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the reward points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventor: Richard Postrel
  • Patent number: 6839681
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for the evaluation and measurement of the performance of public relations, advertising and sales events to a particular user in order to provide value added relevance to marketing information. The invention provides a computer based means consolidating in an easily accessed format, information that has relevance to the marketing process of a particular brand or product and the performance measurement of a plurality of public relations events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Right Angle Research LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence Hotz
  • Patent number: 6829584
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer accessible system for electronically storing a model which communicates the physical attributes of a structure along with warranty, insurance and other information relative to that structure. The system of the present invention integrates physical information in a model which is displayed as a physical representation of the structure with other non-physical information. Selecting specific areas of the model provides access to data regarding non-physical characteristics of that area of the structure and the contents thereof. Data relevant to warranties, insurance, maintenance or other information can be accessed by selecting portions of the model or indices attached or related to that portion. Systems of the present invention allow multiple users to remotely access the information and model via a computer network, such as the Internet, in order to make informed decisions regarding the structure and its characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Xactware, Inc.
    Inventor: James B. Loveland
  • Patent number: 6826539
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer accessible system for electronically storing a model which communicates the physical attributes of a structure along with warranty, insurance and other information relative to that structure. The system of the present invention integrates physical information in a model which is displayed as a physical representation of the structure with other non-physical information. Selecting specific areas of the model provides access to data regarding physical or non-physical characteristics of that area of the structure and the contents thereof. Data relevant to warranties, insurance, maintenance or other information can be accessed by selecting portions of the model or indices attached or related to that portion. Equipment, appliances and other items within the structure may also be controlled by access through the computer model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Xactware, Inc.
    Inventor: James B. Loveland
  • Patent number: 6820061
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns reward points from a plurality of independent reward points issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned reward points in a user reward point account stored on a rewards server (such as a frequent flyer account or a credit card loyalty account). A trading server accumulates some or all of the user's earned reward points from the reward servers and credits the accumulated points into a single reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated reward points. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the reward points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Inventor: Richard Postrel
  • Patent number: 6816902
    Abstract: The invention identifies areas in a workflow graph that operate on one workstation—islands that can execute also remote from a central workflow server. Such a remote workstation can even operate physically disconnected from a central server during the interpretation/execution of the island. The workflow model is analyzed and those parts that are defined for execution on one specific workstation are encapsulated. Those parts, called “islands” can be interpreted or executed on the central workflow server, or can be downloaded from the server to a specific remote client workstation. Additionally, the islands in the workflow graph can optionally be transformed, either at the server or after downloading at the destination workstations, towards much more efficiently executable versions of the islands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt Bandat, Heidemarie Wernhart-Zinecker