Patents by Inventor Andrew L. Schirmer

Andrew L. Schirmer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8195671
    Abstract: A method for processing data in a knowledge management system gathers information content and transmits a work request for the information content gathered. The information content may be registered with a K-map and assigned a unique document identifier. A work queue processes the work requests. The processed information may then be transmitted to another work queue for further processing. Further processing may include categorization, full-text indexing, metrics extraction or other process. Control messages may be transmitted to one or more users providing a status of the work request. The information may be analyzed and further indexed. A progress statistics report may be generated for each of the processes performed on the document. The progress statistics may be provided in a record. A shared access to a central data structure representing the metrics history and taxonomy may be provided for all work queues via a CORBA service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Goodwin, David L. Newbold, Andrew L. Schirmer, Jeff Reagen, John Banks-Binici, John D. Curtis
  • Patent number: 8195747
    Abstract: A method and a system for managing communications over a network. The method can include receiving from a first user at least one user identifier associated with a second user and receiving at least one session identifier. The session identifier can correlate to a chat session on the network. Responsive to the second user posting a chat in the chat session while the first user is not currently participating in the chat session, a user notification can be generated to alert the first user that the second user has posted the chat, and to identify the chat session. The user notification can be presented to the first user via a client communicatively linked to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Lance, Andrew L. Schirmer, Anuphinh Phimmasorn
  • Publication number: 20120124485
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, system and/or computer program product automatically extends a collaboration window. An initiation of an interactive teleconference, which utilizes a collaboration window that is displayed on two communication devices, is detected. The topic of the interactive teleconference is determined by a starting context of the interactive teleconference. The topic is associated with a related application that provides supporting information for the interactive teleconference. This supporting information and/or associated application(s) are then displayed on one or both of the two communication devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: JOSEF SCHERPA, ANDREW L. SCHIRMER
  • Patent number: 8180657
    Abstract: A method and computer program product for receiving a slot request, from a second respondent having a second seniority level, for an original event slot that was previously reserved by a first respondent having a first seniority level. The second seniority level is compared to the first seniority level. If the second seniority level exceeds the first seniority level: the reservation of the original event slot by the first respondent is cancelled, and the event slot request for the original event slot by the second respondent is accepted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Joseph O'Sullivan, Andrew L. Schirmer, Edith Helen Stern, Robert Cameron Weir, Barry E. Willner
  • Patent number: 8140583
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to social bookmarking and provide a method, system and computer program product for tag syndicates in a social bookmarking system. In an embodiment of the invention, a tag syndicate method can be provided. The method can include establishing different tag syndicates, each tag syndicate providing a specified set of users of a social bookmarking system. The method further can include selecting at least one tag syndicate for use in conducting a content operation, and performing a content operation utilizing the social bookmarking system based upon the selected tag syndicate or syndicates. In this regard, the content operation can be a visible operation such as a type ahead operation, or a logical operation such as sorting content search results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Muller, Andrew L. Schirmer, Casey Dugan, Jennifer Thom-Santelli, Suzanne O. Minassian
  • Patent number: 8037049
    Abstract: A data retrieval system provides automatic retrieval of information based on a context-traversal history. A transferable object is identified in a first context while the user is operating in the first context. Information used to retrieve the transferable object is automatically stored without user interaction. The automatically stored information is used to copy the transferable object to an object receptor in a second context while the user operates in the second context. A marker stored in the memory signifies an end of a first historical period associated with the first context and a start of a second historical period associated with the second context, associates the transferable object identified in the first context with the first historical period, and separates the information automatically stored in the memory in the first historical period from information automatically stored in the memory in the second historical period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew L. Schirmer, Michael Muller, Vaughn T. Rokosz
  • Patent number: 8019772
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for tag-based searching. One or more initial tags are entered or otherwise input by a user. The invention system determines related tags to the user entered initial tags and enables user review of the determined related tags. The user selects from the determined related tags and forms an improved tag-based search relative to the initial tags. Methods employed for determining related tags include conventional frequency of co-occurrence method, a lexical method, a semantic method, a user list method, a recency method, a reference database method and a resource method. The invention method/system also allows the user to store selected components of those searches for future use/reuse. The invention also allows the user to share selected components with selected other users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Muller, Andrew L. Schirmer, Casey Dugan
  • Patent number: 8010613
    Abstract: The present invention provides various simple and easy ways for each end user to manage the thread in a way that suits them. In some cases, the user experience requires only a single click. Additional embodiments allow user to manage inbox space, recover suppressed threads, be alerted on contextual changes of such threads, and so forth. The system allows the user to specifically configure his/her own email thread management scheme by selecting an email and choosing “Suppress Thread” on his/her user interface. The system then performs a number of steps such as examining the <message-id> and <references> headers of the selected email to configure the suppress filter. Once configured, the system will examine each email as it is received and examine its <message-id> and <references> headers per RFC 822. If the headers match the configured <messageid> and <responses> headers, the emails will be suppressed in the manner chosen by the user such as deletion or move to folder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tolga Oral, Sergei R. Landar, Andrew L. Schirmer
  • Patent number: 7984103
    Abstract: A computer data handling method, system and apparatus are disclosed. A data item or information object are received in one protocol. Based on data contents, a protocol transfer module (engine) optimizes information presentation by transferring/converting the data item from the one protocol to a form of the data item in a different protocol. The resulting form (i.e. the data item/information object in the different protocol) optimally presents the data contents to an end-user. The end user reads the converted data item in the different protocol. The invention system enables the user to reply or otherwise further handle the data item in the initial protocol as desired. The initial protocol may be email and the resulting form of the data item may be one or more feed entries in machine-readable feeds specified by the user. The invention optimization effectively reduces email In-box clutter and streamlines reading in feed readers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Feinberg, Frank Lawrence Jania, Michael Muller, Andrew L. Schirmer
  • Patent number: 7970712
    Abstract: The invention provides method of displaying strengths of social relationships between users of a computerized network. The invention evaluates network information, such as network communications, between one user of the network and other users of the network to produce metrics. The invention then normalizes the metrics from the perspective of the viewing user to produce relationship values representing strengths of social relationships between the viewing user and the other users. The invention classifies the relationship values into different groups, and optionally assigns context commands to each of the groups. The invention places each of the other users in one of the groups (according to their relationship value) and then displays a listing of the other users and their associated group identifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joann Ruvolo, Andrew L. Schirmer, Marijane M. Zeller
  • Patent number: 7890710
    Abstract: A system and method for managing an electronic storage volume is described. The method includes assigning a threshold to a constrained storage space to define a first state in which an amount of data stored in the constrained storage space exceeds the threshold and a second state in which the amount of data stored in the confined storage space does not exceed the threshold. The method also includes comparing the amount of data to be stored in the constrained storage space and the threshold, and performing a predefined action if the comparison indicates that the amount data to be in the confined storage space would cause a transition between the first state and the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ruthie D. Lyle, Fonda Daniels, Andrew L. Schirmer
  • Publication number: 20100299394
    Abstract: A method of rendering email includes receiving with a networked computing device at least one filter criterion; receiving with the networked computing device an email message; and, responsive to a determination by the networked computing device that the email message meets the at least one filter criterion, diverting the email message from delivery to an inbox and providing an immediate display of the email message in its entirety to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank L. Jania, Andrew L. Schirmer
  • Publication number: 20100228730
    Abstract: A set of tags can be identified from a first set of tagged documents in a first repository. A set of tags can be identified from a second set of tagged documents in a second repository. Access to documents in the second repository can be more restrictive than access to documents in the first repository. For each of a subset tags in the first set and/or the second set, a number of steps can occur. A ratio can be determined of tag instances in the second repository compared to tag instances in the first repository. It can be determined whether the ratio exceeds a previously determined threshold. When the threshold is exceeded, an indicator of at least one tagged document associated with the tag can be changed to indicate that the tagged document is likely to contain sensitive content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Muller, Tolga Oral, Andrew L. Schirmer
  • Publication number: 20100211646
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes sending an instant message communication from a first device of a first person to a plurality of other persons in a topic-based community, and receiving a number of instant message communications at the first device. The method further includes placing each of the response instant message communications in a separate display that is viewable by the first person, and sending a second instant message communication from the first device of the first person to the plurality of other persons after a certain number of response instant message communications have been received by the first device from the plurality of other persons, wherein the second instant message communication is an indication that the first person is satisfied with at least one of the response instant message communications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: International Business machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michelle McDevitt, Josef Scherpa, Andrew L. Schirmer
  • Patent number: 7747679
    Abstract: In response to a first user becoming active on a communication device, a first availability status can be automatically established as a current availability of the first user. A first time period can be automatically identified. During the first time period, the first availability status can be maintained as the current availability of the first user to at least a second user. In response to the first time period elapsing, a second availability status can be automatically established as the current availability of the first user to the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Galvin, Andrew L. Schirmer, Amy D. Travis
  • Publication number: 20100131666
    Abstract: A computer data handling method, system and apparatus are disclosed. A data item or information object are received in one protocol. Based on data contents, a protocol transfer module (engine) optimizes information presentation by transferring/converting the data item from the one protocol to a form of the data item in a different protocol. The resulting form (i.e. the data item/information object in the different protocol) optimally presents the data contents to an end-user. The end user reads the converted data item in the different protocol. The invention system enables the user to reply or otherwise further handle the data item in the initial protocol as desired. The initial protocol may be email and the resulting form of the data item may be one or more feed entries in machine-readable feeds specified by the user. The invention optimization effectively reduces email In-box clutter and streamlines reading in feed readers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan Feinberg, Frank Lawrence Jania, Michael Muller, Andrew L. Schirmer
  • Publication number: 20100122049
    Abstract: A system and method for managing an electronic storage volume is described. The method includes assigning a threshold to a constrained storage space to define a first state in which an amount of data stored in the constrained storage space exceeds the threshold and a second state in which the amount of data stored in the confined storage space does not exceed the threshold. The method also includes comparing the amount of data to be stored in the constrained storage space and the threshold, and performing a predefined action if the comparison indicates that the amount data to be in the confined storage space would cause a transition between the first state and the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ruthie D. Lyle, Fonda Daniels, Andrew L. Schirmer
  • Patent number: 7698255
    Abstract: A system, method, and processor readable medium for processing data in a knowledge management system gathers information content and transmits a work request for the information content gathered. The information content may be registered with a K-map and assigned a unique document identifier. A work queue processes the work requests. The processed information may then be transmitted to another work queue for further processing. Further processing may include categorization, full-text indexing, metrics extraction or other process. Control messages may be transmitted to one or more users providing a status of the work request. The information may be analyzed and further indexed. A progress statistics report may be generated for each of the processes performed on the document. The progress statistics may be provided in a record. A shared access to a central data structure representing the metrics history and taxonomy may be provided for all work queues via a CORBA service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Goodwin, Carl J. Kraenzel, Andrew L. Schirmer, David L. Newbold
  • Patent number: 7698303
    Abstract: A system, method, and processor readable medium for processing data in a knowledge management system gathers information content and transmits a work request for the information content gathered. The information content may be registered with a K-map and assigned a unique document identifier. A work queue processes the work requests. The processed information may then be transmitted to another work queue for further processing. Further processing may include categorization, full-text indexing, metrics extraction or other process. Control messages may be transmitted to one or more users providing a status of the work request. The information may be analyzed and further indexed. A progress statistics report may be generated for each of the processes performed on the document. The progress statistics may be provided in a record. A shared access to a central data structure representing the metrics history and taxonomy may be provided for all work queues via a CORBA service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Goodwin, Carl J. Kraenzel, Andrew L. Schirmer, David L. Newbold, Paul L. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7694097
    Abstract: A system and method for managing an electronic storage volume is described. The method includes assigning a threshold to a constrained storage space to define a first state in which an amount of data stored in the constrained storage space exceeds the threshold and a second state in which the amount of data stored in the confined storage space does not exceed the threshold. The method also includes comparing the amount of data to be stored in the constrained storage space and the threshold, and performing a predefined action if the comparison indicates that the amount data to be in the confined storage space would cause a transition between the first state and the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ruthie D. Lyle, Fonda Daniels, Andrew L. Schirmer