Patents by Inventor Bernhard Steffen

Bernhard Steffen 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: 9141708
    Abstract: A real-time system receives a selection structure formed by weighted rules joined by links, each of the weighted rules including a condition part, a conclusion part and a weight. The selection structure is an Algebraic Decision Diagram (ADD) that includes internal nodes, each representing a decision point and terminal nodes, each representing a subset of candidate results having an accumulated weight. In response to a query that specifies a set of conditions, the ADD is traversed by making a series of decisions at decision points of the ADD to reach at least one terminal node having a maximum accumulated weight among terminal nodes that satisfy the set of conditions. The subset of candidate results represented by the at least one terminal node is selected as the output for responding to the query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: MetaFrame Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Hardi Hungar, Bernhard Steffen, Tiziana Margaria-Steffen
  • Publication number: 20130041865
    Abstract: A real-time system receives a selection structure formed by weighted rules joined by links, each of the weighted rules including a condition part, a conclusion part and a weight. The selection structure is an Algebraic Decision Diagram (ADD) that includes internal nodes, each representing a decision point and terminal nodes, each representing a subset of candidate results having an accumulated weight. In response to a query that specifies a set of conditions, the ADD is traversed by making a series of decisions at decision points of the ADD to reach at least one terminal node having a maximum accumulated weight among terminal nodes that satisfy the set of conditions. The subset of candidate results represented by the at least one terminal node is selected as the output for responding to the query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Hardi Hungar, Bernhard Steffen, Tiziana Margaria-Steffen
  • Publication number: 20080021795
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for selecting data elements that contains a selection description device for creating a selection description data element, a generator device, which generates a selection structure data element from the selection description data element, and contains a selection device, which makes a selection from the input data elements when an inquiry data element is present. Selection description data elements can be created by non-electronic data processing specialists. The generation of the selection structure data element is of significant importance. Due to its nature, the selection device can be designed with a low level of complexity, can be operated while detached from the other devices, and can rapidly make selections. The invention can be used in many areas of application in the field of information technology, particularly in embedded systems, in the personalization of web pages, in e-commerce systems, and in targeted marketing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Hardi Hungar, Bernhard Steffen, Tiziana Margaria-Steffen
  • Publication number: 20040153427
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for selecting data elements that contains a selection description device for creating a selection description data element, a generator device, which generates a selection structure data element from the selection description data element, and contains a selection device, which makes a selection from the input data elements when an inquiry data element is present. Selection description data elements can be created by non-electronic data processing specialists. The generation of the selection structure data element is of significant importance. Due to its nature, the selection device can be designed with a low level of complexity, can be operated while detached from the other devices, and can rapidly make selections. The invention can be used in many areas of application in the field of information technology, particularly in embedded systems, in the personalization of web pages, in e-commerce systems, and in targeted marketing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Hardi Hungar, Bernhard Steffen, Tiziana Margaria-Steffen