Patents by Inventor Blain A. Dillard

Blain A. Dillard 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: 10265614
    Abstract: A method and system for managing a challenge event from which a computer code that supports software development for a client computer is obtained. At least two participants are selected to participate in the challenge. Assets of software code are provided to the participants for assisting the participants to deliver respective submissions as outcomes of participation by the participants in the challenge event. A solution to the challenge event in a form of a computer code is received from only one participant previously chosen from the selected at least two participants as the only participant to submit the solution. The received solution is validated for quality and is accepted. In response to the validating and accepting of the received solution, the received solution is delivered to the client computer. The received solution is configured to be used by the client computer to support software development for the client computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Patent number: 10265613
    Abstract: A method and system for conducting a challenge event from which a computer code that supports software development for a client computer is obtained. The challenge event is communicated to at least two participants in a form of an event specification. A proposal for a solution that meets the event specification is received from each participant. Only one participant is chosen from the at least two participants, based on the proposal previously received from each participant. The solution is received in a form of a computer code from the chosen only one participant. The received solution is validated for quality and the received solution is accepted. In response to the validating and accepting of the received solution, the received solution is delivered to the client computer. The received solution is configured to be used by the client computer to support software development for the client computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Publication number: 20180096280
    Abstract: A method includes reading project data describing a plurality of projects in a project database. The plurality of projects are associated with a plurality of skill sets, where each project of the plurality of projects is associated with a skill set needed to complete the project. A set of principal skill sets is determined, to include a set of frequent skill subsets that each appear in the plurality of skill sets with at least a threshold frequency. A new project is received and associated with a requested skill set. The requested skill set is mapped, using a computer processor, to a corresponding principal skill set of the set of principal skill sets, where the corresponding principal skill set represents the requested skill set. The corresponding principal skill set is used for at least one of staffing the new project and updating organizational staffing plans related to the plurality of projects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Yi-Min Chee, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Ta-Hsin Li
  • Publication number: 20170304714
    Abstract: A method and system for conducting a challenge event from which a computer code that supports software development for a client computer is obtained. The challenge event is communicated to at least two participants in a form of an event specification. A proposal for a solution that meets the event specification is received from each participant. Only one participant is chosen from the at least two participants, based on the proposal previously received from each participant. The solution is received in a form of a computer code from the chosen only one participant. The received solution is validated for quality and the received solution is accepted. In response to the validating and accepting of the received solution, the received solution is delivered to the client computer. The received solution is configured to be used by the client computer to support software development for the client computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Publication number: 20170304715
    Abstract: A method and system for managing a challenge event from which a computer code that supports software development for a client computer is obtained. At least two participants are selected to participate in the challenge. Assets of software code are provided to the participants for assisting the participants to deliver respective submissions as outcomes of participation by the participants in the challenge event. A solution to the challenge event in a form of a computer code is received from only one participant previously chosen from the selected at least two participants as the only participant to submit the solution. The received solution is validated for quality and is accepted. In response to the validating and accepting of the received solution, the received solution is delivered to the client computer. The received solution is configured to be used by the client computer to support software development for the client computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Patent number: 9792527
    Abstract: In response to an identification of an input slide, aspects generate text content confidence scores that represent amounts of similarity of slide text content of the input slide to compared text content of a slides that are included within slide presentation files of a repository. Graphic element content confidence scores are generated that represent amounts of similarity of graphic content of the input slide to compared graphic element content of the respective ones of the repository slides. Similarity confidence scores are generated for respective ones of the repository slides as functions of weighted averages of the generated text content confidence scores and graphic element content confidence scores, wherein the graphic element content confidence scores are weighted differently from the text content confidence scores. The repository slides may be ranked for similarity to the input slide as a function of the generated similarity confidence scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Chamberlain, James H. Clinton, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Terrence E. White
  • Patent number: 9764223
    Abstract: A method and system for conducting a challenge event. The challenge event is communicated to at least two participants in a form of an event specification, in response to receipt of a request for the challenge event from a client computer. A proposal for a solution that meets the event specification is received from each participant of the at least two participants. Only one participant is chosen from the at least two participants, based on the proposal previously received from each participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Patent number: 9764224
    Abstract: A method and system for managing a challenge event. At least two participants are selected to participate in the challenge event, in response to receipt of a request for the challenge event from a client computer. Assets of software code are provided to the participants for assisting the participants to deliver respective submissions as outcomes of participation by the participants in the challenge event. A solution to the challenge event in a form of a computer code is received from only one participant, of the at least two participants, previously chosen by from the selected at least two participants as the only participant to submit the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Publication number: 20170109608
    Abstract: In response to an identification of an input slide, aspects generate text content confidence scores that represent amounts of similarity of slide text content of the input slide to compared text content of a slides that are included within slide presentation files of a repository. Graphic element content confidence scores are generated that represent amounts of similarity of graphic content of the input slide to compared graphic element content of the respective ones of the repository slides. Similarity confidence scores are generated for respective ones of the repository slides as functions of weighted averages of the generated text content confidence scores and graphic element content confidence scores, wherein the graphic element content confidence scores are weighted differently from the text content confidence scores. The repository slides may be ranked for similarity to the input slide as a function of the generated similarity confidence scores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: JAMES L. CHAMBERLAIN, JAMES H. CLINTON, BLAIN A. DILLARD, DAVID A. HOFFMAN, TERRENCE E. WHITE
  • Publication number: 20160193527
    Abstract: A method and system for managing a challenge event. At least two participants are selected to participate in the challenge event, in response to receipt of a request for the challenge event from a client computer. Assets of software code are provided to the participants for assisting the participants to deliver respective submissions as outcomes of participation by the participants in the challenge event. A solution to the challenge event in a form of a computer code is received from only one participant, of the at least two participants, previously chosen by from the selected at least two participants as the only participant to submit the solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Publication number: 20160193526
    Abstract: A method and system for conducting a challenge event. The challenge event is communicated to at least two participants in a form of an event specification, in response to receipt of a request for the challenge event from a client computer. A proposal for a solution that meets the event specification is received from each participant of the at least two participants. Only one participant is chosen from the at least two participants, based on the proposal previously received from each participant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Patent number: 9327197
    Abstract: A method and system for conducting a challenge event. The challenge event is communicated to at least two participants in a form of an event specification. A proposal for a solution that meets the specification is received from each participant. Only one participant is chosen from the at least two participants, based on the proposal previously received from each participant. The solution is received in a form of a document or computer code from the chosen only one participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Patent number: 9327198
    Abstract: A method and system for managing a challenge event. At least two participants are selected to participate in the challenge event based on determining that the participants are expected to perform well in the challenge event. Selection of the participants utilizes data elements provided for managing the challenge event. Assets of computer code are provided to the participants for assisting the participants to deliver respective submissions as outcomes of participation by the participants in the challenge event. The challenge event is conducted with the participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Patent number: 9199172
    Abstract: Challenge events and competition events are created and communicated to potential participants. The events are priced using a calculator that bases the price on the results of previous events and a catalog of reusable code assets using an analytics engine. One or more participants are chosen for the event by a selector subsystem. A solution is submitted by the chosen participant. The submission is evaluated, and scored in a challenge server layer. A payment application rewards the participant according to the event specifications and the scoring results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick D. Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Publication number: 20140349768
    Abstract: A method and system for managing a challenge event. At least two participants are selected to participate in the challenge event based on determining that the participants are expected to perform well in the challenge event. Selection of the participants utilizes data elements provided for managing the challenge event. Assets of computer code are provided to the participants for assisting the participants to deliver respective submissions as outcomes of participation by the participants in the challenge event. The challenge event is conducted with the participants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Publication number: 20140349767
    Abstract: A method and system for conducting a challenge event. The challenge event is communicated to at least two participants in a form of an event specification. A proposal for a solution that meets the specification is received from each participant. Only one participant is chosen from the at least two participants, based on the proposal previously received from each participant. The solution is received in a form of a document or computer code from the chosen only one participant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Publication number: 20120191227
    Abstract: Challenge events and competition events are created and communicated to potential participants. The events are priced using a calculator that bases the price on the results of previous events and a catalog of reusable code assets using an analytics engine. One or more participants are chosen for the event by a selector subsystem. A solution is submitted by the chosen participant. The submission is evaluated, and scored in a challenge server layer. A payment application rewards the participant according to the event specifications and the scoring results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick D. Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano