Patents by Inventor Brian K. Showers

Brian K. Showers 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: 11714818
    Abstract: A combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system uses an integrated configuration model to efficiently identify and attribute prioritize valid configuration answers. Submitting an attribute-based configuration query to the combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system allows the query to be answered in a single step. The combined configuration rules and attribute data guide product configuration processing and minimize configuration processing by, for example, calculating only the valid configuration answers that are candidates for the preferred valid answer(s). Thus, the combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system can minimize the number of valid configuration answers to be considered for presentation to a client system or other user of the combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Versata Development Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Showers, Brandon M. Beck, Nathan E. Little
  • Patent number: 11182398
    Abstract: A combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system uses an integrated configuration model to efficiently identify and attribute prioritize valid configuration answers. Submitting an attribute-based configuration query to the combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system allows the query to be answered in a single step. The combined configuration rules and attribute data guide product configuration processing and minimize configuration processing by, for example, calculating only the valid configuration answers that are candidates for the preferred valid answer(s). Thus, the combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system can minimize the number of valid configuration answers to be considered for presentation to a client system or other user of the combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Versata Development Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Showers, Brandon M. Beck, Nathan E. Little
  • Patent number: 10650006
    Abstract: A combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system uses an integrated configuration model to efficiently identify and attribute prioritize valid configuration answers. Submitting an attribute-based configuration query to the combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system allows the query to be answered in a single step. The combined configuration rules and attribute data guide product configuration processing and minimize configuration processing by, for example, calculating only the valid configuration answers that are candidates for the preferred valid answer(s). Thus, the combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system can minimize the number of valid configuration answers to be considered for presentation to a client system or other user of the combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Sococo, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Showers, Brandon M. Beck, Nathan E. Little
  • Patent number: 9639803
    Abstract: A configuration model dividing and configuration sub-model inference processing system and procedure addresses the issue of configuration model and query complexity by breaking a configuration problem down into a set of smaller problems, solving them individually and recombining the results into a single result that is equivalent to a conventional inference procedure. In one embodiment, a configuration model is divided into configuration sub-models that can respectively be processed using existing data processing resources. A sub-model inference procedure provides a way to scale queries to larger and more complicated configuration models. Thus, the configuration model dividing and configuration sub-model processing system and inference procedure allows processing by a data processing system of configuration models and queries whose collective complexity exceeds the complexity of otherwise unprocessable conventional, consolidated configuration models and queries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Versata Development Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan E. Little, Brandon M. Beck, Brian K. Showers
  • Patent number: 9342628
    Abstract: A combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system uses an integrated configuration model to efficiently identify and attribute prioritize valid configuration answers. Submitting an attribute-based configuration query to the combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system allows the query to be answered in a single step. The combined configuration rules and attribute data guide product configuration processing and minimize configuration processing by, for example, calculating only the valid configuration answers that are candidates for the preferred valid answer(s). Thus, the combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system can minimize the number of valid configuration answers to be considered for presentation to a client system or other user of the combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Versata Development Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K Showers, Brandon M Beck, Nathan E. Little
  • Patent number: 9020880
    Abstract: A configuration model dividing and configuration sub-model inference processing system and procedure addresses the issue of configuration model and query complexity by breaking a configuration problem down into a set of smaller problems, solving them individually and recombining the results into a single result that is equivalent to a conventional inference procedure. In one embodiment, a configuration model is divided into configuration sub-models that can respectively be processed using existing data processing resources. A sub-model inference procedure provides a way to scale queries to larger and more complicated configuration models. Thus, the configuration model dividing and configuration sub-model processing system and inference procedure allows processing by a data processing system of configuration models and queries whose collective complexity exceeds the complexity of otherwise unprocessable conventional, consolidated configuration models and queries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Versata Development Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan E. Little, Brandon M. Beck, Brian K. Showers
  • Patent number: 8805825
    Abstract: A combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system uses an integrated configuration model to efficiently identify and attribute prioritize valid configuration answers. Submitting an attribute-based configuration query to the combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system allows the query to be answered in a single step. The combined configuration rules and attribute data guide product configuration processing and minimize configuration processing by, for example, calculating only the valid configuration answers that are candidates for the preferred valid answer(s). Thus, the combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system can minimize the number of valid configuration answers to be considered for presentation to a client system or other user of the combined configuration rules-attribute configuration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Versata Development Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Showers, Brandon M. Beck, Nathan E. Little
  • Publication number: 20110082675
    Abstract: A configuration model dividing and configuration sub-model inference processing system and procedure addresses the issue of configuration model and query complexity by breaking a configuration problem down into a set of smaller problems, solving them individually and recombining the results into a single result that is equivalent to a conventional inference procedure. In one embodiment, a configuration model is divided into configuration sub-models that can respectively be processed using existing data processing resources. A sub-model inference procedure provides a way to scale queries to larger and more complicated configuration models. Thus, the configuration model dividing and configuration sub-model processing system and inference procedure allows processing by a data processing system of configuration models and queries whose collective complexity exceeds the complexity of otherwise unprocessable conventional, consolidated configuration models and queries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Nathan E. Little, Brandon M. Beck, Brian K. Showers
  • Patent number: 7882057
    Abstract: A configuration model dividing and configuration sub-model inference processing system and procedure addresses the issue of configuration model and query complexity by breaking a configuration problem down into a set of smaller problems, solving them individually and recombining the results into a single result that is equivalent to a conventional inference procedure. In one embodiment, a configuration model is divided into configuration sub-models that can respectively be processed using existing data processing resources. A sub-model inference procedure provides a way to scale queries to larger and more complicated configuration models. Thus, the configuration model dividing and configuration sub-model processing system and inference procedure allows processing by a data processing system of configuration models and queries whose collective complexity exceeds the complexity of otherwise unprocessable conventional, consolidated configuration models and queries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Trilogy Development Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan E. Little, Brandon M. Beck, Brian K. Showers