Patents by Inventor Brian M. O'Connell

Brian M. O'Connell 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: 10042885
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose optimizing resources of distributed database replicas in which one or more processors receive resource information associated with a plurality of database replicas hosted on a plurality of servers, the resource information includes identification of indexes of database tables of each database replica. The instances of indexes residing in memory of the plurality of servers is determined, based on the state of each index, which indicates whether the index resides in memory. The instances of indexes that reside in memory and are redundant among the plurality of database replicas are determined, and in response to receiving a query directed to a database replica, if an index of a database table having the query-requested data resides in memory, the query is routed to the database replica on which the index resides in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rick A. Hamilton, II, Jeffrey R. Hoy, Brian M. O'Connell, Clifford A. Pickover, Keith R. Walker
  • Patent number: 10037565
    Abstract: A system and method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code, includes receiving one or more bids for at least one of an enhanced rendering quality and an enhanced rendering order of an object in a virtual universe (VU) and performing a bid resolution for the received one or more bids. Additionally, the method includes rendering one or more objects in the VU with the at least one of the enhanced rendering quality and the enhanced rendering order based on the bid resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kulvir S. Bhogal, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Brian M. O'Connell, Clifford A. Pickover
  • Publication number: 20180210557
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide approaches for controlling inadvertent inputs to a mobile device. Specifically, at least one approach includes: detecting an operating mode of a mobile device by determining if a user is currently interacting with the mobile device; detecting an operating environment of the mobile device; receiving an input resulting from a physical gesture to an input area of a mobile device; comparing the input to a past history of inputs received by the mobile device; and determining whether the physical gesture is intended by the user based on the operating mode of the mobile device, the operating environment of the mobile device, and the past history of inputs (e.g., per device application). In one approach, an input controller selects logic to be applied in processing gestures based on a combination of user customization, interaction history, and environment characteristics. The selected logic is applied to subsequent gestures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Swaminathan Balasubramanian, Andrew R. Jones, Brian M. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 10027758
    Abstract: For distributed processing using location-based IoT device clusters, using a processor and a memory at a central IoT device, a data source that is to be used for processing a workload is determined. A set of IoT devices that are operating within a threshold distance from the data source at a first time is selected. At the central IoT device, to form a cluster of IoT devices, a subset of the set of IoT devices is selected. Each IoT device in the subset satisfies a clustering condition. The processor at the central IoT device is instructed to configure a device application at a first IoT device in the subset of IoT devices, the device application enabling the first IoT device to participate in the cluster and process the workload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aaron K. Baughman, Thomas Benjamin Harrison, Brian M. O'Connell, Herbert D. Pearthree
  • Publication number: 20180183877
    Abstract: For distributed processing using forecasted location-based IoT device clusters, at a central IoT device, a data source that is to be used and a duration for processing a workload is determined. A set of IoT devices operating within a threshold distance from the data source at a first time is selected. A subset of the set is selected to form a sub-cluster of IoT devices where a forecasted travel path of a member IoT device in the subset keeps the member within the threshold distance from the data source for the duration. A lightweight application is configured at a first IoT device in the subset which enables the first IoT device to participate in the sub-cluster and process the workload.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron K. Baughman, Thomas Benjamin Harrison, Brian M. O'Connell, Herbert D. Pearthree
  • Patent number: 10007930
    Abstract: The present invention provides an approach to invoke advertisement(s) in a VU. Specifically, an advertisement is virtually associated with a user of the virtual space. The advertisement will then be visually referenced in the VU, and optionally distinguished/highlighted (e.g., using visual effects such as colors, icons, flashing icons, etc.). The advertisement will be invoked in response to a trigger occurring in the VU user in the). Once invoked, an action associated with the advertisement will be executed. The present invention can also allow for advertising user to be compensated for allowing their asset(s) to be associated with advertisement(s). Such compensation can be in the form of credits associated with the VU being provided to the advertising user and/or compensation to be provided to the user outside of the VU (e.g., in the real world in the form of money, gift certificates, goods and/or services, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick A. Hamilton, II, Brian M. O'Connell, Clifford A. Pickover, Keith R. Walker
  • Patent number: 10003640
    Abstract: A system and method of decreasing server loads and, more particularly, to decrease server load by automatically determining subgroups based on object interactions and computational expenditures. The system includes a plurality of servers; a subgroup optimization module configured to segment a plurality of objects into optimal subgroups; and a server transfer module configured to apportion one or more of the optimal subgroups between the plurality of servers based on a load of each of the plurality of servers. The method includes determining a relationship amongst a plurality of objects; segmenting the objects into optimized subgroups based on the relationships; and apportioning the optimized subgroups amongst a plurality of servers based on server load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kulvir S. Bhogal, Rick A. Hamilton, II, James R. Kozloski, Brian M. O'Connell, Clifford A. Pickover
  • Patent number: 10003354
    Abstract: Aspects provide digital media content as a function of embedded environmental impact data. When a digital multimedia item is received, an embedded environmental impact value is decoded and the item is utilized as a function of the decoded embedded environmental impact value. Some aspects account for amounts and types of energy used in creating the item to calculate an environmental impact value for the item, and the calculated environmental impact value is embedded within digital data of the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick A. Haminton, II, Paul A. Moskowitz, Brian M. O'Connell, Clifford A. Pickover
  • Publication number: 20180165220
    Abstract: Approaches for expiring cached virtual content in a virtual universe are provided. In one approach, there is an expiration tool, including an identification component configured to identify virtual content associated with an avatar in the virtual universe, an analysis component configured to analyze a behavior of the avatar in a region of the virtual universe, the behavior indicating a likely future location of the avatar, and an expiration component configured to expire cached virtual content associated with the avatar based on the behavior of the avatar in the region of the virtual universe, wherein the cached virtual content associated with the avatar in the future location is maintained in the cache longer than cached virtual content associated with the avatar in another region of the virtual universe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Ann Corrao, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Brian M. O'Connell, Brian J. Snitzer
  • Patent number: 9999083
    Abstract: A method for accessing a network. In one embodiment, the method includes at least one computer processor identifying a request from a first device to utilize wireless communication capabilities of a second device to communicate with a wireless network. The method further includes generating a secure peer-to-peer communication link between the first device and the second device. The method further includes establishing a wireless communication link between the second device and the wireless network. The method further includes transmitting one or more communications from the first device to the wireless network, via the wireless communication capabilities of the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: International Business machines Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Bostick, John M. Ganci, Jr., Martin G. Keen, Brian M. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 9998910
    Abstract: A method and system for determining measures of cell phone coverage along a travel route. Received are: a specification of a travel destination by a road vehicle, a projected starting time for a user to begin travel along the travel route from a starting location of the vehicle to the travel destination, and a telephone carrier service for the cell phone. Measures of cell phone coverage along the travel route are determined and include: (i) amounts of dropped calls by the telephone carrier service in areas along the travel route in which the telephone carrier service provides cell phone coverage, (ii) a quality of cell phone service by the telephone carrier service, correlated to time of day, along the travel route, or (iii) both the amounts of dropped calls and the quality of cell phone service. The measures of cell phone coverage along the travel route are displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martinianus B. Hadinata, Charles S. Lingafelt, John E. Moore, Jr., Brian M. O'Connell, Keith R. Walker
  • Patent number: 9990234
    Abstract: For distributed processing using clustering of interdependent Internet of Things (IoT) devices, at a central device, a data source to be used for processing a workload is determined. A set is selected of devices operating within a threshold distance from the data source at a first time. A first subset of the set of devices is selected. Each device in the first subset satisfies a clustering condition. A first device in the subset is instructed to configure a lightweight application to participate in the cluster and process the workload. The processing of the workload is halted on a second device, where the first device has a processing dependency on the second device in processing the workload. A preserved current state of processing the workload is transferred from the first device to a third device. The processing of the workload is continued using the second device and the third device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aaron K. Baughman, Thomas Benjamin Harrison, Brian M. O'Connell, Herbert D. Pearthree
  • Publication number: 20180144340
    Abstract: A blockchain may store transactions for various purposes which may be later accessed by interested parties for ledger verification. One example method of operation may comprise one or more of receiving a blockchain transaction, identifying a proof-of-work is generated for the blockchain transaction via a network entity, transmitting the proof-of-work and a select portion of ledger data to a registered third party via an encrypted message based on a third party key, validating the proof-of-work via the third party, and providing a reward to the network entity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Douglas G. Kinnaird, Ruiping Li, Brian M. O'Connell, Susan K. Schreitmueller, Shelbee D. Smith-Eigenbrode, David D. Weck
  • Patent number: 9977505
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide approaches for controlling inadvertent inputs to a mobile device. Specifically, at least one approach includes: detecting an operating mode of a mobile device by determining if a user is currently interacting with the mobile device; detecting an operating environment of the mobile device; receiving an input resulting from a physical gesture to an input area of a mobile device; comparing the input to a past history of inputs received by the mobile device; and determining whether the physical gesture is intended by the user based on the operating mode of the mobile device, the operating environment of the mobile device, and the past history of inputs (e.g., per device application). In one approach, an input controller selects logic to be applied in processing gestures based on a combination of user customization, interaction history, and environment characteristics. The selected logic is applied to subsequent gestures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Swaminathan Balasubramanian, Andrew R. Jones, Brian M. O'Connell
  • Publication number: 20180121967
    Abstract: Systems and methods for advertising, and, more particularly, systems and methods for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe. A method for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe (VU) includes causing a computer infrastructure to: render an ephemeral location upon a triggering in the VU; teleport a VU user avatar to the ephemeral location; permit the user avatar to interact in the ephemeral location; teleport the user avatar out of the ephemeral location; and un-render the ephemeral location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Rick A. HAMILTON, II, Brian M. O'CONNELL, Clifford A. PICKOVER, Anne R. SAND, Keith R. WALKER
  • Publication number: 20180114151
    Abstract: A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code, includes detecting one of an absence of a virtual universe (VU) occurrence in a VU within a predetermined time period, a special event in the VU and a change of real world status from a previous real world status. Additionally, the method includes determining a VU asset of a VU resident relevant to the VU occurrence, the special event or the previous real world status. Further, the method includes performing an automated asset reduction of the VU asset based on the determining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Rick A. Hamilton, II, Neal M. Keller, Brian M. O'Connell, Clifford A. Pickover, Keith R. Walker
  • Patent number: 9954953
    Abstract: For distributed processing using forecasted location-based IoT device clusters, at a central IoT device, a data source that is to be used and a duration for processing a workload is determined. A set of IoT devices operating within a threshold distance from the data source at a first time is selected. A first subset of the IoT devices is selected to form a cluster of IoT devices where each IoT device satisfies a clustering condition. A second subset of the first subset is selected to form a sub-cluster of IoT devices where a forecasted travel path of a member IoT device in the second subset keeps the member within the threshold distance from the data source for the duration. A lightweight application is configured at a first IoT device in the second subset which enables the first IoT device to participate in the sub-cluster and process the workload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aaron K. Baughman, Thomas Benjamin Harrison, Brian M. O'Connell, Herbert D. Pearthree
  • Publication number: 20180106626
    Abstract: Emergency response re-routing is provided. Event information is received, wherein the event information identifies a first location. Emergency resources available at the first location are determined. At least one entity in an area surrounding the first location is identified. A notification is issued to at least one entity in an area surrounding the first location, wherein the notification identifies one or more resources required at the first location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Aaron K. Baughman, Kulvir S. Bhogal, Gregory J. Boss, Rick A. Hamilton, Brian M. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 9946537
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for integrated development environment (IDE)-based repository searching (e.g., for library elements such as classes and/or functions) in a networked computing environment. In a typical embodiment, a first program code file is received from a first integrated development environment (IDE). The first program file may be associated with a set of attributes as stored in an annotation, header, or the like. Regardless, the first program file may be parsed and indexed into a repository based on the set of attributes. A search request may then be received from a second IDE. Based on the search request and the set of attributes, a matching program code file may then be identified as stored in the repository. Once identified, the matching program code file may be transmitted/communicated to the second IDE to fulfill the search request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Swaminathan Balasubramanian, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Brian M. O'Connell, Keith R. Walker
  • Publication number: 20180099223
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling the use of electronic systems based upon monitored physical activity. The method can be implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions. The program instructions are operable to: provision rules associated with a user and at least one of health metrics and physical activity of the user; monitor the at least one health metrics and physical activity of the user over a predetermined time; and manage access to any of a plurality of electronic systems based on the monitored at least one health metrics and physical activity being in compliance or non-compliance with the provisioned rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Kulvir S. BHOGAL, Gregory J. BOSS, Rick A. HAMILTON, II, Andrew R. JONES, Brian M. O'CONNELL