Patents by Inventor Brian W. Sledge

Brian W. Sledge 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: 10244012
    Abstract: A system and method to visualize activities through the use of avatars. The system includes a display engine configured to display at least one automated activity as an avatar. The system also includes a management system configured to monitor the progress of the at least one automated activity and alter at least one of an appearance and a movement of the avatar in relation to the progress of the at least one automated activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge
  • Patent number: 9390467
    Abstract: The present invention re-renders data center visualizations at different levels of abstraction based on roles or activities of an avatar. Morphing of data center objects is accomplished by either combining or decomposing existing data center objects in a manner that will result in a new object that maintains its relationship to the original objects. An example of this would be when creating an application object by combining an existing infrastructure objects (e.g., a server, a network and storage) used to support the application object runtime environment. This allows for the avatar to not only relate the application object to the supporting infrastructure objects, but also provides a view of how the application object is impacted whenever the supporting infrastructure objects change or break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge
  • Publication number: 20150312290
    Abstract: A system and method to visualize activities through the use of avatars. The system includes a display engine configured to display at least one automated activity as an avatar. The system also includes a management system configured to monitor the progress of the at least one automated activity and alter at least one of an appearance and a movement of the avatar in relation to the progress of the at least one automated activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge
  • Patent number: 9083654
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to virtual environments, and more particularly to systems and methods for communicating in virtual environments. A method of providing communication in a virtual universe (VU) includes instantiating and assigning an information channel to a first client of the VU, associating at least one additional client of the VU to the information channel, and conveying data placed on the information channel to the first client and the at least one additional client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge
  • Patent number: 9075901
    Abstract: A system and method to visualize activities through the use of avatars. The system includes a display engine configured to display at least one automated activity as an avatar. The system also includes a management system configured to monitor the progress of the at least one automated activity and alter at least one of an appearance and a movement of the avatar in relation to the progress of the at least one automated activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge
  • Publication number: 20150019729
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to virtual environments, and more particularly to systems and methods for communicating in virtual environments. A method of providing communication in a virtual universe (VU) includes instantiating and assigning an information channel to a first client of the VU, associating at least one additional client of the VU to the information channel, and conveying data placed on the information channel to the first client and the at least one additional client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER J. DAWSON, RICK A. HAMILTON, II, MICHAEL J. OSIAS, BRIAN W. SLEDGE
  • Patent number: 8910058
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for building collaboration work environments within the virtual world through computer generated (and possibly controlled) avatars and other three dimensional (3D) objects. It provides a solution to a problem where computer generated avatars and objects visually represent the execution, progress and output of a collaboration project. It provides the system and method for quickly visualizing collaboration activities and outputs to allow people to quickly and easily track progress of said activities. Visually representing collaboration activities allows observers to identify the number and different types of collaboration activities which are currently occurring, the progress of each collaboration activity, the system or component that the collaboration activity is creating or any problems or issues identified during activities supporting the collaboration work effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge
  • Patent number: 8849917
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to virtual environments, and more particularly to systems and methods for communicating in virtual environments. A method of providing communication in a virtual universe (VU) includes instantiating and assigning an information channel to a first client of the VU, associating at least one additional client of the VU to the information channel, and conveying data placed on the information channel to the first client and the at least one additional client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge
  • Publication number: 20140168269
    Abstract: The present invention re-renders data center visualizations at different levels of abstraction based on roles or activities of an avatar. Morphing of data center objects is accomplished by either combining or decomposing existing data center objects in a manner that will result in a new object that maintains its relationship to the original objects. An example of this would be when creating an application object by combining an existing infrastructure objects (e.g., a server, a network and storage) used to support the application object runtime environment. This allows for the avatar to not only relate the application object to the supporting infrastructure objects, but also provides a view of how the application object is impacted whenever the supporting infrastructure objects change or break.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge
  • Patent number: 8682931
    Abstract: The present invention re-renders data center visualizations at different levels of abstraction based on roles or activities of an avatar. Morphing of data center objects is accomplished by either combining or decomposing existing data center objects in a manner that will result in a new object that maintains its relationship to the original objects. An example of this would be when creating an application object by combining an existing infrastructure objects (e.g., a server, a network and storage) used to support the application object runtime environment. This allows for the avatar to not only relate the application object to the supporting infrastructure objects, but also provides a view of how the application object is impacted whenever the supporting infrastructure objects change or break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge
  • Patent number: 8626836
    Abstract: A system and method to interact with business systems through the use of automated agents and provide context for an automated agent to service multiple avatars within a virtual universe. The system comprises a chat engine, a communications subsystem, and a channelizer configured to mediate one or more communications between the chat engine and the communications subsystem. The channelizer is further configured to map at least one channel to an application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge
  • Publication number: 20120203848
    Abstract: A system and method to interact with business systems through the use of automated agents and provide context for an automated agent to service multiple avatars within a virtual universe. The system comprises a chat engine, a communications subsystem, and a channelizer configured to mediate one or more communications between the chat engine and the communications subsystem. The channelizer is further configured to map at least one channel to an application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. DAWSON, Michael J. OSIAS, Brian W. SLEDGE
  • Patent number: 8214433
    Abstract: A system and method to interact with business systems through the use of automated agents and provide context for an automated agent to service multiple avatars within a virtual universe. The system comprises a chat engine, a communications subsystem, and a channelizer configured to mediate one or more communications between the chat engine and the communications subsystem. The channelizer is further configured to map at least one channel to an application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge
  • Publication number: 20120151060
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to virtual environments, and more particularly to systems and methods for communicating in virtual environments. A method of providing communication in a virtual universe (VU) includes instantiating and assigning an information channel to a first client of the VU, associating at least one additional client of the VU to the information channel, and conveying data placed on the information channel to the first client and the at least one additional client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. DAWSON, Rick A. HAMILTON, II, Michael J. OSIAS, Brian W. SLEDGE
  • Publication number: 20110078592
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for building collaboration work environments within the virtual world through computer generated (and possibly controlled) avatars and other three dimensional (3D) objects. It provides a solution to a problem where computer generated avatars and objects visually represent the execution, progress and output of a collaboration project. It provides the system and method for quickly visualizing collaboration activities and outputs to allow people to quickly and easily track progress of said activities. Visually representing collaboration activities allows observers to identify the number and different types of collaboration activities which are currently occurring, the progress of each collaboration activity, the system or component that the collaboration activity is creating or any problems or issues identified during activities supporting the collaboration work effort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge
  • Publication number: 20100153859
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to virtual environments, and more particularly to systems and methods for communicating in virtual environments. A method of providing communication in a virtual universe (VU) includes instantiating and assigning an information channel to a first client of the VU, associating at least one additional client of the VU to the information channel, and conveying data placed on the information channel to the first client and the at least one additional client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge
  • Publication number: 20100153499
    Abstract: A system and method to interact with business systems through the use of automated agents and provide context for an automated agent to service multiple avatars within a virtual universe. The system comprises a chat engine, a communications subsystem, and a channelizer configured to mediate one or more communications between the chat engine and the communications subsystem. The channelizer is further configured to map at least one channel to an application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge
  • Publication number: 20100153869
    Abstract: A system and method to visualize activities through the use of avatars. The system includes a display engine configured to display at least one automated activity as an avatar. The system also includes a management system configured to monitor the progress of the at least one automated activity and alter at least one of an appearance and a movement of the avatar in relation to the progress of the at least one automated activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge
  • Publication number: 20100023859
    Abstract: The present invention re-renders data center visualizations at different levels of abstraction based on roles or activities of an avatar. Morphing of data center objects is accomplished by either combining or decomposing existing data center objects in a manner that will result in a new object that maintains its relationship to the original objects. An example of this would be when creating an application object by combining an existing infrastructure objects (e.g., a server, a network and storage) used to support the application object runtime environment. This allows for the avatar to not only relate the application object to the supporting infrastructure objects, but also provides a view of how the application object is impacted whenever the supporting infrastructure objects change or break.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Michael J. Osias, Brian W. Sledge