Patents by Inventor C. Lai

C. Lai 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: 8963061
    Abstract: A microwave heating construct has a platform including microwave energy interactive material and a plurality of venting features. The venting features include a plurality of tabs that are urged out of the plane of the platform to define an aperture. The tabs are disposed beneath the platform to define a void in communication with the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Laurence M. C. Lai
  • Publication number: 20140379741
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system for identifying entities (such as companies) that are associated with members of an online social network. During operation, the system obtains text strings from member records in the online social network, wherein each text string is an identifier for an entity that is associated with a member. The system also obtains connection information specifying connections among members of the online social network, and possibly location information for the members. Finally, the system uses the text strings, the connection information and the location information to identify entities that are associated with members of the online social network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Alex C. Lai, Ke Wang
  • Patent number: 8914452
    Abstract: Automatically generating a meeting digest of a set of meetings is provided. A set of topics of interest to the parties to the set of meetings is detected utilizing a user model associated with a user that is based on at least one of communications, relationships, and roles of the parties to the set of meetings. Topic-related content associated with the set of topics of interest to the parties is extracted from meeting data corresponding to the set of meetings. Then, the meeting digest of the set of meetings is generated using the topic-related content associated with the set of topics of interest to the parties extracted from the meeting data corresponding to the set of meetings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Boston, Jennifer C. Lai, Shimei Pan, Mercan Topkara, Stephen P. Wood
  • Publication number: 20140327182
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a container that includes a microwave interactive web at least partially overlying and joined to a three-dimensional support, wherein the three-dimensional support may be formed prior to having the microwave interactive web mounted thereto. The three-dimensional support may be a preformed container that is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally stable for use in containing food.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Brian R. O'Hagan, Laurance M.C. Lai, Joseph Walsh, William Cox, George Hackel, Neilson Zeng, Michael Shaw, Timothy Henry Bohrer
  • Publication number: 20140291317
    Abstract: A construct for heating a food item in a microwave oven comprises a base, a wall extending upwardly from the base, a microwave energy shielding element overlying at least a portion of the wall, and a microwave energy diffusing element circumscribed by the microwave energy shielding element, where the microwave energy diffusing element comprises a plurality of microwave energy reflective elements within a microwave energy transparent area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Laurence M.C. Lai, Neilson Zeng, Bing Liu
  • Patent number: 8803049
    Abstract: A container includes a microwave interactive web at least partially overlying and joined to a three-dimensional support, wherein the three-dimensional support may be formed prior to having the microwave interactive web mounted thereto. The three-dimensional support may be a preformed container that is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally stable for use in containing food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian R. O'Hagan, Laurence M. C. Lai, Joseph Walsh, William Cox, George Hackel, Neilson Zeng, Michael Shaw, Timothy Henry Bohrer
  • Patent number: 8785826
    Abstract: A construct for heating a food item in a microwave oven includes a base, a wall extending upwardly from the base, a microwave energy shielding element overlying at least a portion of the wall, and a microwave energy diffusing element circumscribed by the microwave energy shielding element. The microwave energy diffusing element includes a plurality of microwave energy reflective elements within a microwave energy transparent area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence M. C. Lai, Neilson Zeng, Bing Liu
  • Patent number: 8788575
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for publishing transcoded media content in response to publishing service requests from end users. A user request for media content, is processed intelligently, either by directing the processing of the request to one of a set of transcoding servers so as to effectively balance the load among the servers, or by directing the processing of the request to an appropriate alternative means for satisfying the request. Transcoding tasks can be prioritized. Moreover, the current load on any particular transcoding server can be monitored in conjunction with determination of the load to be created by a transcoding task, in order to facilitate server selection. Transcoding can be performed on-demand or in a batch mode. Alternatively, a request can be satisfied by distributing media content that has already been transcoded and is resident in cache memory in anticipation of such requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Giovanni M. Agnoli, Christopher V. Pirazzi, Howard Chartock, Steve Chen, Harry Chomsky, Angela C. Lai, Kerrick Lindsey, David Pawson, Jody Shapiro, Daniel Weaver
  • Patent number: 8769654
    Abstract: A method is provided, including (a) upon a standard small form-factor pluggable (SFP) module being inserted into an SFP jack on a network host device, determining if the SFP module is a legacy device or a smart device, (b) upon determining that the SFP module is a legacy device, receiving a magic code from the SFP module and determining if the magic code is a valid magic code, and (c) upon determining that the SFP module is a smart device, performing a smart authentication process with the SFP module. Associated apparatuses and additional methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Tang, Adam Jonathan Carter, David C. Lai, Liang Ping Peng, Guoying Ding
  • Publication number: 20130339276
    Abstract: A method of automating incoming message prioritization. The method including training a global classifier of a computer system using training data. Dynamically training a user-specific classifier of the computer system based on a plurality of feedback instances. Inferring a topic of the incoming message received by the computer system based on a topic-based user model. Computing a plurality of contextual features of the incoming message. Determining a priority classification strategy for assigning a priority level to the incoming message based on the computed contextual features of the incoming message and a weighted combination of the global classifier and the user specific classifier. Classifying the incoming message based on the priority classification strategy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer C. Lai, Jie Lu, Shimei Pan, Zhen Wen
  • Publication number: 20130325972
    Abstract: Automatically generating a meeting digest of a set of meetings is provided. A set of topics of interest to the parties to the set of meetings is detected utilizing a user model associated with a user that is based on at least one of communications, relationships, and roles of the parties to the set of meetings. Topic-related content associated with the set of topics of interest to the parties is extracted from meeting data corresponding to the set of meetings. Then, the meeting digest of the set of meetings is generated using the topic-related content associated with the set of topics of interest to the parties extracted from the meeting data corresponding to the set of meetings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Boston, Jennifer C. Lai, Shimei Pan, Mercan Topkara, Stephen P. Wood
  • Publication number: 20130212047
    Abstract: An apparatus for automating a prioritization of an incoming message, including a batch learning module that generates a global classifier based on training data that is input to the batch learning module. A feedback learning module that generates a user-specific classifier based on a plurality of feedback instances. A feature extraction module that receives the incoming message and a topic-based user model, infers a topic of the incoming message based on the topic-based user model, and computes a plurality of contextual features of the incoming message. A classification module that dynamically determines a priority classification strategy for assigning a priority level to the incoming message based on the plurality of contextual features of the incoming message and a weighted combination of the global classifier and the user-specific classifier, and classifies the incoming message based on the priority classification strategy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer C. Lai, Jie Lu, Shimei Pan, Zhen Wen
  • Patent number: 8364530
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for presenting personalized information to consumers in a retail environment. A personalized price is determined for at least one product that is in physical proximity to the customer. The physical proximity may be determined, for example, by evaluating identifiers, such as RFID tags, associated with each customer and product. A personalized message can be also presented to a customer regarding at least one product that is in physical proximity to the customer. The personalized message can provide, for example, dietary or safety information relevant to the customer and at least one product in the proximity of the customer. The personalized information may be determined based on one or more personalized message rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Sastry S. Duri, Jeffrey G. Elliott, Jennifer C. Lai, Xuan Liu, Paul A. Moskowitz, Jung-Mu Tang, Todd C. Werden, Danny Chan-Yong Wong
  • Patent number: 8340123
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a networking device may include a network port and be configured to receive a transceiver module card in the network port. The networking device may detect whether the transceiver module card is a single channel card or a multi-channel card, where the single channel card includes a single transceiver module and the multi-channel card includes multiple transceiver modules. The networking device may transmit data to the transceiver card either as a single channel de-multiplexed over multiple lanes or as multiple independent channels corresponding to the multiple lanes based on whether the transceiver module card is the single channel card or the multi-channel card. The networking device may transmit data over each of the lanes at one data rate regardless whether of the transceiver module card is the single channel card or the multi-channel card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alessandro Barbieri, Adam Jonathan Carter, David C. Lai, Thomas Scheibe
  • Patent number: 8247750
    Abstract: A construct for preparing a food item in a microwave oven includes a plurality of heating regions including an inner heating region and an outer heating region. The inner heating region includes a susceptor including a plurality of annular microwave energy transparent areas, and the outer heating region includes a plurality of susceptor projections extending radially from the susceptor of the inner heating region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence M. C. Lai, Sandra M. Tsontzidis, Tim Bing Liu, Angela Chen Li
  • Publication number: 20120207885
    Abstract: A microwave energy interactive structure includes microwave energy interactive material supported on a microwave energy transparent substrate, and a plurality of spaced apart microwave energy transparent segments circumscribed by the microwave energy interactive material. The plurality of spaced apart microwave energy transparent segments define a pattern of loops that may be dimensioned to induce resonance of microwave energy during microwave heating of a food item on the structure. The structure may also include a plurality of microwave energy transparent elements that are operative as fuses to prevent overheating of the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Neilson ZENG, Laurence M.C. Lai, Scott W. Middleton
  • Publication number: 20120193351
    Abstract: Various blanks and constructs formed therefrom are provided. The various constructs include features for supporting a food item at an elevated position to enhance the heating, browning, and/or crisping of the food item in a microwave oven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Mitchell W. RUSSELL, Bing Liu, Laurence M.C. Lai
  • Patent number: 8217325
    Abstract: Various blanks and constructs formed therefrom are provided. The various constructs include features for supporting a food item at an elevated position to enhance the heating, browning, and/or crisping of the food item in a microwave oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell W. Russell, Bing Liu, Laurence M. C. Lai
  • Patent number: 8158913
    Abstract: A susceptor structure includes a layer of conductive material supported on a non-conductive substrate. The conductive layer includes a resonant loop defined by a plurality of microwave energy transparent segments and, optionally, a microwave energy transparent element within the resonant loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Neilson Zeng, Laurence M. C. Lai, Scott W. Middleton
  • Patent number: 8063345
    Abstract: A system for heating a food item in a microwave oven is provided. The system may include an inner container and an outer carton including an opening feature that allows for easy opening thereof. The system also may include a microwave energy interactive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Middleton, Jeffery S. Majetich, Laurence M. C. Lai, Daniel Keefe, Neilson Zeng