Patents by Inventor Carl Benjamin Downs

Carl Benjamin Downs 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: 6487556
    Abstract: A computer system implements a datastore for a plurality of generic terminal objects. Terminal objects are related to zero or more association objects that represent a relation between a plurality of terminal objects. An association object is typed according to the relationship being represented between the terminal objects. An association object has a state value corresponding to a state of the relation between the plurality of terminal objects. An association object also has a role object for each of the plurality of terminal objects being related to the association object. An association object may also represent the dynamic state of a single terminal object. A role object represents a relation between the association object and a terminal object. The role object is typed according to the relationship being represented between the associated object and the terminal object, and the role type is unique amongst the role objects within the association object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carl Benjamin Downs, Mohinder Pal Singh