Patents by Inventor CAROLINE J. THOMAS
CAROLINE J. THOMAS 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).
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Patent number: 11775695Abstract: A system may be used to redact an image to be displayed by a display device. By intercepting a signal before an image of the signal is displayed on a display device, the display of confidential, sensitive and inappropriate information may be suppressed. More specifically, the image of the signal is analyzed using a content recognition algorithm to identify items of content, which may be redacted by modifying the signal. Using this concept, the image may be redacted by the display device, or by a port or adapter between a signal generator and the display device, without relying on redaction software local to the signal generation system.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Clive Harris, Timothy Andrew Moran, Caroline Sarah Courtenay McNamara, Caroline J. Thomas, Natasha Katherine McKenzie-Kelly, Melita Saville, Abigail Rose Bettle-Shaffer
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Patent number: 11637819Abstract: A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computer system is provided for establishing connectivity between user devices. The computer-implemented method includes: broadcasting a message to running processes on an operating system of the first user device to indicate that a requesting application is looking for a live connection channel to attempt discovery with a second user device to ascertain virtual proximity of the first user device with the second user device. The computer-implemented method further includes receiving a response from a live connection channel and attempting to verify pairing via the live connection channel to confirm a virtual proximity of the second user device with the first user device. The pairing provides information for establishing a subsequent connection between the first and second user devices via the requesting application.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2020Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas James Waterton, James Hewitt, Caroline J. Thomas, Richard Jacks
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Publication number: 20230041623Abstract: A system may be used to redact an image to be displayed by a display device. By intercepting a signal before an image of the signal is displayed on a display device, the display of confidential, sensitive and inappropriate information may be suppressed. More specifically, the image of the signal is analyzed using a content recognition algorithm to identify items of content, which may be redacted by modifying the signal. Using this concept, the image may be redacted by the display device, or by a port or adapter between a signal generator and the display device, without relying on redaction software local to the signal generation system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2021Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventors: Clive Harris, Timothy Andrew Moran, Caroline Sarah Courtenay McNamara, Caroline J. Thomas, Natasha Katherine McKenzie-Kelly, Melita Saville, Abigail Rose Bettle-Shaffer
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Patent number: 11526575Abstract: An add-on for, or additional functionality integrated in, a web browser of the kind that logs visited web pages in history with their URL, HTML page title and a date/time stamp is provided. The history may additionally logs category tags and their confidence scores. The category tags may originate at least in part by extracting them from visited page content and may also propagate through from previously visited pages, for example when a page is opened by hyperlink from another page, the latter's category tags propagate through to the new page. The page-specific confidence scores may be determined by applying a scoring formula that mimics a user's mental association between a category tag and a web page. The category tags and their confidence scores may be then stored in the history log entry and the category tags may then be used to search the history.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2020Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas James Waterton, Caroline J. Thomas, James Hewitt, Richard Jacks
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Publication number: 20220166761Abstract: A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computer system is provided for establishing connectivity between user devices. The computer-implemented method includes: broadcasting a message to running processes on an operating system of the first user device to indicate that a requesting application is looking for a live connection channel to attempt discovery with a second user device to ascertain virtual proximity of the first user device with the second user device. The computer-implemented method further includes receiving a response from a live connection channel and attempting to verify pairing via the live connection channel to confirm a virtual proximity of the second user device with the first user device. The pairing provides information for establishing a subsequent connection between the first and second user devices via the requesting application.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2020Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: Thomas James Waterton, James Hewitt, Caroline J. Thomas, Richard Jacks
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Publication number: 20220035886Abstract: An add-on for, or additional functionality integrated in, a web browser of the kind that logs visited web pages in history with their URL, HTML page title and a date/time stamp is provided. The history may additionally logs category tags and their confidence scores. The category tags may originate at least in part by extracting them from visited page content and may also propagate through from previously visited pages, for example when a page is opened by hyperlink from another page, the latter's category tags propagate through to the new page. The page-specific confidence scores may be determined by applying a scoring formula that mimics a user's mental association between a category tag and a web page. The category tags and their confidence scores may be then stored in the history log entry and the category tags may then be used to search the history.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2020Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Thomas James Waterton, Caroline J. Thomas, James Hewitt, Richard Jacks
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Patent number: 11050815Abstract: A method for provisioning resources to a user during a meeting with another user, each user having an associated computing device is provided. The method may include detecting a meeting of a first user with a second user, each of the first and second users having an associated computing device. The method may further include obtaining historical data relating to previous activity of at least one of the first and second users during one or more earlier meetings between the first and second users. The method may further include provisioning one or more resources to at least one of the first and second users based on the obtained historical data associated with the one or more earlier meetings.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas James Waterton, Caroline J. Thomas, James Hewitt, Richard Jacks
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Patent number: 11029842Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes: receiving, by a user device, a first touch gesture at a display of the user device visually displaying a virtual object; defining, by the user device, an anchor point of the virtual object visually displayed on the display based on the first touch gesture; receiving, by the user device, a second touch gesture at the display; determining, by the user device, an anchor area and a scrolling area based on the anchor point and the second touch gesture; defining, by the user device, a first layer corresponding to the anchor area and a second layer corresponding to the scrolling area; and stacking, by the user device, the first layer over the second layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2020Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: James Hewitt, Mark J. Lawrence, Martin A. Ross, Caroline J. Thomas
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Publication number: 20210160306Abstract: A method for provisioning resources to a user during a meeting with another user, each user having an associated computing device is provided. The method may include detecting a meeting of a first user with a second user, each of the first and second users having an associated computing device. The method may further include obtaining historical data relating to previous activity of at least one of the first and second users during one or more earlier meetings between the first and second users. The method may further include provisioning one or more resources to at least one of the first and second users based on the obtained historical data associated with the one or more earlier meetings.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2019Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Thomas James Waterton, Caroline J. Thomas, James Hewitt, Richard Jacks
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Patent number: 10916132Abstract: A dash cam on a vehicle for reading signage and updating navigation of the vehicle. A detour is detected from a route using a navigation system in a vehicle. A video recording from a dash cam on the vehicle which is continuously recording as the vehicle is operated is reviewed, and the reviewing of the video recording is based on a time of the detour from the route. Signage of a road diversion on the video at a location of the detour is detected. The signage is assessed to determine a route change based on the road diversion, and the route change includes avoiding the location of the detour or a detour area. The navigation system is updated with the route change based on the signage and the road diversion. The updated navigation includes the avoiding of the location of the detour or the detour area.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2017Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Waleed Arshad, Charlotte Bird, Elizabeth Bowen, Ashley Robertson, Caroline J. Thomas
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Patent number: 10841415Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a computer program product, and a computer system for sharing emergency information associated with a user from a mobile device. A computer system determines a dataset comprising emergency information associated with the user, based on one or more properties of the user and the mobile device of the user and further based on data available on the mobile device of the user. The computer system determines a battery status of the mobile device of the user. The computer system determines a recipient mobile device, responsive to the battery status meeting a predetermined requirement. The computer system communicates the dataset to the recipient mobile device.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas James Waterton, Caroline J. Thomas, Joshua Vines, Liam White
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Patent number: 10812647Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a computer program product, and a computer system for sharing emergency information associated with a user from a mobile device. A computer system determines a dataset comprising emergency information associated with the user, based on one or more properties of the user and the mobile device of the user and further based on data available on the mobile device of the user. The computer system determines a battery status of the mobile device of the user. The computer system determines a recipient mobile device, responsive to the battery status meeting a predetermined requirement. The computer system communicates the dataset to the recipient mobile device.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2019Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas James Waterton, Caroline J. Thomas, Joshua Vines, Liam White
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Publication number: 20200329138Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a computer program product, and a computer system for sharing emergency information associated with a user from a mobile device. A computer system determines a dataset comprising emergency information associated with the user, based on one or more properties of the user and the mobile device of the user and further based on data available on the mobile device of the user. The computer system determines a battery status of the mobile device of the user. The computer system determines a recipient mobile device, responsive to the battery status meeting a predetermined requirement. The computer system communicates the dataset to the recipient mobile device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2019Publication date: October 15, 2020Inventors: Thomas James Waterton, Caroline J. Thomas, Joshua Vines, Liam White
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Publication number: 20200329137Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a computer program product, and a computer system for sharing emergency information associated with a user from a mobile device. A computer system determines a dataset comprising emergency information associated with the user, based on one or more properties of the user and the mobile device of the user and further based on data available on the mobile device of the user. The computer system determines a battery status of the mobile device of the user. The computer system determines a recipient mobile device, responsive to the battery status meeting a predetermined requirement. The computer system communicates the dataset to the recipient mobile device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2019Publication date: October 15, 2020Inventors: Thomas James Waterton, Caroline J. Thomas, Joshua Vines, Liam White
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Patent number: 10678568Abstract: A resource allocation system is provided that includes a memory configured to store at least one executable, user-given instruction and a data processor unit operatively coupled to the memory and configured to effectuate running of a given application by executing a corresponding user-given instruction stored in the memory. The system further includes a display interface operatively coupled to the data processor unit and configured to accommodate a given virtual desktop comprising a given application running according to a user-given instruction processed by the data processor unit. The system further includes a policy configurator operatively coupled to the data processor unit and configured to generate a given user-defined policy regarding at least a designated display interface such that a predefined share of a given system resource is allocated to the designated display interface.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Martin A. Ross, Caroline J. Thomas, James Hewitt, Mark J. Lawrence
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Publication number: 20200159407Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes: receiving, by a user device, a first touch gesture at a display of the user device visually displaying a virtual object; defining, by the user device, an anchor point of the virtual object visually displayed on the display based on the first touch gesture; receiving, by the user device, a second touch gesture at the display; determining, by the user device, an anchor area and a scrolling area based on the anchor point and the second touch gesture; defining, by the user device, a first layer corresponding to the anchor area and a second layer corresponding to the scrolling area; and stacking, by the user device, the first layer over the second layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: James Hewitt, Mark J. Lawrence, Martin A. Ross, Caroline J. Thomas
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Patent number: 10659606Abstract: A mechanism for filtering communication including receiving an incoming call from a calling party, the incoming call being directed to a called party. The mechanism further comprises obtaining calling party information comprising a value of at least one descriptive parameter of the calling party and obtaining historical called party information relating to past activities of the called party. One or more call-handling rules are generated based on the historical called party information, each call-handling rule defining how to handle an incoming call based on a descriptive parameter of a calling party. The calling party information is processed according to the one or more call-handling rules to determine how to handle the received incoming call.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Caroline J. Thomas, Thomas J. Waterton, Liam White, Joshua E. Vines
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Publication number: 20200112636Abstract: A mechanism for filtering communication including receiving an incoming call from a calling party, the incoming call being directed to a called party. The mechanism further comprises obtaining calling party information comprising a value of at least one descriptive parameter of the calling party and obtaining historical called party information relating to past activities of the called party. One or more call-handling rules are generated based on the historical called party information, each call-handling rule defining how to handle an incoming call based on a descriptive parameter of a calling party. The calling party information is processed according to the one or more call-handling rules to determine how to handle the received incoming call.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2018Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Caroline J. Thomas, Thomas J. Waterton, Liam White, Joshua E. Vines
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Patent number: 10613747Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes: receiving, by a user device, a first touch gesture at a display of the user device visually displaying a virtual object; defining, by the user device, an anchor point of the virtual object visually displayed on the display based on the first touch gesture; receiving, by the user device, a second touch gesture at the display; determining, by the user device, an anchor area and a scrolling area based on the anchor point and the second touch gesture; defining, by the user device, a first layer corresponding to the anchor area and a second layer corresponding to the scrolling area; and stacking, by the user device, the first layer over the second layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: James Hewitt, Mark J. Lawrence, Martin A. Ross, Caroline J. Thomas
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Patent number: 10601187Abstract: An electrical power distribution unit for overload prevention is provided. The power distribution unit has a plurality of electrical power outlet sockets each for receiving a power plug and a power distribution system for supplying electrical power to each of the sockets. The power distribution unit includes an excess power detector for detecting an aggregate power drawn from the plurality of sockets and for actuating a disabling mechanism for disabling power supply for a subset of the sockets in response to the detected aggregate power exceeding a predetermined first threshold, wherein the subset of the sockets are sockets that are detected as currently not drawing power.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: James Hewitt, Colin I. Holyoake, Richard Postlethwaite, Caroline J. Thomas