Patents by Inventor Christopher E. Sharp

Christopher E. Sharp 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: 12163606
    Abstract: A fitting has a first housing including a first body and a second body. The first body defines a first channel and a second channel, and second body defines a third channel that is co-planar with the first channel and a fourth channel that is co-planar with the first channel. First bearings are disposed within the first channel and the third channel, where the first bearings rotatably coupled the first housing to the second housing. Additionally, second bearings are disposed within the second channel and the fourth channel, the second bearings rotatably coupling the first housing to the second housing. A plug couples to the first housing, a gasket is disposed between the plug and the first housing, and a passage is defined at least in part by the first housing, the second housing, and the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis John Graham, Christopher Anthony Kinney, Robert E. Sharp, Ryan Dean Macy
  • Patent number: 10891305
    Abstract: A computer hardware system for synchronization of data between a first data system and a second data system includes an event propagation processor. Both data systems are modeled as a collection of representation state transfer (REST) resources. The event propagation processor is configured to integrate data between the first and second data systems for events about data changes in the data systems. The processor includes an adaptation layer in the form of an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) facade to represent REST resources. The adaptation layer includes a provider component configured to provide access to data resources in one of the data systems, and an initiator component configured to emit events corresponding to data changes in one of the data systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Allman, David C. Illsley, Christopher E. Sharp
  • Publication number: 20190266173
    Abstract: A computer hardware system for synchronization of data between a first data system and a second data system includes an event propagation processor. Both data systems are modeled as a collection of representation state transfer (REST) resources. The event propagation processor is configured to integrate data between the first and second data systems for events about data changes in the data systems. The processor includes an adaptation layer in the form of an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) facade to represent REST resources. The adaptation layer includes a provider component configured to provide access to data resources in one of the data systems, and an initiator component configured to emit events corresponding to data changes in one of the data systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Mark Allman, David C. Illsley, Christopher E. Sharp
  • Patent number: 10331697
    Abstract: A computer hardware system for synchronization of data between a first data system and a second data system includes an event propagation processor. Both data systems are modeled as a collection of representation state transfer (REST) resources. The event propagation processor is configured to integrate data between the first and second data systems for events about data changes in the data systems. The processor includes an adaptation layer in the form of an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) facade to represent REST resources. The adaptation layer includes a provider component configured to provide access to data resources in one of the data systems, and an initiator component configured to emit events corresponding to data changes in one of the data systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Allman, David C. Illsley, Christopher E. Sharp
  • Patent number: 10171595
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and software is disclosed in which options for the provision of a service are each identified by an option identifier for use in determining the applicable options for a given service request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul T. Nolan, Christopher E. Sharp
  • Patent number: 9699114
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system performing a method that includes a processor(s) of a local/private computing system (LPCS) receiving, via a public computing system and a communication network, on behalf of a user of the public computer system, a request to use computing resource(s) belonging to the LPCS. The processor(s) determine a set of usage parameters comprising a first usage limitation, with the first usage limitation including a first limitation type and first limitation value, and with the first usage limitation defining a limit on usage of the computing resource(s) on behalf of the user. The processor(s) receives, via the public computing system and the communication network, a workload of the user. The processor(s) processes the workload, which includes the processor limiting, by machine logic, usage of the resources(s), on behalf of the user, in accordance with the usage parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory R. Hintermeister, Matthew G. Kelm, Christopher E. Sharp, Jason B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20160381153
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and software is disclosed in which options for the provision of a service are each identified by an option identifier for use in determining the applicable options for a given service request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: PAUL T. NOLAN, CHRISTOPHER E. SHARP
  • Patent number: 9454404
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and software is disclosed in which options for the provision of a service are each identified by an option identifier for use in determining the applicable options for a given service request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul T. Nolan, Christopher E. Sharp
  • Publication number: 20150205852
    Abstract: A computer hardware system for synchronization of data between a first data system and a second data system includes an event propagation processor. Both data systems are modeled as a collection of representation state transfer (REST) resources. The event propagation processor is configured to integrate data between the first and second data systems for events about data changes in the data systems. The processor includes an adaptation layer in the form of an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) facade to represent REST resources. The adaptation layer includes a provider component configured to provide access to data resources in one of the data systems, and an initiator component configured to emit events corresponding to data changes in one of the data systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Mark Allman, David C. Illsley, Christopher E. Sharp
  • Patent number: 9047358
    Abstract: A computer hardware system for synchronization of data between a first data system and a second data system includes an event propagation processor. Both data systems are modeled as a collection of representation state transfer (REST) resources. The event propagation processor is configured to integrate data between the first and second data systems for events about data changes in the data systems. The processor includes an adaptation layer in the form of an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) facade to represent REST resources. The adaptation layer includes a provider component configured to provide access to data resources in one of the data systems, and an initiator component configured to emit events corresponding to data changes in one of the data systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Allman, David C. Illsley, Christopher E. Sharp
  • Patent number: 8527484
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method, apparatus, computer program and computer program product for facilitating access by an application to a data structure comprising a plurality of objects. A request is received from the application which initiates the return of the data structure. A handle is assigned to each of at least some of the plurality of objects. Objects in the data structure are retrieved and the application is informed of assigned handles thereby enabling the application to access retrieved objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Reynolds, Martin J. Rowe, Christopher E. Sharp
  • Patent number: 8350844
    Abstract: Provided are methods, data processing systems and computer program product for monitoring user activity and monitoring the effectiveness of objects within a virtual environment such as an immersive, computer-simulated 3D environment. An embodiment of the invention monitors the attention given to a virtual object by one or more avatars, by associating a viewing region with each object that requires attention monitoring, and detecting when an avatar is within the viewing region of the object simultaneously with the object being within an attention region (typically a clipped field of view) of the avatar. The viewing region is a 3D volume within which a surface of the virtual object is deemed to be effectively viewable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher E. Sharp, Matthew Whitbourne
  • Publication number: 20120221522
    Abstract: A computer hardware system for synchronization of data between a first data system and a second data system includes an event propagation processor. Both data systems are modeled as a collection of representation state transfer (REST) resources. The event propagation processor is configured to integrate data between the first and second data systems for events about data changes in the data systems. The processor includes an adaptation layer in the form of an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) facade to represent REST resources. The adaptation layer includes a provider component configured to provide access to data resources in one of the data systems, and an initiator component configured to emit events corresponding to data changes in one of the data systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARK ALLMAN, DAVID C. ILLSLEY, CHRISTOPHER E. SHARP
  • Publication number: 20100113158
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for hosting a virtual world system including clients and game engine servers, is provided. One implementation involves providing a publication and subscription framework, interfacing the clients with the framework using a plurality of client proxies, interfacing each game engine server with the framework using a game engine agent, and decoupling the proxies from the game engine servers using the framework.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sydney G. Chapman, Christopher H. Miller, David S. Renshaw, Christopher E. Sharp
  • Publication number: 20100113159
    Abstract: A method and system for hosting an online virtual world system on game engine servers, is provided. One implementation involves obtaining a map representing a virtual world in the game, partitioning the map into multiple partitions, and selecting a game engine server for each partition as responsible for executing the game for detected game entities in that partition, wherein the selection is based on load balancing between the game engine servers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sydney G. Chapman, Christopher H. Miller, David S. Renshaw, Christopher E. Sharp
  • Publication number: 20090265469
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and software is disclosed in which options for the provision of a service are each identified by an option identifier for use in determining the applicable options for a given service request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Paul T. Nolan, Christopher E. Sharp
  • Patent number: 7515899
    Abstract: Additional computing power is captured using the idle processing power of mobile phones incorporated into a grid computing system, wherein the system is capable of pushing projects out to available mobile phones for processing during idle operation times. To further efficiently utilize the unused processing cycles of mobile phones, a unique protocol is utilized to coordinate processing tasks which makes use of existing short messages techniques to communicate projects. The unique protocol is combination of bootstrapping using standard compression techniques along with an adaptive compression scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hollie Carr, Peter Mattison, Christopher E. Sharp
  • Publication number: 20090051681
    Abstract: Provided are methods, data processing systems and computer program product for monitoring user activity and monitoring the effectiveness of objects within a virtual environment such as an immersive, computer-simulated 3D environment. An embodiment of the invention monitors the attention given to a virtual object by one or more avatars, by associating a viewing region with each object that requires attention monitoring, and detecting when an avatar is within the viewing region of the object simultaneously with the object being within an attention region (typically a clipped field of view) of the avatar. The viewing region is a 3D volume within which a surface of the virtual object is deemed to be effectively viewable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher E. Sharp, Matthew Whitbourne