Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Dawson

Christopher J. Dawson 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).

  • Publication number: 20150222298
    Abstract: An input device for switchable use between first and second computer systems. A controller of the input device can execute switching logic to direct a radio transceiver of the input device to switch an operating channel of the radio transceiver to a first channel monitored by the first computer system in response to a first event, and thereby, the input device can be utilized to insert data into the first computer system. The controller can execute switching logic to direct the radio transceiver to switch the operating channel to a second channel monitored by the second computer system in response to a second event, and thereby, the input device can be utilized to insert data into the second computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: David C. Brillhart, Christopher J. Dawson, Nicholas J. Karels, James W. Seaman
  • Patent number: 9100987
    Abstract: A method includes establishing an ad-hoc network between a borrower and at least two lenders of bandwidth and establishing one lender of the at least two lenders as a multiplexer to manage data flow over the ad-hoc network between the borrower and lenders of the at least two lenders of bandwidth. The method may include providing a computer infrastructure to perform the steps of the invention. A system is also provided which includes a server having a database containing data associated with one or more lenders and a borrower in an ad-hoc network and at least one hardware and/or software component. The system may further include computer usable medium having readable program code embodied in the medium to perform processes of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Peter G. Finn, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Jenny S. Li
  • Publication number: 20150213287
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for managing and controlling direct access of an administrator to a computer system. An interceptor application resides on the computer system and intercepts the direct access. The interceptor application receives a request for the direct access to the computer system and determines whether the administrator requests for a new ticket. The interceptor application redirects the administrator to log onto the service management system for generating the new ticket by the service management system, in response to determining that the administrator requests for the new ticket or open tickets are not found. The interceptor application receives from the service management system the new ticket and grants the administrator the direct access to the computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Eric M. Anderson, Christopher J. Dawson, Leslie A. Nelson, Brett W. Singletary
  • Patent number: 9094446
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach to repair vulnerabilities (e.g., security vulnerabilities) in images (e.g., application images) in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment). Specifically, an image is checked for vulnerabilities using a database of known images and/or vulnerabilities. If a vulnerability is found, a flexible/elastic firewall is established around the image so as to isolate the vulnerability. Once the firewall has been put in place, the vulnerability can be repaired by a variety of means such as upgrading the image, quarantining the image, discarding the image, and/or generating a new image. Once the image has been repaired, the firewall can be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Al Chakra, Christopher J. Dawson, Yu Deng, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Jenny S. Li, Liangzhao Zeng
  • Publication number: 20150208272
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the formation and rearrangement of ad hoc networks and more particularly to systems and methods for sharing bandwidth in ad hoc networks. The method comprises broadcasting a table to at least one potential lender requesting pertinent lender information and receiving the table from the at least one potential lender with the pertinent lender information. The method further includes selecting one or more lenders of the at least one potential lender which meet preset criteria and establishing an ad hoc network with the one or more lenders based on the selecting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Peter G. Finn, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Jenny S. Li
  • Publication number: 20150204566
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to ventilation systems and methods, and more particularly to selectively configurable climate control systems and methods for use in data centers and the like. A method includes receiving or obtaining input data, generating at least one actuation signal to change a flow configuration of a re-configurable duct system based upon the input data, and transmitting the at least one actuation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Vincenzo V. Diluoffo, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Michael D. Kendzierski
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9065772
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for dynamically modifying Quality of Service (QoS) levels for resources (e.g., applications, processes, services, etc.) running in a networked computing environment. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention dynamically adjust transport level networking QoS parameters based on associated service level agreements (SLA) term. In a typical embodiment, a set of service level requirements associated with a resource running in the networked computing environment will first be identified (e.g., in a computer data structure). Then, the set of service level requirements will be mapped to a set of QoS parameters associated with a transport layer of the networked computing environment. A current performance of the resource within the transport layer will then be determined. Once the current performance has been determined, it will be further determined whether the current performance meets the set of service level requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Katalin K. Bartfai-Walcott, Gregory J. Boss, Christopher J. Dawson, Rick A. Hamilton, II
  • Publication number: 20150160638
    Abstract: A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium being operable to perform a thermal analysis of a data center and overlay the thermal analysis on a map of the data center to provide an overlaid thermal analysis. Additionally, the computer executable code is operable to dynamically control at least one partition in the data center based on the overlaid thermal analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Vincenzo V. Diluoffo, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Michael D. Kendzierski
  • Publication number: 20150156675
    Abstract: Methods and systems to establish and execute price offerings among the lenders and borrowers in a bandwidth-sharing ad hoc network for shared bandwidth usage. The method comprises establishing a price offering among a lender and borrower in a bandwidth-sharing ad hoc network for shared bandwidth usage. The method further includes executing the price offering upon acceptance of a lender to the bandwidth-sharing ad hoc network for shared bandwidth usage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Peter G. Finn, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Jenny S. Li
  • Publication number: 20150149826
    Abstract: A method for monitoring information systems has been provided. The method includes analyzing at least one event data record of an information technology system to determine whether at least one target system of the information technology system has monitoring levels, trace levels, log levels, or snap shot levels which should be changed. The method further includes based on the analyzed instructing the at least one target system to change their monitoring levels, trace levels, log levels, or snap shot levels. The method further includes analyzing said monitoring levels, trace levels, log levels, or snap shot levels of the at least one target system to determine a cause of the at least one event data record.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric M. Anderson, Christopher J. Dawson, Rajesh Radhakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20150145782
    Abstract: A method and system for zooming an image on a touch screen. A trajectory, which is detected, is formed by a continuous direct touching of the screen by a finger of a user, beginning at a first point on the screen initially touched by the user and ending at a second point on the screen being touched by the user. It is ascertained that the screen has been touched by being pressed by the finger at one point on the trajectory for at least a predetermined minimum period of time or that a direction pointed to by a tangent to the trajectory at the second point is at an angle with respect to a specified reference direction on the screen that is at least a predetermined minimum angle. In response to the ascertaining, an initial image on the screen is zoomed-in or zoomed-out in a manner determined by the trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gene L. Brown, Brendan F. Coffey, Christopher J. Dawson, Clifford V. Harris
  • Patent number: 9042830
    Abstract: An input device for switchable use between first and second computer systems. A controller of the input device can execute switching logic to direct a radio transceiver of the input device to switch an operating channel of the radio transceiver to a first channel monitored by the first computer system in response to a first event, and thereby, the input device can be utilized to insert data into the first computer system. The controller can execute switching logic to direct the radio transceiver to switch the operating channel to a second channel monitored by the second computer system in response to a second event, and thereby, the input device can be utilized to insert data into the second computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David C. Brillhart, Christopher J. Dawson, Nicholas J. Karels, James W. Seaman
  • Publication number: 20150142786
    Abstract: An approach for modifying cloud application service levels based upon analysis of documents is provided. The approach performs automated ingestion of documents to determine criticality and needs of certain applications, and develops an understanding of existing cloud environments and service level agreements. The approach may further suggest or automatically reassign applications to the cloud infrastructure to meet the needs of an application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Kerrie L. Holley, Ram Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 9038169
    Abstract: A method and computer program product for managing and controlling direct access of an administrator to a computer system. At least one computer program on the computer system receives from the administrator a request for the direct access to the managed computer system directly from the system console and requests a service management system to search open tickets. In response to that the open tickets are found, the at least one computer program requests the administrator to choose at least one ticket from the open tickets and grants the administrator the direct access to the computer system in response to determining that the at least one ticket is valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric M. Anderson, Christopher J. Dawson, Leslie A. Nelson, Brett W. Singletary
  • Patent number: 9037508
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the formation and rearrangement of ad hoc networks and more particularly to systems and methods for sharing bandwidth in ad hoc networks. The method comprises broadcasting a table to at least one potential lender requesting pertinent lender information and receiving the table from the at least one potential lender with the pertinent lender information. The method further includes selecting one or more lenders of the at least one potential lender which meet preset criteria and establishing an ad hoc network with the one or more lenders based on the selecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Peter G. Finn, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Jenny S. Li
  • Publication number: 20150134601
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for generating event trees. The method includes receiving one or more events occurring within a networked computing environment. The method includes generating an event tree including the received one or more events. The method includes comparing the generated event tree with a plurality of event trees stored in a database. The method then includes assigning, based, at least in part, on the comparing, a probability to the generated event tree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric M. Anderson, Christopher J. Dawson, Rajesh Radhakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20150121552
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a subscription service for documenting, verifying, administering, and auditing use of entitled software products in third-party networked computing environments (e.g., a cloud computing environment). Specifically, aspects of the invention provide an Entitlement Brokering System (EBS) (also referred to as an entitlement broker) that reduces the risk associated with clients improperly running licensed software products on their computing infrastructure, thus increasing the reliability and auditability of the software product's entitlement status and accelerating intake of new or existing clients through automation of the entitlement verification process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Gene L. Brown, Brendan F. Coffey, Christopher J. Dawson, Clifford V. Harris
  • Publication number: 20150120908
    Abstract: In a data center, real-time, distributed administration of information describing dependency relationships among configuration items may be carried out. In such a data center, each configuration item is associated with an independent agent that is coupled to other agents and maintains a record of dependencies amongst the configuration item associated with the agent and other configuration items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: ERIC M. ANDERSON, CHRISTOPHER J. DAWSON, RAJESH RADHAKRISHNAN, CAROL S. WALTON