Patents by Inventor Christopher W. Umble

Christopher W. Umble 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).

  • METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A REGISTRY
    Publication number: 20080313002
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for operating a registry of service providers in a given service sector, an apparatus for operating a registry of service providers in a given service sector, and a system for operating a registry of service providers in a given service sector. In one embodiment, a method of operating a registry of service providers in a given service sector comprises providing a plurality of service providers in the given sector with input access to an electronic database to which each participating service supplies information, and validating the supplied information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul McFarland, Stephen J. Shaw, Christopher W. Umble, Lisa Langford, Bruce Miller
  • Method and apparatus for coordinating services
    Patent number: 6950801
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of coordinating or arranging services, such as automotive glass repair services for the policyholders of an insurance company, and to an apparatus for practicing the method. The method includes providing a database of service providers, obtaining service need information regarding a customer, selecting at least a portion of the service providers in the database based on the service need information, ranking the selected service providers, and choosing one of the ranked service providers to perform the service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Brookes, Mark A. Homison, Lisa S. Langford, James V. Latch, Thomas S. Molenda, Christopher W. Umble
  • Method and Apparatus for Coordinating Services
    Publication number: 20030014295
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of coordinating or arranging services, such as automotive glass repair services for the policyholders of an insurance company, and to an apparatus for practicing the method. The method includes providing a database of service providers, obtaining service need information regarding a customer, selecting at least a portion of the service providers in the database based on the service need information, ranking the selected service providers, and choosing one of the ranked service providers to perform the service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: PPG INDUSTRIES OHIO, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Brookes , Mark A Homison , Lisa S Langford , James V Latch , Thomas S Molenda , Christopher W Umble