Patents by Inventor Eric S. Merrifield, Jr.

Eric S. Merrifield, Jr. 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: 20140222538
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for customer experience management for an organization. Embodiments of the invention can be used to monitor and analyze customer activity. From larger volumes of data, data can be concentrated to identify events with higher relevance to customer or guest experiences with the organization. Data can be correlated with customer or guest experiences to provide more personalized experiences in the future. Embodiments include event processing rules. Event processing rules can be used to provide more intelligent rewards to customers or guests. Event processing rules can also be used to synthesize other events. Embodiments can apply data analytics at a range of organizational levels (e.g., operator to management level) to improve customer or guest experiences. Embodiments can provide visualizations to an organization to present correlated trend data about customers or guests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: korl8, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Merrifield, JR., Manuel Vellon, Mark D. Hadland
  • Patent number: 8655711
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for linking enterprise resource planning data to business capabilities. Embodiments provide a linkage between schematized ERP data (e.g., financial data) and schematized business capabilities. The linkage provides the ability to report in a visual way that permits the linkage of such things as business value, performance, maturity, interconnectedness, process standardization, compliance, etc. As such, businesses capabilities can be linked to specific spend amounts in ERP data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Merrifield, Jr., Daniel C. Brown, Chad K. Corneil, David B. Appel
  • Patent number: 8543447
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for determining capability interdependency and analyzing risks in business architectures. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention can be used to drive an understanding of the relative interdependency (complexity) of a capability and how capabilities impact one another. Connectedness and/or data exchanged between capabilities can be used to formulate relative interdependency (complexity) of a capability and can be analyzed to inform a number of strategies from data architecture and business intelligence and project risk. Other risk/impact analysis data can be combined with interdependency (complexity) to present risk/impact analysis scenarios for organizations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chad K. Corneil, Eric S. Merrifield, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8271319
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for structured implementation of business adaptability changes. In some embodiments, a pre-defined resource vocabulary is utilized to assist a decision making entity in selecting an appropriate response to a change trigger event. The pre-defined resource vocabulary provides a mechanism for a plurality of different organizations to consider resource selection for responding to change trigger events in a uniform, repeatable, and consistent manner so as to increase decision agility. In other embodiments, a pre-defined common vocabulary defines a range of business adaptability. The pre-defined common vocabulary provides a mechanism for a plurality of different organizations to consider changes in business adaptability in a uniform manner and provides a mechanism to produce consistent repeatable results for considered changes in business adaptability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Merrifield, Jr., Chad K. Corneil
  • Patent number: 8195504
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for linking service level expectations to performing entities. Embodiments of the invention facilitate an express, measured relationship between each entity and the performance of a corresponding business capability. Thus, when an entity or layer changes, the impact to the performance can be asserted, and later validated through the specific measures. Schematized links for entities and/or business layers can be used to connect to a service level expectation schema to appropriately define how entities and/or business layers contribute to the performance of a business capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Merrifield, Jr., Chad K. Corneil
  • Patent number: 8150726
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for linking organizational strategies to performing capabilities. Embodiments of the invention include determining what impact proposed capability changes in an initiative/program/project for an organizational strategy have on the organizational strategy's performance. Schema-based representations of organizational strategies and initiatives are used to provide a common vocabulary for describing changes to organizational strategies. Proposed changes can be evaluated against an impact/value contribution curve, potentially on an ongoing basis, to determine their benefit. Corrective action can be taken when operations/tactics are trend outside of specified metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Merrifield, Jr., Daniel C. Brown, Chad K. Corneil
  • Publication number: 20100318395
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for determining capability interdependency and analyzing risks in business architectures. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention can be used to drive an understanding of the relative interdependency (complexity) of a capability and how capabilities impact one another. Connectedness and/or data exchanged between capabilities can be used to formulate relative interdependency (complexity) of a capability and can be analyzed to inform a number of strategies from data architecture and business intelligence and project risk. Other risk/impact analysis data can be combined with interdependency (complexity) to present risk/impact analysis scenarios for organizations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chad K. Corneil, Eric S. Merrifield, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100131330
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for linking enterprise resource planning data to business capabilities. Embodiments provide a linkage between schematized ERP data (e.g., financial data) and schematized business capabilities. The linkage provides the ability to report in a visual way that permits the linkage of such things as business value, performance, maturity, interconnectedness, process standardization, compliance, etc. As such, businesses capabilities can be linked to specific spend amounts in ERP data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Merrifield, JR., Daniel C. Brown, Chad K. Corneil, David B. Appel
  • Publication number: 20100082380
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for modeling and measuring value added networks. Value added networks are modeled in accordance with a structured data model that defines data formats for business capability attributes. The structured data model can include a capability modeling schema having data format definitions that define how business capability attributes are to be represented. Value added networks can also be mapped such that users can visualize and navigate a value added network. A pre-defined resource vocabulary is utilized to assist in determining if a business capability change is worthwhile. The pre-defined resource vocabulary provides a mechanism for a plurality of participants in a value added network to consider business capability changes in a uniform, repeatable, and consistent manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric S. Merrifield, JR., Chad K. Corneil, Daniel C. Brown
  • Publication number: 20100082381
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for linking organizational strategies to performing capabilities. Embodiments of the invention include determining what impact proposed capability changes in an initiative/program/project for an organizational strategy have on the organizational strategy's performance. Schema-based representations of organizational strategies and initiatives are used to provide a common vocabulary for describing changes to organizational strategies. Proposed changes can be evaluated against an impact/value contribution curve, potentially on an ongoing basis, to determine their benefit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Merrifield, JR., Daniel C. Brown, Chad K. Corneil
  • Publication number: 20100063871
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for linking service level expectations to performing entities. Embodiments of the invention facilitate an express, measured relationship between each entity and the performance of a corresponding business capability. Thus, when an entity or layer changes, the impact to the performance can be asserted, and later validated through the specific measures. Schematized links for entities and/or business layers can be used to connect to a service level expectation schema to appropriately define how entities and/or business layers contribute to the performance of a business capability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Merrifield, JR., Chad K. Corneil
  • Publication number: 20100057508
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for structured implementation of business functionality changes. A pre-defined resource vocabulary is utilized to assist in determining if a business capability change is worthwhile. The pre-defined resource vocabulary provides a mechanism for a plurality of different organizations to consider business capability changes in a uniform, repeatable, and consistent manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Merrifield, JR., Chad K. Corneil, Charles A. Pitcher
  • Publication number: 20100036699
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for structured implementation of business adaptability changes. In some embodiments, a pre-defined resource vocabulary is utilized to assist a decision making entity in selecting an appropriate response to a change trigger event. The pre-defined resource vocabulary provides a mechanism for a plurality of different organizations to consider resource selection for responding to change trigger events in a uniform, repeatable, and consistent manner so as to increase decision agility. In other embodiments, a pre-defined common vocabulary defines a range of business adaptability. The pre-defined common vocabulary provides a mechanism for a plurality of different organizations to consider changes in business adaptability in a uniform manner and provides a mechanism to produce consistent repeatable results for considered changes in business adaptability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Merrifield, JR., Chad K. Corneil
  • Publication number: 20090248505
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with customized advertisements in response to a user indication of a desire to receive the customized advertisements. The user, by opting in and creating a user-controlled profile, indicates a desire to receive targeted and highly relevant advertisements that correspond to the user-specific information provided by the user in the user-controlled profile. This information, for example, may be the user's demographic information, location, marital status, information from the user's web-based calendar, or whether the user has children. The customized advertisements may also be selected according to the user's location, which may be determined by any location determining technique. By purchasing an item presented in a customized advertisement, referring a customized advertisement to another user, or taking some other defined action, the user may receive an incentive, such as points, currency, discounts, or credit to be used toward a future purchase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: CHARLES A. FINKELSTEIN, FRANCIS X. DOUGHERTY, ERIC S. MERRIFIELD, JR., JAIME J. HWACINSKI