Patents by Inventor Erik Edward Voldal

Erik Edward Voldal 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: 8204906
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention store log event records in a secure database log by encrypting information in a query, or in query results, that would otherwise be subject to unwanted disclosure (either from within or without a given organization). For example, an organization (e.g., a research institution) may allow a database administrator to review log event records to diagnose and correct system performance issues, without being forced to trust the administrator with sensitive medical data (e.g., medical records related to participants in a research study). Thus, the security of sensitive information may be maintained, while at the same time, the database administrator may still access the information needed to maintain a working system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Dean Dettinger, Daniel Paul Kolz, Frederick Allyn Kulack, Erik Edward Voldal
  • Publication number: 20090019092
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention store log event records in a secure database log by encrypting information in a query, or in query results, that would otherwise be subject to unwanted disclosure (either from within or without a given organization). For example, an organization (e.g., a research institution) may allow a database administrator to review log event records to diagnose and correct system performance issues, without being forced to trust the administrator with sensitive medical data (e.g., medical records related to participants in a research study). Thus, the security of sensitive information may be maintained, while at the same time, the database administrator may still access the information needed to maintain a working system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Richard Dean Dettinger, Daniel Paul Kolz, Frederick Allyn Kulack, Erik Edward Voldal
  • Patent number: 6999964
    Abstract: A method, system and program product for providing domain level business object keys in Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) applications. An instance of an EntityBean object is provided with both a primary key and a domain key class. The primary key class is associated with a home selected for the EntityBean object, and the domain key class is associated with a particular business application within which the EntityBean object is being utilized. The EntityBean and associated home is utilized across different business applications, while ensuring uniqueness across the different applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tim Graser, Erik Edward Voldal
  • Patent number: 6549953
    Abstract: The present invention utilizes a hardware Window Storage Protection Controller (WSPC) and an Object Encapsulation Enforcement Manager (OEEM) to limit access to object data to only those methods which are encapsulated by the object All of the objects of the computer system which require protection are stored in protected storage by a base storage protection mechanism so that only the mechanisms of the present invention can deny or permit access to the data encapsulated by the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Clarence Endicott, Steven Lester Halter, Steven Jay Munroe, Erik Edward Voldal, Xin Xu
  • Publication number: 20020165867
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system and program product for providing domain level business object keys in Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) applications. An instance of an EntityBean object is provided with both a primary key and a domain key class. The primary key class is associated with a home selected for the EntityBean object, and the domain key class is associated with a particular business application within which the EntityBean object is being utilized. The EntityBean and associated home is thus able to be utilized across different business applications while ensuring uniqueness across said different applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Tim Graser, Erik Edward Voldal
  • Patent number: 6219663
    Abstract: A method and computer program product are provided for implementing pushdown queries in a distributed object management system. A pushdown query to a system datastore is performed for a query type returning a single object. Responsive to the system datastore finding the match, checking whether the match refers to an object changed in the current transaction is performed. Responsive to the match not referring to a changed object, the object is returned. Responsive to the match referring to the changed object and the changed object matching the pushdown query, the changed object is returned. Responsive to the system datastore not finding the match, a list of changed objects in a current transaction is obtained. Each of the changed objects are in a current transactional state. An object query is performed on the changed objects in the list of changed objects. A multiple object pushdown query to the system datastore is performed for a query type returning multiple objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Randy Dee Baxter, Michael Dennis McKeehan, Mark Alan Pasch, Erik Edward Voldal
  • Patent number: 6112253
    Abstract: The method maintenance mechanism of the present invention is comprised of two submechanisms, a method update mechanism and a method call manager. The method update mechanism is used to make changes to existing methods. The method call manger manages calls to methods in a way that allows active programs to continue to use old versions of methods while at the same time providing access to new method versions when programs are reactivated or activated for the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Neal Gerard, Steven Lester Halter, Erik Edward Voldal
  • Patent number: 6029206
    Abstract: In an object-oriented or object-based computer system, object methods are routed to users (e.g., client programs) after automatically performing supervisory functions. Examples of suitable supervisory functions include authorization checking and locking. One suitable way to automatically perform the supervisory functions is to provide a call method instruction in the operating system that automatically performs these supervisory functions when a user invokes the object method using the instruction. In this manner, the operating system can assure that the user calling the object method has sufficient authority and lock to access the object method. In addition, the method routing mechanism has the ability to forego authorization checking and locking for objects that are unprotected, and may perform abbreviated authorization checking and locking if the operating system determines from local knowledge that a user is currently authorized to and locked on the called object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Endicott, Steven L. Halter, Steven J. Munroe, Erik Edward Voldal
  • Patent number: 5745570
    Abstract: This invention relates in general to object-oriented encapsulated enforcement mechanisms. In particular, a hardware independent object encapsulation enforcement mechanism is disclosed herein. The object encapsulation enforcement mechanism of the present invention uses encryption technology to ensure that data controlled by an object is accessed solely through use of the object's method programs. When an object is instantiated, the virtual address used to refer to the object is encrypted before it is returned to the instantiating application program. When access to a previously instantiated object is requested, the object encapsulation enforcement mechanism decrypts the presented object address and passes the address to the identified method program, thereby ensuring that only object method programs have access to data controlled by the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Erik Edward Voldal
  • Patent number: 5742826
    Abstract: The present invention utilizes a hardware Window Storage Protection Controller (WSPC) and an Object Encapsulation Enforcement Manager (OEEM) to limit access to object data to only those methods which are encapsulated by the object. All of the objects of the computer system which require protection are stored in protected storage by a base storage protection mechanism so that only the mechanisms of the present invention can deny or permit access to the data encapsulated by the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Clarence Endicott, Steven Lester Halter, Steven Jay Munroe, Erik Edward Voldal, Xin Xu