Patents by Inventor Frank A. Schaffa
Frank A. Schaffa 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).
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Publication number: 20140114805Abstract: Systems and methods for custom-fitting a service solution to consumer requirements are provided. A method for custom-fitting a service solution to consumer requirements, comprises acquiring a request for the service solution from a consumer via a conversational interface, and issuing a query to a service knowledge base to obtain a set of service knowledge representation items from the service knowledge base and analyzing each service knowledge representation item to determine whether a custom-fit service solution can be developed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2012Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Rahul P. Akolkar, Thomas E. Chefalas, Jim A. Laredo, Anca Sailer, Frank A. Schaffa, Alla Segal, Ignacio Silva-Lepe, Chang-Shing Perng, Tao Tao
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Publication number: 20140114784Abstract: Systems and methods for custom-fitting a service solution to consumer requirements are provided. A method for custom-fitting a service solution to consumer requirements, comprises acquiring a request for the service solution from a consumer via a conversational interface, and issuing a query to a service knowledge base to obtain a set of service knowledge representation items from the service knowledge base and analyzing each service knowledge representation item to determine whether a custom-fit service solution can be developed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2012Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Rahul P. Akolkar, Thomas E. Chefalas, Jim A. Laredo, Anca Sailer, Frank A. Schaffa, Alla Segal, Ignacio Silva-Lepe, Chang-Shing Perng, Tao Tao
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Patent number: 8656178Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system and program product for modifying content usage conditions during broadcast content distribution. Specifically, the present invention allows protected (e.g., encrypted, secured, etc.) content to be received along with content usage conditions, an encrypted combination of the content usage conditions and a title key (e.g., a MAC), and a key management block. Using the key management block, a key encrypting key can be determined for decrypting the combination. Once the combination is decrypted, the content usage conditions can be modified (e.g., edited, added to, etc.).Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2002Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Eric M. Foster, Jeffrey B. Lotspiech, Dalit Naor, Sigfredo I. Nin, Florian Pestoni, Wilfred E. Plouffe, Jr., Frank A. Schaffa
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Publication number: 20140003798Abstract: A system and method for recording a collaborative session includes two phases. One is performed in real-time and includes determining portions of a composite image of collaborative session content that are constant over time or preprocessed. The portions are removed from the composite image of the collaborative session content. Remaining content of the composite image and any of the portions not already compressed is compressed and stored. A second phase is performed when off-line and includes decoding the remaining content of the composite image and the portions to reconstruct the composite image of the collaborative session content and formatting the composite image.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William F. Abt, Bryce A. Curtis, Peter J. Parente, Frank A. Schaffa, Peter H. Westerink
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Publication number: 20130346407Abstract: Systems and methods for creating and processing context sensitive media objects are disclosed. One method is directed to processing a context sensitive media object in a target context. The method includes receiving an object with one or more object rules embedded within the object such that the one or more object rules are propagated with the object. Further, a determination of whether the object is context sensitive is made. If the object is context sensitive, the method prioritizes between the one or more object rules and one or more context rules related to a target context. In addition, a determination of which method or methods should be executed to process the object in the target context is made based on the prioritization.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Paolo DETTORI, Julio NOGIMA, Frank A. SCHAFFA, Augustine C. SCHILLING
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Patent number: 8559794Abstract: A system and method for recording a collaborative session includes two phases. One is performed in real-time and includes determining portions of a composite image of collaborative session content that are constant over time or preprocessed. The portions are removed from the composite image of the collaborative session content. Remaining content of the composite image and any of the portions not already compressed is compressed and stored. A second phase is performed when off-line and includes decoding the remaining content of the composite image and the portions to reconstruct the composite image of the collaborative session content and formatting the composite image.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William F. Abt, Bryce A. Curtis, Peter J. Parente, Frank A. Schaffa, Peter H. Westerink
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Patent number: 8548963Abstract: A system and method for making media content sensitive to a context, such that the media content carries information needed to automatically process the media content in a target environment which includes a context processing engine. The engine processes a first set of rules and methods for media content objects and compares the first set to a second set of rules and methods for media context to decide which methods are to be applied on the media object to process the media content in a target environment.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2005Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Paolo Dettori, Julio Nogima, Frank A. Schaffa, Augustine C. Schilling
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Publication number: 20130007248Abstract: An information processing system receives a request from a client. A first set of dataflows that enforces at least one set of policies is retrieved in response to receiving the request. Each dataflow in the first set of dataflows is a software component that processes a set of messages sent from the client to a service. A dataflow execution plan is generated that include the first set of dataflows. At least one dataflow in the first set of dataflows is determined to be associated with a dataflow policy. At least a second set of dataflows associated with the dataflow policy is retrieved in response to the determining. At the at least second set of dataflows is inserted into the dataflow execution plan preceding the at least one dataflow.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Timothy W. BANKS, Paolo DETTORI, Julio NOGIMA, Robert W. PHIPPEN, Frank A. SCHAFFA
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Patent number: 8321704Abstract: A method and system for managing electric power consumption by elements of a distributed computing system comprises: determining one or more system metrics that relate to electric power usage as consumed by elements of a configured distributed environment; determining a system value in response to the one or more system metrics, the value determined according to one or more value criteria; and, while in-progress applications are being run in the computing environment, evaluating one or more potential changes in the distributed computing environment and determining an alternate system value based on the changes; and, re-configuring elements of the distributed computing environment dynamically while the computing environment is operating, in accordance with a determined alternate system value. The re-configuring elements step is in accordance with a potential change operative to alter electric power consumption.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2010Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Edward P. Clarke, Jr., Lorraine M. Herger, Marcel-Catalin Rosu, Frank A. Schaffa, Edith H. Stern
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Publication number: 20120233249Abstract: A system and method is provided to facilitate subscriber driven media agnostic content delivery across same or different networks. The method includes receiving preferences from a sending client and a receiving client and receiving content of a first media type over a network. The method further includes sending the content or a reference to the content to the receiving client in a preferred media type and to a preferred device in accordance with at least one preference of the receiving client. The method also includes notifying at least the receiving client that the content is to be received by the preferred device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2012Publication date: September 13, 2012Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Michael E. ALEXANDER, Sri Ramanathan, Frank A. Schaffa, Matthew B. Trevathan
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Patent number: 8234410Abstract: A system and method is provided to facilitate subscriber driven media agnostic content delivery across same or different networks. The method includes receiving preferences from a sending client and a receiving client and receiving content of a first media type over a network. The method further includes sending the content or a reference to the content to the receiving client in a preferred media type and to a preferred device in accordance with at least one preference of the receiving client. The method also includes notifying at least the receiving client that the content is to be received by the preferred device.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael E. Alexander, Sri Ramanathan, Frank A. Schaffa, Matthew B. Trevathan
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Publication number: 20120151027Abstract: An information processing system receives a request from a client. A first set of dataflows that enforces at least one set of policies is retrieved in response to receiving the request. Each dataflow in the first set of dataflows is a software component that processes a set of messages sent from the client to a service. A dataflow execution plan is generated that include the first set of dataflows. At least one dataflow in the first set of dataflows is determined to be associated with a dataflow policy. At least a second set of dataflows associated with the dataflow policy is retrieved in response to the determining. At the at least second set of dataflows is inserted into the dataflow execution plan preceding the at least one dataflow.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2010Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Timothy W. BANKS, Paolo Dettori, Julio Nogima, Robert W. Phippen, Frank A. Schaffa
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Publication number: 20110286718Abstract: A system and method for recording a collaborative session includes two phases. One is performed in real-time and includes determining portions of a composite image of collaborative session content that are constant over time or preprocessed. The portions are removed from the composite image of the collaborative session content. Remaining content of the composite image and any of the portions not already compressed is compressed and stored. A second phase is performed when off-line and includes decoding the remaining content of the composite image and the portions to reconstruct the composite image of the collaborative session content and formatting the composite image.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: WILLIAM F. ABT, Bryce A. Curtis, Peter J. Parente, Frank A. Schaffa, Peter H. Westerink
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Publication number: 20110246658Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and program product for optimizing data exchange in a peer-to-peer network (PTPN). In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of optimizing real-time data exchange in a peer-to-peer network (PTPN), the method comprising: receiving, from each peer in the PTPN: an upload limit of the peer; a download limit of the peer; and a delay to each other peer in the PTPN; determining, for each peer in the PTPN: a rate at which data may be transferred to at least one other peer in the PTPN (transfer rate); and a rate at which data may be received from at least one other peer in the PTPN (receive rate); and instructing each peer in the PTPN to: transfer data to at least one other peer in the PTPN at the transfer rate; and receive data from at least one other peer in the PTPN at the receive rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2010Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES COPORATIONInventors: Paolo Dettori, Julio Nogima, Frank A. Schaffa, Peter Westerink, Chai W. Wu
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Patent number: 7986707Abstract: A method for executing services over an enterprise service bus includes analyzing a message of a first service to a second service to determine a nature of a digital media object sent from the first service to the second service, analyzing one or more media rules to determine whether one or more intermediary services are to be performed based on the nature of the digital media object, and when it is determined that one or more intermediary services are to be performed, executing, after the first service and before the second service, the one or more intermediary services.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2008Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Paolo Dettori, Julio Nogima, Frank A. Schaffa, Diego Sanchez Gallo
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Patent number: 7984473Abstract: A system and method allowing a broadcaster to deliver short-term cyclic data along with the main content of the broadcast stream, synchronized with that main content, and for allowing users to have access to that information for longer periods than a typical data broadcast system would allow. Additional data content is added to the main content stream and is broadcast along with it. The additional data content is initially broadcast shortly prior to the time of its relevance to the main content and is buffered upon reception. In addition, it is rebroadcast cyclically over a short period, allowing viewers who tune in late to take advantage by acquiring the material during and briefly after the time of its initial relevance. If a viewer tunes in after the cyclic broadcast period has elapsed or if there was an error in the receiving or buffering of the additional data content, a return channel can be used to request that the material be retransmitted.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2000Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Olivier Casile, Richard S. Chernock, Paolo Dettori, Frank A. Schaffa, David I. Seidman
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Patent number: 7886070Abstract: A method includes the steps of: detecting a request from a client to restart a streamed multimedia presentation from a new starting point; determining if an update to a source file of the streamed multimedia presentation is available; if the update is available: closing the source file, opening the update, and establishing a link to the existing data channel; locating the new starting point of the streamed multimedia presentation; and streaming the multimedia presentation from the new starting point.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2008Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: International Business CorporationInventors: Peter Hans Westerink, Paolo Dettori, Zhengua Fu, Julio Nogima, Frank A. Schaffa
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Publication number: 20100287295Abstract: A streaming engine and method includes a plurality of input types configured to pass one of samples and frames from an input stream. A processing block is configured to process the samples and frames independently of input and output types and produce any kind of output samples and frames in accordance with processing elements employed in the processing block. A plurality of output types is configured to initiate a session which determines connections between inputs and outputs so that the samples and the frames are received from the processing block in accordance with the session to appropriately direct the stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2009Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Frank A. Schaffa, Peter H. Westerink
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Publication number: 20100174931Abstract: A method and system for managing electric power consumption by elements of a distributed computing system comprises: determining one or more system metrics that relate to electric power usage as consumed by elements of a configured distributed environment; determining a system value in response to the one or more system metrics, the value determined according to one or more value criteria; and, while in-progress applications are being run in the computing environment, evaluating one or more potential changes in the distributed computing environment and determining an alternate system value based on the changes; and, re-configuring elements of the distributed computing environment dynamically while the computing environment is operating, in accordance with a determined alternate system value. The re-configuring elements step is in accordance with a potential change operative to alter electric power consumption.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2010Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Edward P. Clarke, JR., Lorraine M. Herger, Marrcel-Catalin Rosu, Frank A. Schaffa, Edith H. Stern
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Patent number: 7720968Abstract: A method and system for configuring elements of a distributed computing system based on evaluations of their value add and cost impact. The system and method for configuring elements of a distributed computing system comprises the steps of: determining one or more system metrics that relate to hardware and/or software elements of a configured distributed system; determining a system value in response to one or more system metrics, the value determined according to one or more value criteria; and, re-configuring elements of the distributed computing environment according to said determined system value.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2003Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Edward P. Clarke, Jr., Lorraine M. Herger, Marrcel-Catalin Rosu, Frank A. Schaffa, Edith H. Stern