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).

  • Publication number: 20140114805
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rahul P. Akolkar, Thomas E. Chefalas, Jim A. Laredo, Anca Sailer, Frank A. Schaffa, Alla Segal, Ignacio Silva-Lepe, Chang-Shing Perng, Tao Tao
  • Publication number: 20140114784
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rahul P. Akolkar, Thomas E. Chefalas, Jim A. Laredo, Anca Sailer, Frank A. Schaffa, Alla Segal, Ignacio Silva-Lepe, Chang-Shing Perng, Tao Tao
  • Patent number: 8656178
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric M. Foster, Jeffrey B. Lotspiech, Dalit Naor, Sigfredo I. Nin, Florian Pestoni, Wilfred E. Plouffe, Jr., Frank A. Schaffa
  • Publication number: 20140003798
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Abt, Bryce A. Curtis, Peter J. Parente, Frank A. Schaffa, Peter H. Westerink
  • Publication number: 20130346407
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paolo DETTORI, Julio NOGIMA, Frank A. SCHAFFA, Augustine C. SCHILLING
  • Patent number: 8559794
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Abt, Bryce A. Curtis, Peter J. Parente, Frank A. Schaffa, Peter H. Westerink
  • Patent number: 8548963
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paolo Dettori, Julio Nogima, Frank A. Schaffa, Augustine C. Schilling
  • Publication number: 20130007248
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy W. BANKS, Paolo DETTORI, Julio NOGIMA, Robert W. PHIPPEN, Frank A. SCHAFFA
  • Patent number: 8321704
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward P. Clarke, Jr., Lorraine M. Herger, Marcel-Catalin Rosu, Frank A. Schaffa, Edith H. Stern
  • Publication number: 20120233249
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael E. ALEXANDER, Sri Ramanathan, Frank A. Schaffa, Matthew B. Trevathan
  • Patent number: 8234410
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Alexander, Sri Ramanathan, Frank A. Schaffa, Matthew B. Trevathan
  • Publication number: 20120151027
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy W. BANKS, Paolo Dettori, Julio Nogima, Robert W. Phippen, Frank A. Schaffa
  • Publication number: 20110286718
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: WILLIAM F. ABT, Bryce A. Curtis, Peter J. Parente, Frank A. Schaffa, Peter H. Westerink
  • Publication number: 20110246658
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES COPORATION
    Inventors: Paolo Dettori, Julio Nogima, Frank A. Schaffa, Peter Westerink, Chai W. Wu
  • Patent number: 7986707
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paolo Dettori, Julio Nogima, Frank A. Schaffa, Diego Sanchez Gallo
  • Patent number: 7984473
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Olivier Casile, Richard S. Chernock, Paolo Dettori, Frank A. Schaffa, David I. Seidman
  • Patent number: 7886070
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Hans Westerink, Paolo Dettori, Zhengua Fu, Julio Nogima, Frank A. Schaffa
  • Publication number: 20100287295
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank A. Schaffa, Peter H. Westerink
  • Publication number: 20100174931
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward P. Clarke, JR., Lorraine M. Herger, Marrcel-Catalin Rosu, Frank A. Schaffa, Edith H. Stern
  • Patent number: 7720968
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward P. Clarke, Jr., Lorraine M. Herger, Marrcel-Catalin Rosu, Frank A. Schaffa, Edith H. Stern