Patents by Inventor Howard K. Porter

Howard K. Porter 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: 8275677
    Abstract: A storage medium for resolving demand and supply imbalances is provided. The storage medium includes machine-readable computer program code and instructions for causing a computer to implement a method. The method includes identifying an excess component inventory liability or constraint in supply capability for an end product by matching current buying patterns for the end product against inventory liability and supply capability based on a previous demand forecast. Where excess component inventory liability exists, the method includes: refocusing the excess component inventory liability by determining alternative end products that use components identified in the excess component inventory liability; and executing sales activities for enticing sales of the alternative end products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward W. Armstrong, Brian T. Eck, Mark A. Henderson, Daniel J. Peters, Howard K. Porter, Linda L. Scheib, Elizabeth C. Szymanowicz
  • Patent number: 8214268
    Abstract: A system for resolving demand and supply imbalances includes a supply liability reduction process (SLRP) executable upon identifying an excess component inventory liability. The SLRP includes: a procurement and development assessment sub-process that represents a greatest magnitude of liability; a liability council assessment sub-process that represents a magnitude of liability less than that of the procurement and development assessment sub-process; a sales activities sub-process that represents a magnitude of liability less than that of the liability council assessment sub-process; and a liability write-off sub-process that represents a magnitude of liability less than that of the sales activities sub-process. The SLRP performs one or more sub-processes in an order of the magnitude of liability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: International Bussiness Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward W. Armstrong, Brian T. Eck, Mark A. Henderson, Daniel J. Peters, Howard K. Porter, Linda L. Scheib, Elizabeth C. Szymanowicz
  • Patent number: 7783534
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system, and storage medium for resolving demand and supply imbalances. The method comprises identifying at least one excess component inventory liability or constraint in supply capability for an end product by matching current buying patterns for the end product against inventory liability and supply capability based on a previous demand forecast. Where excess component inventory liability exists the method refocuses the excess component inventory liability by determining alternative end products that use components identified in the excess component inventory liability; and executes sales activities for enticing sales of the alternative end products. Where constrained supply capability exists, the method determines alternative end products that are functionally equivalent to those identified in the constrained supply capability; and executes sales activities for enticing sales of functionally equivalent alternative end products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward W. Armstrong, Brian T. Eck, Mark A. Henderson, Daniel J. Peters, Howard K. Porter, Linda L. Scheib, Elizabeth C. Szymanowicz
  • Publication number: 20100010875
    Abstract: A system for resolving demand and supply imbalances includes a supply liability reduction process (SLRP) executable upon identifying an excess component inventory liability. The SLRP includes: a procurement and development assessment sub-process that represents a greatest magnitude of liability; a liability council assessment sub-process that represents a magnitude of liability less than that of the procurement and development assessment sub-process; a sales activities sub-process that represents a magnitude of liability less than that of the liability council assessment sub-process; and a liability write-off sub-process that represents a magnitude of liability less than that of the sales activities sub-process. The SLRP performs one or more sub-processes in an order of the magnitude of liability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward W. Armstrong, Brian T. Eck, Mark A. Henderson, Daniel J. Peters, Howard K. Porter, Linda L. Scheib, Elizabeth C. Szymanowicz
  • Publication number: 20090313090
    Abstract: A storage medium for resolving demand and supply imbalances is provided. The storage medium includes machine-readable computer program code and instructions for causing a computer to implement a method. The method includes identifying an excess component inventory liability or constraint in supply capability for an end product by matching current buying patterns for the end product against inventory liability and supply capability based on a previous demand forecast. Where excess component inventory liability exists, the method includes: refocusing the excess component inventory liability by determining alternative end products that use components identified in the excess component inventory liability; and executing sales activities for enticing sales of the alternative end products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward W. Armstrong, Brian T. Eck, Mark A. Henderson, Daniel J. Peters, Howard K. Porter, Linda L. Scheib, Elizabeth C. Szymanowicz