Patents by Inventor Jack Allen Alford

Jack Allen Alford 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: 20130305324
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, an approach is provided that, when an incorrect password during a sign-on attempt at a password prompt included in a sign-on barrier to a restricted resource (such as a locked mobile telephone), incrementally increases the sign-on barrier. The increased sign-on barrier includes can include additional prompts and/or a time delay. If subsequent responses match expected responses, then access to the restricted resource is provided to the user. However, if any of the subsequent responses fail to match a corresponding expected response, then access to the restricted device continues to be denied. Subsequent responses include further attempts at entering a correct password.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Allen Alford, JR., Scott Harlan Isensee, James Lee Lentz, Kelly Lorraine Lisai
  • Patent number: 8112757
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for dynamically repartitioning a partitioned computer system in response to workload demands are provided. In one embodiment, a monitoring software is used to monitor workloads on all resources in all the partitions. If a workload on a resource in a partition is determined to exceed a maximum threshold, a similar resource is allocated to the partition. The similar resource is preferentially an unassigned or unallocated resource. However, resources from other partitions may also be used. In another embodiment, a workload schedule is stored in a workload profile. If a scheduled workload in any of the resources of a partition is to exceed a maximum threshold, additional similar resources will be allocated to the partition before the scheduled workload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Jack Allen Alford, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100064247
    Abstract: A method, programmed medium and system are provided for enabling a user to choose a degree to which displayed input panes are opened for user input. Initially, an information record is segmented into input panes by type of content, and different types of content are presented in separately displayed information input panes on a display screen. Icon buttons are implemented in one exemplary embodiment to enable the user to control the degree to which the separately displayed panes are opened for information input. In one exemplary embodiment, there is described a partially open state, i.e. one in which only one or two critical interaction elements are visible in the display screen. For example, a partially open state may include only a single text entry field with its accompanying label. This state corresponds to the “fast path” or expert mode in current applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Allen Alford, JR., Kelly Lorraine Lisai
  • Patent number: 7660886
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying system management command execution status in real-time are provided. The apparatus and method display a window that is divided into a plurality of sub-windows. One sub-window is used to display all the computers on which the system command has not yet started to execute. Another sub-window is used to display all computer systems on which the execution of the command has started. One sub-window is used to display all computer systems that have not successfully completed the command and another sub-window is used to display all computer systems that have successfully executed the command. When a computer system, displayed in the window displaying all computer systems that have started execution of the command, is highlighted or selected, the real-time progress of the execution of the command is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sanaa F. Abdelhadi, Jack Allen Alford, Jr., Sandip A. Amin, David Glenn Grost, James Lee Lentz
  • Publication number: 20080134192
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for dynamically repartitioning a partitioned computer system in response to workload demands are provided. In one embodiment, a monitoring software is used to monitor workloads on all resources in all the partitions. If a workload on a resource in a partition is determined to exceed a maximum threshold, a similar resource is allocated to the partition. The similar resource is preferentially an unassigned or unallocated resource. However, resources from other partitions may also be used. In another embodiment, a workload schedule is stored in a workload profile. If a scheduled workload in any of the resources of a partition is to exceed a maximum threshold, additional similar resources will be allocated to the partition before the scheduled workload.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Jack Allen Alford
  • Patent number: 7266823
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for dynamically repartitioning a partitioned computer system in response to workload demands are provided. In one embodiment, a monitoring software is used to monitor workloads on all resources in all the partitions. If a workload on a resource in a partition is determined to exceed a maximum threshold, a similar resource is allocated to the partition. The similar resource is preferentially an unassigned or unallocated resource. However, resources from other partitions may also be used. In another embodiment, a workload schedule is stored in a workload profile. If a scheduled workload in any of the resources of a partition is to exceed a maximum threshold, additional similar resources will be allocated to the partition before the scheduled workload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Jack Allen Alford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7103847
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a resource in a processing system is disclosed. The processing system includes a display. The system comprises a total resource graphic provided on the display. The total resource graphic represents the total resource. The system includes at least one allocation graphic provided within the total resource graphic. The allocation graphic represents the proportion of the resources allocated to an object. The system and method in accordance with the present invention allows for allocation of a resource across all demands, the relative size of the allocations, and the usage of the resource by the individual demanding operation within a single graphical object. In addition, the object would provide for changes to that allocation by direct manipulation, in addition, the status indicator would provide additional information on demand by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Allen Alford, Jr., Kenneth Ray Banning, James Lee Lentz
  • Patent number: 7027051
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for displaying resource utilization information for a plurality of resources is provided. A time period is determined in which to measure the resource utilization information. The resource utilization information is monitored based on the time period. A result of the monitoring of the resource utilization information is displayed, wherein the result of the monitoring of the resource utilization information is dynamically displayed so as to provide an indication of utilization of a resource within the plurality of resources relative to a resource reference level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Allen Alford, Jr., James Bruce Beesley, Stephen Raymond Nasypany
  • Patent number: 6850254
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of allowing a user to set relationships between two or more parameters are provided. To set up the relationship, the user invokes a dialog box within which all available parameters, as well as their current relationship, are displayed. The user is allowed to change present relationships or set up totally new relationships using parameters that are presently used or unused or combining presently used and unused parameters. Once done, the new values of the parameters are displayed. Furthermore, if a user changes the displayed value of one parameter, displayed values of the other related parameters are automatically updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Ray Banning, Jack Allen Alford, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040012637
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a resource in a processing system is disclosed. The processing system includes a display. The system comprises a total resource graphic provided on the display. The total resource graphic represents the total resource. The system includes at least one allocation graphic provided within the total resource graphic. The allocation graphic represents the proportion of the resources allocated to an object. The system and method in accordance with the present invention allows for allocation of a resource across all demands, the relative size of the allocations, and the usage of the resource by the individual demanding operation within a single graphical object. In addition, the object would provide for changes to that allocation by direct manipulation. hn addition, the status indicator would provide additional information on demand by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Allen Alford, Kenneth Ray Banning, James Lee Lentz
  • Publication number: 20030158884
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for dynamically repartitioning a partitioned computer system in response to workload demands are provided. In one embodiment, a monitoring software is used to monitor workloads on all resources in all the partitions. If a workload on a resource in a partition is determined to exceed a maximum threshold, a similar resource is allocated to the partition. The similar resource is preferentially an unassigned or unallocated resource. However, resources from other partitions may also be used. In another embodiment, a workload schedule is stored in a workload profile. If a scheduled workload in any of the resources of a partition is to exceed a maximum threshold, additional similar resources will be allocated to the partition before the scheduled workload.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Jack Allen Alford
  • Publication number: 20030061342
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying system management command execution status in real-time are provided. The apparatus and method display a window that is divided into a plurality of sub-windows. One sub-window is used to display all the computers on which the system command has not yet started to execute. Another sub-window is used to display all computer systems on which the execution of the command has started. One sub-window is used to display all computer systems that have not successfully completed the command and another sub-window is used to display all computer systems that have successfully executed the command. When a computer system, displayed in the window displaying all computer systems that have started execution of the command, is highlighted or selected, the real-time progress of the execution of the command is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sanaa F. Abdelhadi, Jack Allen Alford, Sandip A. Amin, David Glenn Grost, James Lee Lentz
  • Publication number: 20030006988
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for displaying resource utilization information for a plurality of resources is provided. A time period is determined in which to measure the resource utilization information. The resource utilization information is monitored based on the time period. A result of the monitoring of the resource utilization information is displayed, wherein the result of the monitoring of the resource utilization information is dynamically displayed so as to provide an indication of utilization of a resource within the plurality of resources relative to a resource reference level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Allen Alford, James Bruce Beesley, Stephen Raymond Nasypany