Patents by Inventor James Caldwell Ford

James Caldwell Ford 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: 10832217
    Abstract: A method, computer system, and computer program product are provided for managing tasks of employees within a blockchain-based workflow system. A workflow transaction associated with a workflow stage is received from an employee. The workflow system records the workflow transaction in a workflow blockchain. Based on a smart contract recorded within the blockchain, the workflow system determining a role for the employee is authorized to perform the transaction. If authorized, the workflow system executes a set of resulting transactions indicated by the smart contract and updates at least one condition for completion of the workflow stage. When the workflow system determines that all conditions indicated in the smart contract have been completed, the workflow system finalizes the workflow stage and advances the workflow to a subsequent stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: ADP, LLC
    Inventors: Guy James Elden, Mitchel Jon Maio, James Caldwell Ford
  • Publication number: 20190392118
    Abstract: A method, computer system, and computer program product are provided for controlling access to a licensed software application. A blockchain-based version control system receives an access request from a user that requests access to the licensed software application. The version control system determines whether a user has accepted license terms for a current version of the licensed software application by querying a version control blockchain. Responsive To determining that the user has not accepted the license terms for the current version of the licensed software application, the version control system presents the user with a clickwrap agreement requiring the user to accept license terms for the current version of the licensed software application. Responsive to receiving acceptance of the license terms from the user, the user's acceptance of the license terms for the current version of the licensed software application is recorded in the version control blockchain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Guy James Elden, Mitchel Jon Maio, James Caldwell Ford
  • Publication number: 20190392392
    Abstract: A method, computer system, and computer program product are provided for managing tasks of employees within a blockchain-based workflow system. A workflow transaction associated with a workflow stage is received from an employee. The workflow system records the workflow transaction in a workflow blockchain. Based on a smart contract recorded within the blockchain, the workflow system determining a role for the employee is authorized to perform the transaction. If authorized, the workflow system executes a set of resulting transactions indicated by the smart contract and updates at least one condition for completion of the workflow stage. When the workflow system determines that all conditions indicated in the smart contract have been completed, the workflow system finalizes the workflow stage and advances the workflow to a subsequent stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Guy James Elden, Mitchel Jon Maio, James Caldwell Ford
  • Patent number: 9762584
    Abstract: A identity management system is provided for managing documents within an computer system. The computer system receives a document within an authentication context of a user. The computer system determines a chain of custody for the document. The computer system stores the document. The computer system sets document privileges for the document based on the authentication context and the chain of custody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: ADP, LLC
    Inventor: James Caldwell Ford
  • Publication number: 20170054729
    Abstract: A identity management system is provided for managing documents within an computer system. The computer system receives a document within an authentication context of a user. The computer system determines a chain of custody for the document. The computer system stores the document. The computer system sets document privileges for the document based on the authentication context and the chain of custody.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventor: James Caldwell Ford
  • Publication number: 20160026981
    Abstract: A method for managing scheduled payroll payments to employees. A computer system identifies a schedule of payments to an employee. The computer system displays schedule in a graphical user interface on a display system in the computer system. The computer system receives user input through the graphical user interface specifying a request to change the schedule for a portion of the payments. The computer system changes the schedule based on the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Carl Rick Collins, Keith Wilson Fulton, Anna Carsen, James Caldwell Ford