Patents by Inventor James D. Thornton

James D. Thornton 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: 20190236549
    Abstract: A computerized method includes receiving, at a report generating tool, an identification of a type of report to be generated based on user selection. The method further includes receiving an identification of a start date and an end date for the user selected type of report to be generated, the identification of the start date and the end date being identified based on user input, the start date and the end date defining a duration for the user selected type of report. The method further includes retrieving, by the report generating tool, a first portion of payroll data comprising one or more of the plurality of time entries from one or more databases and identifying, by the report generating tool, a second portion of payroll data corresponding to the user selected type of report in response to a user selection of the one or more time entries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventor: James D. Thornton
  • Patent number: 9686194
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a system that forwards a packet with a hierarchically structured variable-length identifier (HSVLI) in a network. An HSVLI indicates a piece of content and indicates a hierarchical structure of contiguous components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level. The length of the HSVLI is not fixed. During operation, the system receives a packet which contains an interest for a piece of content with an HSVLI. Subsequently, the system determines forwarding information for the HSVLI based on one or more of: knowledge of content which matches the HSVLI, a forwarding policy, and contextual information about the network. Next, the system configures a forwarding engine with the forwarding information. The system then forwards the packet based on the forwarding information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Van L. Jacobson, James D. Thornton
  • Patent number: 9232180
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling data transmission via user-maintained modes is provided. A first audio data stream is recorded on a transmitting electronic apparatus. A second audio data stream is stored on the transmitting electronic apparatus. Transmission of one of the first and the second audio data streams is controlled via a first user-maintained mode when at least the other of the first and the second audio data streams is being transmitted to the electronic apparatus. The one of the first and the second audio data streams is transmitted to a receiving electronic apparatus and the other of the first and the second audio data streams is suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul M. Aoki, Rebecca E. Grinter, Margaret H. Szymanski, James D. Thornton, Allison G. Woodruff
  • Publication number: 20150113163
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a system that forwards a packet with a hierarchically structured variable-length identifier (HSVLI) in a network. An HSVLI indicates a piece of content and indicates a hierarchical structure of contiguous components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level. The length of the HSVLI is not fixed. During operation, the system receives a packet which contains an interest for a piece of content with an HSVLI. Subsequently, the system determines forwarding information for the HSVLI based on one or more of: knowledge of content which matches the HSVLI, a forwarding policy, and contextual information about the network. Next, the system configures a forwarding engine with the forwarding information. The system then forwards the packet based on the forwarding information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Van L. Jacobson, James D. Thornton
  • Patent number: 8923293
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a system that forwards a packet with a hierarchically structured variable-length identifier (HSVLI) in a network. An HSVLI indicates a piece of content and indicates a hierarchical structure of contiguous components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level. The length of the HSVLI is not fixed. During operation, the system receives a packet which contains an interest for a piece of content with an HSVLI. Subsequently, the system determines forwarding information for the HSVLI based on one or more of: knowledge of content which matches the HSVLI, a forwarding policy, and contextual information about the network. Next, the system configures a forwarding engine with the forwarding information. The system then forwards the packet based on the forwarding information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Van L. Jacobson, James D. Thornton
  • Patent number: 8676572
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for enhancing audio to individuals participating in a conversation is provided. Audio data for individuals participating in one or more conversations is analyzed. Possible conversational configurations of the individuals are generated based on the audio data, and each possible conversational configuration includes one or more subconfigurations of at least two of the individuals. A probability weight is assigned to each of the subconfigurations and includes a likelihood that the individuals of that subconfiguration are participating in one of the conversations. A probability of each possible conversational configuration is determined by combining the probability weights for the subconfigurations of that possible conversational configuration. The possible conversational configuration with the highest probability is selected as a most probable configuration. The individuals participating in the conversations are determined based on the most probable configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul M. Aoki, Margaret H. Szymanski, James D. Thornton, Daniel H. Wilson, Allison G. Woodruff
  • Patent number: 8561179
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for identifying undesirable features in a network of computers. During operation, the system detects an anomaly associated with a node in the network. Next, the system identifies one or more features which are associated with the anomaly. The system then updates the identified features. Next, the system communicates the information corresponding to updated features to at least one other node in the network. The system then receives information indicating a correlation between the updated features and the anomaly from at least one other node in the network. Next, the system correlates the updated features with the anomaly based on the received information. The system subsequently produces a result which indicates a correlation between the updated features and the anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Glenn Edward Durfee, James D. Thornton, Chi Shing Kwan
  • Publication number: 20130204616
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for enhancing audio to individuals participating in a conversation is provided. Audio data for individuals participating in one or more conversations is analyzed. Possible conversational configurations of the individuals are generated based on the audio data, and each possible conversational configuration includes one or more subconfigurations of at least two of the individuals. A probability weight is assigned to each of the subconfigurations and includes a likelihood that the individuals of that subconfiguration are participating in one of the conversations. A probability of each possible conversational configuration is determined by combining the probability weights for the subconfigurations of that possible conversational configuration. The possible conversational configuration with the highest probability is selected as a most probable configuration. The individuals participating in the conversations are determined based on the most probable configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Paul M. Aoki, Margaret H. Szymanski, James D. Thornton, Daniel H. Wilson, Allison G. Woodruff
  • Patent number: 8463600
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting floor controls based on conversational characteristics is provided. Audio streams are received, which each originate from an audio source. Floor controls for a current configuration including at least a portion of the audio streams are maintained. Conversational characteristics shared by two or more of the audio sources are determined. Possible configurations for the audio streams are identified based on the conversational characteristics. An analysis of the current configuration and the possible configurations is performed. A change threshold comprising a minimum number of timeslices for at least one of the current configuration and one of the possible configurations is applied to the analysis. When the analysis satisfies the change threshold, the floor controls are automatically adjusted. The audio streams are mixed into one or more outputs based on the adjusted floor controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Masami Aoki, Margaret H. Szymanski, James D. Thornton, Daniel H. Wilson, Allison Gyle Woodruff
  • Patent number: 8375436
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating session migration. During operation, the system receives a communication packet from a client destined to a remote server. The system determines whether the communication packet belongs to a pre-existing communication session, and whether session state information associated with the session is available locally. In response to the communication packet belonging to a pre-existing communication session and the session state information being unavailable locally, the system constructs an interest requesting the session state information, disseminates the interest over a network, and receives the session state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: James D. Thornton, Van L. Jacobson, Diana K. Smetters
  • Patent number: 8244881
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating network service virtualization. During operation, the system receives a service request from a client, and initializes a communication session with the client. The system constructs an interest using session state information that can identify the client and/or a previous communication session. The interest comprises a hierarchically structured variable-length name. The system then broadcasts the interest to a number of servers. The system subsequently forwards to the client data received from a server which responds first to the interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: James D. Thornton, Van L. Jacobson, Diana K. Smetters
  • Patent number: 8243735
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a system for forwarding packets with hierarchically structured variable-length identifiers (HSVLIs), wherein the computer includes a processor. During operation, the system converts an HSVLI into a number of fixed-length addresses, wherein the HSVLI indicates a piece of content and is hierarchically structured, and comprises contiguous components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level. In addition, the length of a respective HSVLI is not fixed. The system further performs an effective longest-prefix-match lookup by performing multiple exact-match lookups based at least on the fixed-length addresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Van L. Jacobson, James D. Thornton
  • Publication number: 20120158402
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting floor controls based on conversational characteristics is provided. Audio streams are received, which each originate from an audio source. Floor controls for a current configuration including at least a portion of the audio streams are maintained. Conversational characteristics shared by two or more of the audio sources are determined. Possible configurations for the audio streams are identified based on the conversational characteristics. An analysis of the current configuration and the possible configurations is performed. A change threshold comprising a minimum number of timeslices for at least one of the current configuration and one of the possible configurations is applied to the analysis. When the analysis satisfies the change threshold, the floor controls are automatically adjusted. The audio streams are mixed into one or more outputs based on the adjusted floor controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Paul M. Aoki, Margaret H. Szymanski, James D. Thornton, Daniel H. Wilson, Allison G. Woodruff
  • Patent number: 8204060
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a system that facilitates forwarding a packet. During operation, the system receives a packet with a hierarchically structured variable-length identifier (HSVLI). The system then performs a lookup at a forwarding engine based at least on the packets HSVLI. The system further makes a forwarding decision based on the lookup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Van L. Jacobson, James D. Thornton
  • Patent number: 8160069
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a system that receives a packet with a hierarchically structured variable-length identifier (HSVLI). An HSVLI indicates a piece or collection of content and may be hierarchically structured, comprising contiguous components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level. The length of a respective identifier is not fixed. During operation, the system converts the HSVLI into a fixed-length key. Subsequently, the system obtains forwarding information based on one or more longest-prefix matches with a longest-prefix-match lookup engine using the fixed-length key. Next, the system forwards the packet to an output port based on the forwarding information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Van L. Jacobson, James D. Thornton
  • Patent number: 8126705
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting floor controls for a conversation is provided. Audio streams are received, which each originate from an audio source. Floor controls for a current configuration including at least a portion of the audio streams are maintained. Conversational characteristics shared by two or more of the audio sources are determined. Possible configurations for the audio streams are identified based on the conversational characteristics. An analysis of the current configuration and the possible configurations is performed. A change threshold is applied to the analysis. When the analysis satisfies the change threshold, the floor controls are automatically adjusted. The audio streams are mixed into one or more outputs based on the adjusted floor controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Masami Aoki, Margaret H. Szymanski, James D. Thornton, Daniel H. Wilson, Allison Gyle Woodruff
  • Publication number: 20120036180
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating network service virtualization. During operation, the system receives a service request from a client, and initializes a communication session with the client. The system constructs an interest using session state information that can identify the client and/or a previous communication session. The interest comprises a hierarchically structured variable-length name. The system then broadcasts the interest to a number of servers. The system subsequently forwards to the client data received from a server which responds first to the interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: James D. Thornton, Van L. Jacobson, Diana K. Smetters
  • Patent number: 8082571
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosed technology determines at least one content extent within an experiential data stream respective to at least one commentary clip, extracts at least one portion of said experiential data stream responsive to the at least one content extent, and stores the at least one portion of said experiential data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul M. Aoki, Margaret H. Szymanski, James D. Thornton
  • Patent number: 8074251
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosed technology is a limited social television system that provides a light-weight process that allows multiple audience members to close the loop of interaction and create a compelling feeling of “shared experience” on the part of the response-reviewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul M Aoki, Margaret H. Szymanski, James D. Thornton
  • Publication number: 20110265174
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating session migration. During operation, the system receives a communication packet from a client destined to a remote server. The system determines whether the communication packet belongs to a pre-existing communication session, and whether session state information associated with the session is available locally. In response to the communication packet belonging to a pre-existing communication session and the session state information being unavailable locally, the system constructs an interest requesting the session state information, disseminates the interest over a network, and receives the session state information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: James D. Thornton, Van L. Jacobson, Diana K. Smetters