Patents by Inventor Mark Gregory Cowtan

Mark Gregory Cowtan 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: 9342275
    Abstract: A system and method for declaring variables during coding of a software program. The method includes, for each variable type, defining a unique string representing a variable declaration instruction and adapting a coding module wherein, generating code for the corresponding variable declaration statement for a new variable having the new variable name and the specified variable type, tracking the variable declaration instructions for each new variable name, and presenting a warning if a programmer attempts to use one of the previously used variable names to declare a new variable name of another data type. The method further includes defining a reserved variable declaration area in the software program and placing any code generated by the coding module for the variable declaration statement into the reserved variable declaration area. Each unique string representing a variable declaration instruction may be, for example, a prefix or suffix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Cowtan
  • Publication number: 20140310685
    Abstract: A system and method for declaring variables during coding of a software program. The method includes, for each variable type, defining a unique string representing a variable declaration instruction and adapting a coding module wherein, generating code for the corresponding variable declaration statement for a new variable having the new variable name and the specified variable type, tracking the variable declaration instructions for each new variable name, and presenting a warning if a programmer attempts to use one of the previously used variable names to declare a new variable name of another data type. The method further includes defining a reserved variable declaration area in the software program and placing any code generated by the coding module for the variable declaration statement into the reserved variable declaration area. Each unique string representing a variable declaration instruction may be, for example, a prefix or suffix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Cowtan
  • Patent number: 8799856
    Abstract: A system and method for declaring variables during coding of a software program. The method includes, for each variable type, defining a unique string representing a variable declaration instruction and adapting a coding module wherein, when a string representing a variable declaration instruction is typed adjacent to a new variable name, the coding module automatically generates code for the corresponding variable declaration statement for a new variable having the new variable name and the specified variable type. The method further includes defining a reserved variable declaration area in the software program and placing any code generated by the coding module for the variable declaration statement into the reserved variable declaration area. Each unique string representing a variable declaration instruction may be a prefix or suffix that may be typed adjacent to the new variable name.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Cowtan
  • Patent number: 8589872
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for identifying a variable type during coding of a software program. In an embodiment, the method comprises defining a unique variable type string for the variable type, and when a unique variable type string is typed adjacent to a new variable name, converting the unique variable type string to a variable type identifier tag attached to the new variable name. Each unique variable type string may be defined as a prefix or a suffix. In another embodiment, the method further comprises defining a unique variable scope string for a variable scope, and when a unique variable scope string is typed adjacent to a new variable name, converting the variable scope to a variable scope identifier tag attached to the new variable name. The variable type identifier tag and the variable scope identifier tag may both be attached to the new variable name in a subscript font and/or superscript font.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Cowtan
  • Patent number: 8225274
    Abstract: There are disclosed systems and methods for aiding programmers in identifying a location in a program while coding. In an embodiment, the method comprises defining a plurality of sections of code within the program, associating at least one section of code with a background color, and displaying the at least one section of code against the associated background color. Sections of code corresponding to the same module may be associated with the same background color. A user-selectable control may be provided for viewing only those sections of code corresponding to a user-selected module, and upon selection of the module by the user, only those sections of code corresponding to the module may be displayed against the associated background color. A text description may also be associated with each section of code, and the text description may be displayed when a cursor is placed in the section of code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Cowtan
  • Publication number: 20080313608
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for identifying a variable type during coding of a software program. In an embodiment, the method comprises defining a unique variable type string for the variable type, and when a unique variable type string is typed adjacent to a new variable name, converting the unique variable type string to a variable type identifier tag attached to the new variable name. Each unique variable type string may be defined as a prefix or a suffix. In another embodiment, the method further comprises defining a unique variable scope string for a variable scope, and when a unique variable scope string is typed adjacent to a new variable name, converting the variable scope to a variable scope identifier tag attached to the new variable name. The variable type identifier tag and the variable scope identifier tag may both be attached to the new variable name in a subscript font and/or superscript font.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Cowtan
  • Publication number: 20070240107
    Abstract: There are disclosed systems and methods for aiding programmers in identifying a location in a program while coding. In an embodiment, the method comprises defining a plurality of sections of code within the program, associating at least one section of code with a background colour, and displaying the at least one section of code against the associated background colour. Sections of code corresponding to the same module may be associated with the same background colour. A user-selectable control may be provided for viewing only those sections of code corresponding to a user-selected module, and upon selection of the module by the user, only those sections of code corresponding to the module may be displayed against the associated background colour. A text description may also be associated with each section of code, and the text description may be displayed when a cursor is placed in the section of code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Cowtan