Patents by Inventor Martin A. Ross

Martin A. Ross 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: 20220035822
    Abstract: Provided is a method, computer program product, and system for building an object checklist used to predict which objects should accompany a user during an occasion. A processor may monitor observation data related to the user from an observation device. The processor may analyze the observation data to identify an object associated with the user. The processor may collect contextual data related to the identified object and the user. The processor may compare the contextual data to a usage pattern threshold related to the identified object and one or more other objects. In response to the usage pattern threshold being met, the processor may output an alert to the user. The alert may indicate that an exception to a usage pattern related to the identified object has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: ENRICO VANNINI, Louise Suzanne Elliott, ABDUL MUMIN CHOUDHURY, Martin A. Ross
  • Patent number: 11226812
    Abstract: Managing an update of software modules of a layered filesystem installed for running a software application on a data processor. The management of an updated module includes: (i) contributing a back layer from a software module that likely has less stability than the updated module; and/or (ii) rebuilding a layer using a software module that likely has more stability than the updated layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martin A. Ross, Sam Rogers
  • Patent number: 11182135
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to determining a similarity of components of a current user interface (UI) to new UI components for use in automatically generating a new UI. A computer system may receive information specifying a current UI including a particular current UI component and information specifying a plurality of new UI components for a new UI. The computer system may then identify characteristics of the particular current UI component. Based on these identified characteristics, the computer system may score ones of the plurality of new UI components, where the scoring is performed to determine a similarity to the particular current UI component. The computer system may then select, based on the scores, a particular new UI component from the plurality of new UI components for use, in the new UI, for the particular current UI component. Such techniques may advantageously improve user experience by automatically providing up-to-date user interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: Owen Winne Schoppe, Brian J. Lonsdorf, Alan Martin Ross, Sönke Rohde, David James Woodward, Jessica Lundin
  • Publication number: 20210334666
    Abstract: A textual properties model is used to infer values for certain font properties of interest given certain text-related data, such as rendered text images. The model may be used for numerous purposes, such as aiding with document layout, identifying font families that are similar to a given font families, and generating new font families with specific desired properties. In some embodiments, the model is trained from a combination of synthetic data that is labeled with values for the font properties of interest, and partially-labeled data from existing “real-world” documents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Jessica Lundin, Owen Winne Schoppe, Alan Martin Ross, Brian J. Lonsdorf, David James Woodward, Sönke Rohde, Michael Reynolds Sollami, Chetan Ramaiah
  • Patent number: 11146285
    Abstract: Batch compression management of messages. A message being sent to a batch for transmission is intercepted. The message is assigned to a batch pool, in which multiple batch pools are provided as sub-sets of the batch. The assigning of the message to the batch pool is based on a similarity of properties of the message with other messages and determined by looking up the properties in a batch pool mapping database. The message is added to the batch pool or a new batch pool is created for the message. A batch pool of messages is compressed using a dictionary of the properties common to at least some of the messages in the batch pool. The compressed batch pools are transmitted over an input/output channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fiona M. Crowther, Geza Geleji, Christopher J. Poole, Martin A. Ross, Craig H. Stirling
  • Patent number: 11137985
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for automatically generating stencils for content of a user interface (UI) to be rendered. A computer system receives information specifying content of a user interface (UI) to be rendered. Based on this information, the computer system identifies one or more bounding regions of content within the UI, including analyzing metadata and a rendered version of the UI. The computer system then automatically generates, one or more UI stencils based on the identified bounding regions, that are displayable as progress indicators prior to rendering corresponding UI content. Once it has generated the stencils, the computer system stores information specifying the one or more UI stencils for use in the UI. Automatically generating stencils for UIs may advantageously reduce the time gap from development to deployment of these UIs while improving their perceived performance and, by extension, improving user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: Owen Winne Schoppe, Brian J. Lonsdorf, Alan Martin Ross, Sönke Rohde, David James Woodward, Jessica Lundin
  • Patent number: 11113119
    Abstract: A computer-automated method, computer system and computer program for managing resources in applications. The resources are managed in groups, each group having a unique group name which is dynamically resolvable to an address specific to a particular application. The resources may be application program interfaces object instances or data sources, for example. When a resource placement request is received to place a resource in a particular application with an associated address, the resource is assigned to a group and given a unique resource identifier which combines with the group name to form a unique endpoint for the resource. Subsequently, in response to detection of a resource performance bottleneck, or in response to an external request, a resource is moved to another application by reassigning its group name to the second address, thereby moving all resources in that group to the other application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martin A. Ross, Andrew S. M. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20210240501
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for determining the minimum set of user interface (UI) elements for a task. One embodiment operates by transmitting UI elements associated with an application to a first computing device operated by a first user and a second computing device operated by a second user. Further, the embodiment includes obtaining data structures corresponding to a first task and a second task and then grouping, using a machine learning model, the data structures into a first cluster corresponding to the first task and a second cluster corresponding to the second task. Further still, the embodiment also includes determining a minimum set of UI elements required for the first task based on the first cluster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: David James WOODWARD, Brian J. LONSDORF, Owen Winne SCHOPPE, Alan Martin ROSS, Jessica LUNDIN, Sönke ROHDE
  • Publication number: 20210240910
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to determining locations of child elements in a user interface (UI), automatically updating the locations of the child elements in the UI, and generating an updated UI with the updated locations. A computer system may receive information specifying content of the UI and render an image of the UI based on the received information. Computer vision algorithms may be applied to the rendered of the UI to determine locations of elements in the UI. The locations of the elements may be updated to position the elements in selected locations relative to each other. The updated locations of the elements as determined by the computer vision algorithms may be implemented to generate updating information specifying content for the updated UI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Jessica Lundin, David James Woodward, Alan Martin Ross, Brian J. Lonsdorf, Owen Winne Schoppe, Sönke Rohde
  • Publication number: 20210240318
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to generating a user interface (UI) migration plan, including intermediate UIs, for migrating from a current UI to a new UI. A computer system may receive information specifying a current UI and a new UI, and identify one or more differences between the current and the new UIs. Based on the differences, the computer system may generate information specifying one or more candidate intermediate UIs. The computer system may score the candidate intermediate UIs relative to a specified set of design criteria. The computer system may determine a UI migration plan that specifies a set of the one or more candidate intermediate UIs that are displayable in order to migrate from the current UI to the new UI, where the set of one or more intermediate UIs is selected based on the scoring. Use of the UI migration plan may advantageously reduce user interaction issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Owen Winne Schoppe, Brian J. Lonsdorf, Sönke Rohde, Alan Martin Ross, David James Woodward, Jessica Lundin
  • Publication number: 20210240320
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for generating custom user interfaces (UIs) for completing a task. One embodiment operates by obtaining contextual information associated with a user and an application on a user device operated by the user, where the application includes a plurality of UI elements. Then, determining the user is attempting to complete a first task within the application based on the contextual information and a prediction model. The embodiment further operates by obtaining a minimum set of UI elements required for the first task. Further, the embodiment operates by transmitting a first custom UI including the minimum set of UI elements for the first task to the user device for display to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: David James WOODWARD, Brian J. LONSDORF, Owen Winne SCHOPPE, Alan Martin ROSS, Jessica LUNDIN, Sönke ROHDE
  • Publication number: 20210240452
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for automatically generating stencils for content of a user interface (UI) to be rendered. A computer system receives information specifying content of a user interface (UI) to be rendered. Based on this information, the computer system identifies one or more bounding regions of content within the UI, including analyzing metadata and a rendered version of the UI. The computer system then automatically generates, one or more UI stencils based on the identified bounding regions, that are displayable as progress indicators prior to rendering corresponding UI content. Once it has generated the stencils, the computer system stores information specifying the one or more UI stencils for use in the UI. Automatically generating stencils for UIs may advantageously reduce the time gap from development to deployment of these UIs while improving their perceived performance and, by extension, improving user experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Owen Winne Schoppe, Brian J. Lonsdorf, Alan Martin Ross, Sönke Rohde, David James Woodward, Jessica Lundin
  • Publication number: 20210240451
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to determining a similarity of components of a current user interface (UI) to new UI components for use in automatically generating a new UI. A computer system may receive information specifying a current UI including a particular current UI component and information specifying a plurality of new UI components for a new UI. The computer system may then identify characteristics of the particular current UI component. Based on these identified characteristics, the computer system may score ones of the plurality of new UI components, where the scoring is performed to determine a similarity to the particular current UI component. The computer system may then select, based on the scores, a particular new UI component from the plurality of new UI components for use, in the new UI, for the particular current UI component. Such techniques may advantageously improve user experience by automatically providing up-to-date user interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Owen Winne Schoppe, Brian J. Lonsdorf, Alan Martin Ross, Sönke Rohde, David James Woodward, Jessica Lundin
  • Publication number: 20210240319
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to measuring presentation aspects of portions of a user interface (UI) that have been identified to be presented neutrally and automatically generating a new UI that reduces differences in the presentation aspects of the identified portions. Portions of the UI identified to be presented neutrally may include elements or content in the UI identified to be presented neutrally. Portions for neutral presentation may include portions of UI that, for example, portions that present legal decisions, portions with survey data, forms or information displays, or portions where a user is requested to make a choice between alternative options. Presentation aspects that may be measured include, for example, visual aspects, clarity aspects, or tonal aspects. Reducing the differences in the presentation aspects may present the elements or content with more neutrality to reduce influence in decisions due to visual, clarity, or tonal aspects between the elements or content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Owen Winne Schoppe, Sönke Rohde, Brian J. Lonsdorf, Jessica Lundin, David James Woodward, Alan Martin Ross
  • Patent number: 11080070
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide automated techniques for evaluation of a user interface of a computer application. A computer function associated with a graphical element such as an icon or button is analyzed. The resultant text that appears as a result of invoking the button is analyzed and keywords are identified to determine a function type for the function. A graphical element category is determined for the button/icon that is invoked to produce the function. The graphical element category can be determined by analyzing underlying markup code for the button. Keywords pertaining to the button may be extracted from the markup code. The keywords from the button are compared with the keywords of the resulting function and a score is generated based on the amount of common keywords. The score is used as a criterion for a recommendation about the appropriateness of the button for use with the application function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jacqueline Clarke, Kirstin E. Coppen, Martin A. Ross, Stephanie J. Strugnell, Claudia Walter
  • Patent number: 11080114
    Abstract: Concepts for controlling interaction with a scalable application are presented. An example includes registering an interface specification to an application, wherein metadata is associated with the interface specification. The method then includes routing a request to instances of the application based on the metadata associated with the interface specification for the application, then combining one or more responses from the instances of the application to form an aggregate response based on the metadata associated with the interface specification for the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martin A. Ross, Jack William Donato Evans, Luke James Powlett, Jack Richard William Stevenson
  • Patent number: 11074044
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to automatically synthesizing user interface (UI) component instances. In disclosed techniques a computer system receives a set of existing UI elements and a set of design rules for the set of existing elements, where design rules in the set of design rules indicate one or more allowed states for respective UI elements in the set of existing UI elements. The one or more allowed states may correspond to one or more visual characteristics. Using the set of existing UI elements, the computer system may then automatically generate a plurality of UI component instances based on the set of design rules, where a respective UI component instance includes a first UI element in a first allowed state. The computer system may then train, using the plurality of UI component instances, a machine learning model operable to automatically generate UI designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: Owen Winne Schoppe, Sönke Rohde, Brian J. Lonsdorf, Jessica Lundin, David J. Woodward, Alan Martin Ross, Michael Sollami
  • Patent number: 11055156
    Abstract: A method and related system to concurrently process a temporal message stream. The method comprises obtaining messages of a message stream, each message having an associated timestamp. The method further comprises storing each message in at least one of a plurality of queues, wherein the messages of each queue are ordered based on their timestamp such that a message with the earliest timestamp is positioned at the front of the queue. The method then comprises controlling retrieval of the target message from the front of a target queue based on a timing difference between the timestamp of the message and the timestamps of the front message of each of the other queues of the plurality of queues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martin A. Ross, Andrew Stephen Marcus Edwards
  • Patent number: 11029842
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes: receiving, by a user device, a first touch gesture at a display of the user device visually displaying a virtual object; defining, by the user device, an anchor point of the virtual object visually displayed on the display based on the first touch gesture; receiving, by the user device, a second touch gesture at the display; determining, by the user device, an anchor area and a scrolling area based on the anchor point and the second touch gesture; defining, by the user device, a first layer corresponding to the anchor area and a second layer corresponding to the scrolling area; and stacking, by the user device, the first layer over the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Hewitt, Mark J. Lawrence, Martin A. Ross, Caroline J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11032360
    Abstract: An integration flow is monitored to determine a processing location of a message. The integration flow includes a route, one or more nodes, and one or more secure connectors. A first message is received by the integration flow. A central processing unit serialization load is received including a serialization of the first message on a first secure connector and a deserialization of the first message on a second secure connector. A processing load of the first message running on a first node of the one or more nodes is received. A first threshold of a processing load of the first message is received. The first threshold is determined to have been reached. Based on the first threshold being reached, a processing location of the integration flow is altered such that the first message is processed on a second node of the one or more nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Hosie, Martin A. Ross, Craig H. Stirling, Dominic J. Storey