Patents by Inventor Merle Douglas Sterling
Merle Douglas Sterling 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).
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Patent number: 7676203Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for dynamic radio station tuning in a data processing system. A play list is identified. The play list is a user-defined list and includes an identification of a number of songs. Music information is obtained from a plurality of radio stations. This music information is compared to the play list to generate a schedule. Dynamic tuning to a radio station within the plurality of radio stations is performed using the schedule to present songs from the number of songs to a listener.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2008Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert Bryant Chumbley, Merle Douglas Sterling
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Publication number: 20080133371Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for dynamic radio station tuning in a data processing system. A play list is identified. The play list is a user-defined list and includes an identification of a number of songs. Music information is obtained from a plurality of radio stations. This music information is compared to the play list to generate a schedule. Dynamic tuning to a radio station within the plurality of radio stations is performed using the schedule to present songs from the number of songs to a listener.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2008Publication date: June 5, 2008Inventors: Robert Bryant Chumbley, Merle Douglas Sterling
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Patent number: 7346320Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for dynamic radio station tuning in a data processing system. A play list is identified. The play list is a user-defined list and includes an identification of a number of songs. Music information is obtained from a plurality of radio stations. This music information is compared to the play list to generate a schedule. Dynamic tuning to a radio station within the plurality of radio stations is performed using the schedule to present songs from the number of songs to a listener.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2003Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert Bryant Chumbley, Merle Douglas Sterling
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Publication number: 20070288884Abstract: Individual developers of source code in a shared programming system are enabled to continue to use non-essential format elements peculiar to the respective developer in their source code without any affect on the basic source code of the computer program being developed. The developer computer is connected via server computers to a central repository containing the basic shared program being developed. A server computer is provided for transmitting source code between the client computer of a developer and the central repository. There is an implementation for removing the non-essential formatting elements from source code transmitted from the client computer of the developer to the central repository, and for replacing the non-essential formatting elements into source code transmitted from the central repository to the developer's client computer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2006Publication date: December 13, 2007Inventors: VINCE CARL BRUNSSEN, ANDREW DOUGLAS HATELY, MERLE DOUGLAS STERLING
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ACCESSING AND PURCHASING OF MP3 FILES AND PLAYLISTS FROM PROVIDER SOURCES VIA COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
Publication number: 20070282902Abstract: Enabling a user to selectively branch, at a selected MP3 file departure node in a playlist sequence being played, to sequentially playing a second playlist of stored MP3 files arranged according to an attribute different from the attribute that determined the original playlist and storing the departure node. In response to the user selection of such a branch, there is accessed from a source in a communications network (Web), this second playlist of a sequence of stored MP3 files arranged according to the second attribute and the user is enabled to return to the departure node to continue the playing of the first playlist from the departure node. The source of the files in this second playlist may be a provider of such files and/or playlists for purchase.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2006Publication date: December 6, 2007Inventors: LEUGIM A. BUSTELO, Merle Douglas Sterling -
Publication number: 20070282903Abstract: In sequentially playing a first playlist of a sequence of a plurality of stored MP3 files arranged according to a selected attribute of the files, there is provided the combination of means enabling a user to selectively branch, at a selected MP3 file departure node in the sequence, to sequentially playing a second playlist of a sequence of a plurality of the stored MP3 files arranged according to an attribute different from the selected attribute, together with means for storing the departure node and means for enabling the user to return to the departure node to continue the playing of the first playlist from departure node.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2006Publication date: December 6, 2007Inventors: LEUGIM A. BUSTELO, MERLE DOUGLAS STERLING
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Publication number: 20040141476Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for dynamic radio station tuning in a data processing system. A play list is identified. The play list is a user-defined list and includes an identification of a number of songs. Music information is obtained from a plurality of radio stations. This music information is compared to the play list to generate a schedule. Dynamic tuning to a radio station within the plurality of radio stations is performed using the schedule to present songs from the number of songs to a listener.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2003Publication date: July 22, 2004Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert Bryant Chumbley, Merle Douglas Sterling
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Publication number: 20040064835Abstract: A system and method for content based on-demand video media overlay is presented. A user uses a media manager, such as a set-top box, to register for an event. The media manager retrieves information from an event data packet, which includes a detection identifier, to register the event. After registration, the media manager matches event identifiers provided by a content provider with the registered event's detection identifier. When the media manager determines a match, the media manager retrieves an identified event corresponding to the matched event identifier, formats the identified event using user-defined preferences, and displays the formatted identified event on a media device, such as a television. The user may also configure the media manager to store formatted identified events in a nonvolatile storage area for later viewing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2002Publication date: April 1, 2004Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas Alexander Bellwood, Julio Eloy Ruano, Matthew Francis Rutkowski, Merle Douglas Sterling
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Patent number: 6684166Abstract: A keyboard integrated with a computer with a mechanism for determining a pressure sensitivity needed to register a desired keystroke is disclosed. A keystroke is registered for a given key if a force on the given key exceeds the determined pressure sensitivity. A user configuration profile can be utilized to specify a needed pressure sensitivity. Pressure sensitivity can also be determined dynamically. A threshold amount of pressure needed to register a keystroke can be compared to a measured amount of pressure applied during the keystroke and if the measured pressure meets the threshold pressure, the keystroke is registered. A control module, which can include an alphanumeric scale, can be utilized to set a threshold amount of pressure needed to register a keystroke. Some embodiments can also include a threshold amount of pressure set for each individual key.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2002Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas Alexander Bellwood, Julio Eloy Ruano, Matthew Francis Rutkowski, Merle Douglas Sterling
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Publication number: 20030208324Abstract: A keyboard integrated with a computer with a mechanism for determining a pressure sensitivity needed to register a desired keystroke is disclosed. A keystroke is registered for a given key if a force on the given key exceeds the determined pressure sensitivity. A user configuration profile can be utilized to specify a needed pressure sensitivity. Pressure sensitivity can also be determined dynamically. A threshold amount of pressure needed to register a keystroke can be compared to a measured amount of pressure applied during the keystroke and if the measured pressure meets the threshold pressure, the keystroke is registered. A control module, which can include an alphanumeric scale, can be utilized to set a threshold amount of pressure needed to register a keystroke. Some embodiments can also include a threshold amount of pressure set for each individual key.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2002Publication date: November 6, 2003Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas Alexander Bellwood, Julio Eloy Ruano, Matthew Francis Rutkowski, Merle Douglas Sterling
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Patent number: 6611876Abstract: A set of program elements (e.g., transcoders) are grouped together as an administrative unit. Instead of caching the individual outputs of each program element, preferably only the aggregate output of the set of program elements, taken as a whole, is cached. The inventive technique enables the effective re-use of intermediate content. In an illustrative client-server based implementation involving a transcoding service located at a server, the cached information may be shared across multiple server instances to obviate redundant processing. With the present invention, a caching mechanism in a complex software system may be extended in a user-configurable manner by setting up optimal intermediate caching points that are defined by groups of programs used in long computations.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1999Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert C. Barrett, Thomas Alexander Bellwood, Rabindranath Dutta, Christian Lita, Matthew Francis Rutkowski, Merle Douglas Sterling
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Patent number: 6310630Abstract: A data processing system and method for generating browsing histories during a worldwide web browsing session is implemented. As web pages are visited, they are added to the browsing history so generated which is organized in inverse chronological order. Each web page is further grouped with the server which provided the web page in order to facilitate subsequent random access to web pages that have been previously visited. Each visited web page, and each server associated therewith, appears in the history only once. In this way, the browsing history remains manageable, and user access to previously visited websites is simplified.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1997Date of Patent: October 30, 2001Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Salil Janardan Kulkarni, Merle Douglas Sterling
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Patent number: 5812128Abstract: A system user defines a template for the arrangement of icons (or objects) in a container. The template is a selection of grid cells into which icons may be placed during rearrangement. The user defined template is dropped onto a container causing the container to be rearranged so that icons occupy only the positions selected for occupation by the template. An alternate embodiment displays a grid of cells contained in a container selected for rearrangement, allowing the user to select the final pattern at the time of rearrangement.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Merle Douglas Sterling, IV