Patents by Inventor Michael Lee Masterson

Michael Lee Masterson 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: 8226414
    Abstract: A method and computer usable program product for generating meal plans based on a set of nutritional policies. The process determines nutritional requirements specified by a set of nutritional policies in response to receiving a request for a set of meal plans for a set of users. The set of nutritional policies correspond to the set of users. The process identifies a set of potential meal plans in response to determining the nutritional requirements specified by the set of nutritional policies. Each potential meal plan in the set of potential meal plans satisfies all nutritional requirements for the set of nutritional policies. The process generates a listing of ingredients required by the selected meal plan that is unavailable in a current inventory in an amount required by the selected meal plan, in response to receiving a selection of a potential meal plan to form a selected meal plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Patent number: 8032430
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for mapping a content description to a container. The process identifies a container placed in a storage unit to form an identified container. The identified container includes an unidentified content. The process displays a set of predictive content descriptions for the unidentified content. In response to receiving a selection of a content description from the set of predictive content descriptions, the process maps the selected content description to the unidentified container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Publication number: 20110163846
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for estimating, refining, and using the tare mass for an item to determine and monitor item depletion. In response to detecting an initial presence of an item in the storage unit, a controller collects data about the item. The controller then searches a database for a recorded item containing the same item identification. The tare mass of the item is set equal to the refined tare mass of the recorded item retrieved from the database. The tare mass is then used to calculate a depletion threshold for the item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Patent number: 7961104
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for communicating the shelf position of an item within a storage unit. An item to be located in the storage unit is identified. The storage unit system determines the shelf position of the identified item. The system then communicates the shelf position of the identified item to the user. If the user requests multiple items, the optimal sequence of retrieval for the items is determined based on a user configurable algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Patent number: 7937289
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for estimating, refining, and using the tare mass for an item to determine and monitor item depletion. In response to detecting an initial presence of an item in the storage unit, a controller collects data about the item. The controller then searches a database for a recorded item containing the same item identification. The tare mass of the item is set equal to the refined tare mass of the recorded item retrieved from the database. The tare mass is then used to calculate a depletion threshold for the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Patent number: 7844509
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, system, and computer usable program code for monitoring a real-time depletion of an item in a storage unit. A controller identifies an item placed in the storage unit to form an identified item. The controller detects a change in mass sensor data from a mass sensor shelf in a set of mass sensor shelves associated with the storage unit. The controller associates the change in mass sensor data with the identified item to form a current mass for the identified item. The controller determines a depletion of the identified item based a difference between the current mass and a previous mass for the identified item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Patent number: 7673464
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for identifying an optimal placement of an item within a storage unit. The process identifies an item for placement in the storage unit. The process determines a preferred storage temperature range for the identified item. The process then selects an optimal placement location within the storage unit for the identified item based on the preferred storage temperature range and a set of temperature readings for the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Publication number: 20090119100
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for creating voice annotations during a mobile phone call. During the phone call a user engages a trigger on the communication device prompting the phone to first mute the device of the user, and then record an audible message. The audible message, or voice annotation, is automatically linked to the current call information. The voice annotation may be transcribed and stored as a textual annotation. The voice or textual annotation may be retrieved utilizing a graphical user interface (GUI).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Raji L Akella, Gaurav Jain, Michael Lee Masterson, James M. McArdle
  • Publication number: 20090099943
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for communicating the shelf position of an item within a storage unit. An item to be located in the storage unit is identified. The storage unit system determines the shelf position of the identified item. The system then communicates the shelf position of the identified item to the user. If the user requests multiple items, the optimal sequence of retrieval for the items is determined based on a user configurable algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Patent number: 7495561
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for communicating the shelf position of an item within a storage unit. An item to be located in the storage unit is identified. The storage unit system determines the shelf position of the identified item. The system then communicates the shelf position of the identified item to the user. If the user requests multiple items, the optimal sequence of retrieval for the items is determined based on a user configurable algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Publication number: 20080055084
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for communicating the shelf position of an item within a storage unit. An item to be located in the storage unit is identified. The storage unit system determines the shelf position of the identified item. The system then communicates the shelf position of the identified item to the user. If the user requests multiple items, the optimal sequence of retrieval for the items is determined based on a user configurable algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Publication number: 20080047282
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for identifying an optimal placement of an item within a storage unit. The process identifies an item for placement in the storage unit. The process determines a preferred storage temperature range for the identified item. The process then selects an optimal placement location within the storage unit for the identified item based on the preferred storage temperature range and a set of temperature readings for the storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Publication number: 20080052037
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for estimating, refining, and using the tare mass for an item to determine and monitor item depletion. In response to detecting an initial presence of an item in the storage unit, a controller collects data about the item. The controller then searches a database for a recorded item containing the same item identification. The tare mass of the item is set equal to the refined tare mass of the recorded item retrieved from the database. The tare mass is then used to calculate a depletion threshold for the item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Publication number: 20080052001
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for generating meal plans based on a set of nutritional policies. The process determines nutritional requirements specified by a set of nutritional policies in response to receiving a request for a set of meal plans for a set of users. The set of nutritional policies correspond to the set of users. The process identifies a set of potential meal plans in response to determining the nutritional requirements specified by the set of nutritional policies. Each potential meal plan in the set of potential meal plans satisfies all nutritional requirements for the set of nutritional policies. The process generates a listing of ingredients required by the selected meal plan that is unavailable in a current inventory in an amount required by the selected meal plan, in response to receiving a selection of a potential meal plan to form a selected meal plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Publication number: 20080052201
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer usable program product for identifying a usage of an item in a storage unit. The process identifies an item in the storage unit to form an identified item. The process determines a location of the identified item based on location data received from a set of location sensors. The process associates the identified item with a current mass, wherein the current mass of the identified item is calculated based on mass data received from a set of mass sensors associated with the location of the identified item; and the process determines a depletion of the identified item based on the current mass and a non-depleted mass for the identified item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Publication number: 20080052200
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, system, and computer usable program code for monitoring a real-time depletion of an item in a storage unit. A controller identifies an item placed in the storage unit to form an identified item. The controller detects a change in mass sensor data from a mass sensor shelf in a set of mass sensor shelves associated with the storage unit. The controller associates the change in mass sensor data with the identified item to form a current mass for the identified item. The controller determines a depletion of the identified item based a difference between the current mass and a previous mass for the identified item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Publication number: 20080052202
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for mapping a content description to a container. The process identifies a container placed in a storage unit to form an identified container. The identified container includes an unidentified content. The process displays a set of predictive content descriptions for the unidentified content. In response to receiving a selection of a content description from the set of predictive content descriptions, the process maps the selected content description to the unidentified container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt