Patents by Inventor Michael R. O'Brien

Michael R. O'Brien 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: 8175581
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for the selective notification of incoming electronic messages. In this regard, a selective message notification method can include selectively generating a notification for a received message based upon pre-determined criteria irrespective of how the received message is handled. The pre-determined criteria can include a manually specified criteria, a rules based criteria, or a profile based criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Oliver Kieselbach, Gregory R. Klouda, Michael R. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8176152
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for optimizing a SyncML slow sync between a proprietary client and server. When a slow sync is detected, the client and server can depart from the normal SyncML protocol and process summary data without having to compare all items on a field-by-field basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen T. Auriemma, Maria M. Corbett, Michael R. O'Brien, Ashok C. Mammen
  • Patent number: 8056010
    Abstract: A system for conveniently removing recipients from a message being added to a message thread that enables a user to filter people from a recipient list of a message being added to a message thread. The system advantageously enables a user to filter out potential recipients based on a) their previous non-participation in the thread, b) their lack of registered interest in a topic of the thread, and/or c) their being listed only as recipients by way of their being contained in a group indicated in the recipient list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver Kieselbach, Niklas Heidloff, Gregory R. Klouda, Michael R. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8037044
    Abstract: Described is a method for generating a parametric search statement for finding a target document. The parametric search statement is generated in the text boxes of a search bar. A user action is performed in the text box. An in-place context menu having menu items responsive to the user action are displayed near the location of the user action. Each menu item includes at least one of an attribute of the target document, a comparison operator and a value. One of the menu items is selected from the in-place context menu based on a known characteristic of the target document. Parametric search statements are easily generated using the method without the need to access numerous dialogs boxes or to enter significant text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Michael R. O'Brien, Gregory Robert Klouda
  • Patent number: 7870206
    Abstract: Linked non-shared documents within email messages are made accessible to a recipient. Upon initiation of sending of an email message by a user, the MIME of the email is automatically parsed through to detect URL tags indicating that a linked document is contained within the email message. Upon detection of a URL tag, the prefix of the URL is checked to determine if it is accessible to a recipient. If the prefix indicates that the link is not accessible to the recipient, the sender is provided with at least the following options for making the linked document accessible to the recipient: sending the linked document as an in-line document by converting the document into HTML format and embedding it into a multi part MIME message, sending the linked document as an attachment with a link to a file system or document library, or converting the linked document into a pdf file and sending it as an attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Shruti Kumar, Michael R. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7821405
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically generating and receiving notifications regarding accesses to documents in a shared repository, where the notifications are filtered such that they are only generated and/or received for accesses that match a personal interest profile of a local user. The personal interest profile of the local user includes a number of keywords determined to be of interest to the local user, as well as a number of important person identifiers associated with other users determined to be important to the local user. The system is operable to provide notifications in response to accesses by important other users to shared documents, including reading of those documents by the important other users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Michael R. O'Brien, Carl J. Kraenzel
  • Publication number: 20100250682
    Abstract: A method of increasing email correspondence responsiveness may include detecting a first set of email messages transmitted by a first correspondent to a second correspondent, creating a tracking record based on the responsiveness of the second correspondent to each email message of the first set of email messages, performing a first statistical analysis of the tracking record, generating a set of responsiveness metrics based on the first statistical analysis, detecting new outgoing email messages addressed to the second correspondent, and providing a user-configurable email message format for each detected outgoing message, the user-configurable email message format. According to the example embodiment, the user-configurable email message format is configured to increase effective email response time from the second correspondent and the user-configurable email message format is based on the set of responsiveness metrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Itzhack Goldberg, Bruce A. Kahn, Boaz Mizrachi, Michael R. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7756851
    Abstract: A system for full text indexing optimization that operates based on identification of idle and active content in a content source, and by prioritizing indexing of idle content over active content. Active and idle content items are automatically identified, and idle content items are given a higher priority for indexing, while active content items are given a lower priority. Active content items are generally those that are considered relatively more likely to be located by the user without using the full text indexing function, while idle content items are those content items that are relatively more likely to be located through use of the full text indexing function. The specific content item attributes that are used to determine whether a given content item is active or idle may depend on the type content source for which the full text index is being provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Brooks, Niklas Heidloff, Igor L. Belakovskiy, Michael R. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7720921
    Abstract: A system and method allows an email user to solicit an email thread from another user (or from a server) in situations where the first requesting user may have been added to an email thread after the email thread was started, or in situations where the user may have an incomplete thread (for example, where a user is being added to a thread where an attachment was removed). The complete thread is returned to the first requesting user, after permission has been sought and granted, and after data mining and intelligent aggregation of a plurality of relevant threads in to one interleaved result is performed and returned to the first requesting user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Shruti Kumar, Michael R. O'Brien, Patrick J. O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7693815
    Abstract: A network device such as a server monitors user behavior and provides subscriptions to documents based at least in part on that behavior. Subscription triggers include requesting at least a predetermined percentage of the entire document, requesting at least a predetermined number of pages in a document, and requesting a document at least a predetermined number of times. If documents are organized in a root and branch structure, the subscription may be triggered based on the extent to which documents are requested in the structure, e.g., triggered upon request for a branch document related to a root document. Subscriptions may also be limited to a portion of a document, such as a branch document associated with a root document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Michael R. O'Brien, Carl J. Kraenzel, Gregory R. Klouda
  • Patent number: 7624151
    Abstract: A system that enables a user to conveniently reduce the size of one or more mailboxes stored on the client computer system. The user can indicate that “unimportant” email messages are to be removed from one or more mailboxes. Unimportant email messages are automatically removed before important ones. To calculate the importance of a message for a given user, message attributes such as users associated with and/or terms contained in the message are compared against a personal interest profile associated with the local user. Additionally, dates associated with the message, such as when the message was added to the mailbox, and/or when the message was last read, may be used to further determine message importance. The size of a message may also be considered when determining whether a message should be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Michael R. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20090240725
    Abstract: A system that persistently maintains and exposes one or more previous object hierarchies to which an object belonged across one or more hierarchy destroying operations, such as operations that delete parent objects, add parent objects subsequent to addition of their descendent objects, forward objects to or from the hierarchy, and/or modify hierarchy determining rules. A user interface object allows user access to one or more persistent hierarchies for the corresponding object. A hierarchy list or the like allows a user to select a desired one of the persistent hierarchies. A persistent hierarchy can be accessed in the disclosed system through a display object associated with any object within the hierarchy, including the root, leaves, and any intervening objects. When objects are deleted, “ghost” objects are maintained and displayed to the user in the hierarchical positions of the deleted objects when a persistent hierarchy is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: John D. Curtis, Margo L. Ezekiel, Jonathan D. Champlin, Michael R. O'Brien, Thomas M. Bentley
  • Publication number: 20090182824
    Abstract: A follow-on message processing system for an integrated information management application. The follow-on message processing system includes a client computer coupled to a network, an email client coupled to the client computer, and a follow-on message controller coupled to the email client. The email client receives an email and a follow-on command from another email client. The follow-on command is associated with the email received from the other email client. The follow-on message controller interrupts access to the email client in response to a determination that an email draft is in progress. The email draft in progress is associated with the received email.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas R Haynes, Michael R. O Brien, William G. Stoddard, Lin Sun
  • Patent number: 7543031
    Abstract: A system that enables users to conveniently and intuitively send email messages that automatically publish information in appropriate shared content sources. The system allows users to send email messages to shared sources based on keywords within text entered as destination email addresses. The shared sources register interest in certain topics by registering keywords with the email server system. An email server program then sends the email messages it receives for publication to the appropriate shared source(s) based on matching text in the destination address fields of the received messages with the keywords registered by the shared sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Michael R. O'Brien, Hardy Groeger
  • Patent number: 7526472
    Abstract: A method for providing personalized, shared bookmarks that determines which bookmarks are to be shared with a given user based at least in part on an interest profile associated with that user. The interest file can be used to define important other users, based on attributes, titles, or names associated with those other users. Shareable bookmarks defined by important other users are provided to the local user through the local navigation program. The list of important persons used to define which bookmarks should be shared may be determined in various specific ways. An interest profile may be automatically maintained containing a list of persons that are important for a specific user. The list may be automatically calculated based on information such as recent email traffic, and/or can be defined manually. Privacy issues may be addressed by enabling a user to prevent certain bookmarks they define locally from being shared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Michael R. O'Brien, Gregory R. Klouda, Oliver Kieselbach
  • Patent number: 7505954
    Abstract: Described is a method for generating a parametric search statement for finding a target document. The parametric search statement is generated in the text boxes of a search bar. A user action is performed in the text box. An in-place context menu having menu items responsive to the user action are displayed near the location of the user action. Each menu item includes at least one of an attribute of the target document, a comparison operator and a value. One of the menu items is selected from the in-place context menu based on a known characteristic of the target document. Parametric search statements are easily generated using the method without the need to access numerous dialogs boxes or to enter significant text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Michael R. O'Brien, Gregory Robert Klouda
  • Publication number: 20090063636
    Abstract: A system and method allows an email user to solicit an email thread from another user (or from a server) in situations where the first requesting user may have been added to an email thread after the email thread was started, or in situations where the user may have an incomplete thread (for example, where a user is being added to a thread where an attachment was removed). The complete thread is returned to the first requesting user, after permission has been sought and granted, and after data mining and intelligent aggregation of a plurality of relevant threads in to one interleaved result is performed and returned to the first requesting user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Shruti Kumar, Michael R. O'Brien, Patrick J. O'Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20090044200
    Abstract: A system for asynchronous thread response detection in an electronic communication system. Alert messages are provided to a user who is in the process of responding to a message in a message thread. The alert messages are provided when there are new messages in the thread, including messages in thread that were received before the user started responding, and/or messages that were received while the user was composing the response. The disclosed system is advantageous in that it the responding user does not necessarily have to manually check for new thread messages prior to or while they are composing a response to a message within the thread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Aakash Bordia, Michael R. O'Brien, A. Julie Kadashevich
  • Publication number: 20090019024
    Abstract: Described is a method for generating a parametric search statement for finding a target document. The parametric search statement is generated in the text boxes of a search bar. A user action is performed in the text box. An in-place context menu having menu items responsive to the user action are displayed near the location of the user action. Each menu item includes at least one of an attribute of the target document, a comparison operator and a value. One of the menu items is selected from the in-place context menu based on a known characteristic of the target document. Parametric search statements are easily generated using the method without the need to access numerous dialogs boxes or to enter significant text.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Niklas Heidloff, Michael R. O'Brien, Gregory Robert Klouda
  • Publication number: 20090006654
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for optimizing a SyncML slow sync between a proprietary client and server. When a slow sync is detected, the client and server can depart from the normal SyncML protocol and process summary data without having to compare all items on a field-by-field basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen T. Auriemma, Maria M. Corbett, Michael R. O'Brien, Ashok C. Mammen