Patents by Inventor Michael S. Thomason
Michael S. Thomason 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: 10929006Abstract: Alternative search queries are provided by: determining alternative search paths for terms in a current search query; receiving a user selection of one or more terms in the current search query; providing a graphical display of one or more alternative search paths for the selected terms; receiving a user selection of at least a portion of one of the alternative searchpaths to be a new search query; and displaying search results for the new search query. The new search query may then become the current search query, and the determining of the alternative search paths, the receiving of the user selection of the one or more terms in the current search query, and the providing of the graphical display of alternative search paths for the selected terms are performed for the new search query as the current search query.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2017Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Trudy L. Hewitt, Lee A. Jacobson, Luc G. Leblanc, Michael S. Thomason
-
Patent number: 10785523Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for managing a video streaming queue during a planned trip are provided. Aspects include receiving a list of content items from a user for viewing during the planned trip and receiving information regarding the planned trip. Aspects also include analyzing the content items to identify one or more properties of each of the content items in the list and determining a playback order for the content items in the list based on the one or more properties of each of the content items and the information regarding the planned trip.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2016Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Al Chakra, Michael S. Thomason
-
Patent number: 10652122Abstract: Analyzing communication network data set access of a data set group constituted by multiple data sets. The method includes the following steps: (i) determining, for a first interval, a first low access count value corresponding to an amount of data sets in the data set group that have been accessed, in the first interval, an amount of times that is no greater than a low access threshold value; (ii) determining, for a second interval, a second low access count value corresponding to an amount of data sets in the data set group that have been accessed, in the second interval, an amount of times that is no greater than the low access threshold value; and (iii) determining a delta value based, at least in part, on a difference between the first low access count value and the second low access count value.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2016Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Trudy L. Hewitt, Matthew C. Hillary, Lee A. Jacobson, Michael S. Thomason
-
Patent number: 10530721Abstract: An aspect of customized timing for access to shared media includes parsing a communication from a sender, and calculating, based on parsed elements of the communication, a personal score for the communication. The personal score indicates a degree to which information in the communication is determined to be of a personal nature. A further aspect includes calculating a relationship score reflecting a strength of a relationship between the sender and the recipient. The relationship score is calculated from previous communications conducted between the sender and the recipient. Another aspect includes selecting a timing value indicating a length of time the communication will be accessible to the recipient based on a combined respective personal score and relationship score, transmitting the communication to the recipient and monitoring the timing value, and limiting actions that can be taken on the communication by the recipient as a function of the timing value.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2015Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Valerie J. Lampkin, Michael S. Thomason
-
Patent number: 10387880Abstract: Authenticating users based on answers to challenge questions relating to a “tracked user's” location history (that is, places the tracked user is known to have been). The “questioned user” may or may not be the same as the “tracked user.” Some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to generating questions to questioned users based on answers to challenge questions about aspects (for example, value and/or venue) of a desired transaction for which authentication is requested.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2015Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Natasha P. Lishok, Michael S. Thomason
-
Patent number: 9959731Abstract: A system for making sure that two wireless devices (a perimeter-anchoring device and a constrained device) are not separated too far apart by having a dynamic perimeter that follows the perimeter-anchoring device as it moves. In some embodiments, the size and/or shape of the perimeter is controlled by machine logic based rules, based at least in part, upon a set of environmental factor(s). Some possible environmental factors include: line of sight, pollution, noise level, presence of stranger(s), streets, traffic, body(ies) of water, contamination, allergen, or blocking obstruction(s).Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2017Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jhansi R. Kolla, Paul J. O'Donnell, Michael S. Thomason
-
Publication number: 20180046348Abstract: Alternative search queries are provided by: determining alternative search paths for terms in a current search query; receiving a user selection of one or more terms in the current search query; providing a graphical display of one or more alternative search paths for the selected terms; receiving a user selection of at least a portion of one of the alternative searchpaths to be a new search query; and displaying search results for the new search query. The new search query may then become the current search query, and the determining of the alternative search paths, the receiving of the user selection of the one or more terms in the current search query, and the providing of the graphical display of alternative search paths for the selected terms are performed for the new search query as the current search query.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2017Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Trudy L. Hewitt, Lee A. Jacobson, Luc G. Leblanc, Michael S. Thomason
-
Patent number: 9887945Abstract: An approach for unfiltering a filtered electronic communication is provided. In one aspect, a computer system receives filtered electronic communication, wherein the filtered electronic communication is a status message. Moreover, the computer system determines a requestor of the filtered electronic communication. The computer system also detects an attempt made to communicate with the requestor. Furthermore, the computer system unfilters, in response to the attempt, the filtered electronic communication.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Al Chakra, Michael S. Thomason, Tong Yu
-
Patent number: 9880695Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for changing a graphical user interface is provided. The method may include identifying one or more devices. The method may include determining product information associated with the one or more devices, whereby the product information includes at least one of a type, a model number, and a brand. The method may include determining one or more applications associated with the one or more devices based on the product information, whereby the one or more applications allow for operation of the one or more devices. The method may include retrieving the one or more applications. The method may include determining that the computer is oriented toward a first device of the one or more devices. The method may include displaying a first graphical user interface corresponding to a first application of the one or more applications that allows for operation of the first device.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2015Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Michael S. Thomason
-
Patent number: 9857937Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for changing a graphical user interface is provided. The method may include identifying one or more devices. The method may include determining product information associated with the one or more devices, whereby the product information includes at least one of a type, a model number, and a brand. The method may include determining one or more applications associated with the one or more devices based on the product information, whereby the one or more applications allow for operation of the one or more devices. The method may include retrieving the one or more applications. The method may include determining that the computer is oriented toward a first device of the one or more devices. The method may include displaying a first graphical user interface corresponding to a first application of the one or more applications that allows for operation of the first device.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Michael S. Thomason
-
Publication number: 20170366835Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for managing a video streaming queue during a planned trip are provided. Aspects include receiving a list of content items from a user for viewing during the planned trip and receiving information regarding the planned trip. Aspects also include analyzing the content items to identify one or more properties of each of the content items in the list and determining a playback order for the content items in the list based on the one or more properties of each of the content items and the information regarding the planned trip.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2016Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventors: AL CHAKRA, MICHAEL S. THOMASON
-
Patent number: 9772765Abstract: Alternative search queries are provided by: determining alternative search paths for terms in a current search query; receiving a user selection of one or more terms in the current search query; providing a graphical display of one or more alternative search paths for the selected terms; receiving a user selection of at least a portion of one of the alternative search paths to be a new search query; and displaying search results for the new search query. The new search query may then become the current search query, and the determining of the alternative search paths, the receiving of the user selection of the one or more terms in the current search query, and the providing of the graphical display of alternative search paths for the selected terms are performed for the new search query as the current search query.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2013Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Trudy L. Hewitt, Lee A. Jacobson, Luc G. LeBlanc, Michael S. Thomason
-
Patent number: 9746987Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for changing a graphical user interface is provided. The method may include identifying one or more devices. The method may include determining product information associated with the one or more devices, whereby the product information includes at least one of a type, a model number, and a brand. The method may include determining one or more applications associated with the one or more devices based on the product information, whereby the one or more applications allow for operation of the one or more devices. The method may include retrieving the one or more applications. The method may include determining that the computer is oriented toward a first device of the one or more devices. The method may include displaying a first graphical user interface corresponding to a first application of the one or more applications that allows for operation of the first device.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2016Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Michael S. Thomason
-
Patent number: 9697528Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for tracking link sharing in a messaging environment of a data processing system. Message information is received that identifies a plurality of links to content included in one or more messages exchanged via the data processing system. A relationship measure is determined based on the message information. The relationship measure measures a likelihood that a first link is related to a second link in the plurality of links and points to a same source of content. An association data structure associating the first link with the second link is generated based on the relationship measure. User interactions with the first link and the second link are tracked based on the generated association data structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2012Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Maryam Ahmed, Al Chakra, Matthew C. Hillary, Michael S. Thomason
-
Publication number: 20170148295Abstract: A system for making sure that two wireless devices (a perimeter-anchoring device and a constrained device) are not separated too far apart by having a dynamic perimeter that follows the perimeter-anchoring device as it moves. In some embodiments, the size and/or shape of the perimeter is controlled by machine logic based rules, based at least in part, upon a set of environmental factor(s). Some possible environmental factors include: line of sight, pollution, noise level, presence of stranger(s), streets, traffic, body(ies) of water, contamination, allergen, or blocking obstruction(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2017Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Jhansi R. Kolla, Paul J. O'Donnell, Michael S. Thomason
-
Publication number: 20170149709Abstract: An aspect of customized timing for access to shared media includes parsing a communication from a sender, and calculating, based on parsed elements of the communication, a personal score for the communication. The personal score indicates a degree to which information in the communication is determined to be of a personal nature. A further aspect includes calculating a relationship score reflecting a strength of a relationship between the sender and the recipient. The relationship score is calculated from previous communications conducted between the sender and the recipient. Another aspect includes selecting a timing value indicating a length of time the communication will be accessible to the recipient based on a combined respective personal score and relationship score, transmitting the communication to the recipient and monitoring the timing value, and limiting actions that can be taken on the communication by the recipient as a function of the timing value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2015Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Valerie J. Lampkin, Michael S. Thomason
-
Patent number: 9621619Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for providing a severity of a notification for a communication. A computing device determines a topic and associated information of a current activity, operating on the computing device. The computing device receives a communication and determines the topic and associated information of the communication. The computing device determines a level of relevance between the topic and associated information of the received communication and the topic and associated information of the current activity. The computing device determines whether the level of relevance exceeds a predefined threshold, and in response to determining that the level of relevance exceeds the predefined threshold, the computing device provides a notification, wherein the severity of the notification for the communication is proportional to the level of relevance.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Maryam Ahmed, Al Chakra, Michael S. Thomason, Tong Yu
-
Patent number: 9600992Abstract: A system for making sure that two wireless devices (a perimeter-anchoring device and a constrained device) are not separated too far apart by having a dynamic perimeter that follows the perimeter-anchoring device as it moves. In some embodiments, the size and/or shape of the perimeter is controlled by machine logic based rules, based at least in part, upon a set of environmental factor(s). Some possible environmental factors include: line of sight, pollution, noise level, presence of stranger(s), streets, traffic, body(ies) of water, contamination, allergen, or blocking obstruction(s).Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jhansi R. Kolla, Paul J. O'Donnell, Michael S. Thomason
-
Publication number: 20170070411Abstract: Analyzing communication network data set access of a data set group constituted by multiple data sets. The method includes the following steps: (i) determining, for a first interval, a first low access count value corresponding to an amount of data sets in the data set group that have been accessed, in the first interval, an amount of times that is no greater than a low access threshold value; (ii) determining, for a second interval, a second low access count value corresponding to an amount of data sets in the data set group that have been accessed, in the second interval, an amount of times that is no greater than the low access threshold value; and (iii) determining a delta value based, at least in part, on a difference between the first low access count value and the second low access count value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Inventors: Trudy L. Hewitt, Matthew C. Hillary, Lee A. Jacobson, Michael S. Thomason
-
Publication number: 20170061761Abstract: A system for making sure that two wireless devices (a perimeter-anchoring device and a constrained device) are not separated too far apart by having a dynamic perimeter that follows the perimeter-anchoring device as it moves. In some embodiments, the size and/or shape of the perimeter is controlled by machine logic based rules, based at least in part, upon a set of environmental factor(s). Some possible environmental factors include: line of sight, pollution, noise level, presence of stranger(s), streets, traffic, body(ies) of water, contamination, allergen, or blocking obstruction(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2015Publication date: March 2, 2017Inventors: Jhansi R. Kolla, Paul J. O'Donnell, Michael S. Thomason