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).
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Publication number: 20170053280Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2015Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: Natasha P. Lishok, Michael S. Thomason
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Patent number: 9571368Abstract: 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: February 4, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Trudy L. Hewitt, Matthew C. Hillary, Lee A. Jacobson, Michael S. Thomason
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Publication number: 20170003834Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Inventor: Michael S. Thomason
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Publication number: 20170003833Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Inventor: Michael S. Thomason
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Patent number: 9513786Abstract: 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: February 29, 2016Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Michael S. Thomason
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Publication number: 20160320934Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventor: Michael S. Thomason
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Publication number: 20160320955Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2015Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventor: Michael S. Thomason
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Publication number: 20160191439Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2016Publication date: June 30, 2016Inventors: Al Chakra, Michael S. Thomason, Tong Yu
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Patent number: 9319361Abstract: 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 13, 2015Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Al Chakra, Michael S. Thomason, Tong Yu
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Patent number: 9298681Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for dynamic webpage change animation. A computer system detects one or more items that are changed on a second version of a webpage relative to a first version of the webpage. The computer system determines an animation order based on user environment. And, on the first version of the webpage and a template for generating the second version of the webpage, the computer system animates changes of the one or more items, according to the animation order.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Maryam Ahmed, Matthew C. Hillary, Kimberly D. McCall, Michael S. Thomason
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Patent number: 9275149Abstract: A method, a system and a computer program product for influencing ranking of URLs in a search engine. In an example embodiment, a computer determines that a posting of a URL has occurred in a social networking environment, the computer tracks accesses of the URL subsequent to the posting of the URL. The computer further determines whether a number of accesses of the URL has increased subsequent to the posting of the URL and, responsive to determining that the number of accesses of the URL has increased subsequent to the posting of the URL, the computer determines whether the number of accesses of the URL has increased by at least a predefined threshold. Further, responsive to determining that the number of accesses of the URL has increased by at least the predefined threshold, the computer increases the ranking of the URL in a search engine.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2012Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Kevin N. Magill, Michael S. O'Leary, Mary K. Rees, Michael S. Thomason
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Patent number: 9235695Abstract: An approach is provided to use social media content to verify the identity of a user using aliases established by the user in a social media environment. In the approach, a user authentication request pertaining to a user is received. Aliases corresponding to the user's social media contacts are retrieved from a social media data store. User questions and expected answers are prepared based on the user's social media contacts and the corresponding aliases. The user is prompted to provide one or more user answers responsive to the user questions. In response to receiving answers that match the expected answers, the user authentication request is confirmed. Conversely, in response to receiving user answers that fail to match the expected answers, the user authentication request is invalidated.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joshua D. Markwordt, Michael M. Skeen, Michael S. Thomason
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Patent number: 9229935Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system identifies content for publication by determining a projected usage of unpublished content. The system applies one or more predefined criteria for publication to the projected usage. The content is published in response to the projected usage satisfying the criteria for publication. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for identifying content for publication in substantially the same manners described above.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Kelley L. Anders, Trudy L. Hewitt, Michael S. Thomason
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Patent number: 9230077Abstract: An approach is provided to use social media content to verify the identity of a user using aliases established by the user in a social media environment. In the approach, a user authentication request pertaining to a user is received. Aliases corresponding to the user's social media contacts are retrieved from a social media data store. User questions and expected answers are prepared based on the user's social media contacts and the corresponding aliases. The user is prompted to provide one or more user answers responsive to the user questions. In response to receiving answers that match the expected answers, the user authentication request is confirmed. Conversely, in response to receiving user answers that fail to match the expected answers, the user authentication request is invalidated.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joshua D. Markwordt, Michael M. Skeen, Michael S. Thomason
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Patent number: 9135253Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system identifies content for publication by determining a projected usage of unpublished content. The system applies one or more predefined criteria for publication to the projected usage. The content is published in response to the projected usage satisfying the criteria for publication. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for identifying content for publication in substantially the same manners described above.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2014Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Kelley L. Anders, Trudy Hewitt, Michael S. Thomason
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Publication number: 20150188864Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2015Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: Al Chakra, Michael S. Thomason, Tong Yu
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Publication number: 20150156236Abstract: An approach that delays presentation of social media communications corresponding to an event is provided. In the approach, social media communications received during an initial presentation of the event are stored. A time delay associated with each of the social media communications is recorded with the time delay being from the start time of the initial presentation of the event. During subsequent playback of the event, the approach retrieves the stored social media communications and presents the retrieved social media communications based upon the time delay associated with each of the communications from the start time of the subsequent event playback.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2013Publication date: June 4, 2015Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Kimberly D. McCall, Henri F. Meli, Michael S. Thomason, Yingxin Xing
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Publication number: 20150156227Abstract: An approach that delays presentation of social media communications corresponding to an event is provided. In the approach, social media communications received during an initial presentation of the event are stored. A time delay associated with each of the social media communications is recorded with the time delay being from the start time of the initial presentation of the event. During subsequent playback of the event, the approach retrieves the stored social media communications and presents the retrieved social media communications based upon the time delay associated with each of the communications from the start time of the subsequent event playback.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2014Publication date: June 4, 2015Inventors: Kimberly D. McCall, Henri F. Meli, Michael S. Thomason, Yingxin Xing
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Patent number: 9026600Abstract: 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: January 4, 2013Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Al Chakra, Michael S. Thomason, Tong Yu
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Publication number: 20150012527Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2013Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Trudy L. HEWITT, Lee A. JACOBSON, Luc G. LEBLANC, Michael S. THOMASON