Patents by Inventor Michael Wayne Brown

Michael Wayne Brown 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: 7400422
    Abstract: A text modification mechanism is provided for formatting data such that the information can be reasonably deciphered by a human, but cannot be easily recognized by computer recognition techniques. The text modification mechanism alters printed text so that computer recognition of characters becomes difficult. Modification of the text may be accomplished with manipulation of the fonts or the background. The mechanism may also modify the text based on user preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Mark Joseph Hamzy, Scott Thomas Jones
  • Patent number: 7394893
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for billing for order places from an origin device according to the current caller billing plan are provided. A billing plan associated with an authenticated caller identity of a caller using an origin device is accessed by a vendor order center during a call placed to the vendor order center. At least one account provider is specified in the billing plan. A selection of one from among multiple account providers is specified for the order. The caller then authorizes the order and a bill for the order is transferred according to the authenticated caller identifier and the authorization for the account provider selection, such that the vendor order center is enabled to bill for the order with limited authenticated account information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Joseph Herbert McIntyre, Michael A. Paolini, James Mark Weaver, Scott Lee Winters
  • Patent number: 7395386
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing versioning data for memory segments. Responsive to a request from a requester to allocate a memory segment, the memory segment is allocated. A versioning data structure is created for the memory segment. The versioning data structure is used to store changes in data for the memory segment, and the memory segment includes a pointer to the versioning data structure. When a change in the data is detected for the memory segment, wherein the change in the data forms the delta data. Responsive to detecting the change in the data for the memory segment, the delta data is stored in the versioning data structure, wherein the versioning data structure is used to return the data in the memory segment to a prior state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: John William Barrs, Michael Wayne Brown, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Patent number: 7391763
    Abstract: A proxy service provides telephone conferencing services and personal telephony services. Users can participate in the conference by connecting through different types of networks using a device having one or more types of communication lines connected to the proxy service. A primary user can request the proxy to call each one of the users and establish the conference. The primary user may accomplish this through a data line using data requests or though a voice line using voice requests. Typically, the primary user provides a telephone number for each user. The primary user can also provide with specific times of when calls should be placed, identification information for each user, the type of conference, and other conference parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Joseph Herbert McIntyre, Victor S. Moore, Michael A. Paolini, Scott Lee Winters
  • Publication number: 20080130846
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for billing for service provided to an origin device according to the current caller billing plan. A trusted telephone network, including at least one service provider, receives a request for service from an origin device. The origin device is associated with a line number to be billed for according to a line subscriber billing plan. An identity of a caller requesting the service from the origin device is authenticated. Then, a billing plan associated with the authenticated caller identity is accessed and utilized to replace or supplement the line subscriber billing plan, such that billing for service provided at an origin device is specified according to the caller currently utilizing the origin device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: MICHAEL WAYNE BROWN, JOSEPH HERBERT MCINTYRE, MICHAEL A. PAOLINI, JAMES MARK WEAVER, SCOTT LEE WINTERS
  • Patent number: 7370085
    Abstract: Provided is a method, system, program, and data structures for providing user location information with a personal information manager program. Position coordinates of a wireless device associated with a user are generated, along with time information indicating a time when the position coordinates were generated. The position coordinates and time information are processed to determine geographic locations and associated time periods. For each determined geographical location and associated time period, the user of the wireless device was located at the geographical location for the associated time period. A request is received for information on the user for a selected time interval. A determination is then made of time periods associated with geographic locations that are within the selected time interval. Information is then generated on the geographic locations and associated time periods that are within the selected time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Rabindranath Dutta, Michael A. Paolini
  • Patent number: 7366398
    Abstract: Administration of storage space requirements on personal video recorders (“PVRs”), including recording a show having a storage space requirement, and incrementing the show's storage space requirement. Embodiments include tracking a recording period for the show and actual storage space used during the recording period; comparing the storage space used with an amount of storage space projected to be used during the tracked recording period; and incrementing the show's storage space requirement if the storage space used is greater than the storage space projected to be used. Embodiments include incrementing the show's storage space requirement in accordance with a predetermined overallocation rate. Embodiments include incrementing a show's storage space requirement in dependence upon genre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen B. Boston, Michael Wayne Brown, Andrew Douglas Hately, Michael A. Paolini
  • Publication number: 20080092118
    Abstract: The present invention improves correlation of events emitted by software components during a thread of execution. Each software component invoked during the thread registers with a correlation information manager associated with the thread of execution and then deregisters from said correlation information manager when it ceases to participate in the thread. The correlation information manager stores registered software components in a stack structure. Whenever an event is to be emitted by a software component, the associated correlation information manager provides explicit correlation information that identifies at least the software component that, emitted the most recent event in the thread and all software components that registered with the correlation information manager after the software component that emitted the most recent event and that are still registered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Friedemann Schwenkreis
  • Patent number: 7340691
    Abstract: Provided is a method, system, and program for accessing calendar information of users in a database for presentation by a personal information manager. Scheduled event records for users are maintained within the database. Further maintained in the database is information on a current location of wireless devices of users in the database, wherein one user is associated with each wireless device. Scheduled event records and the current location of a wireless device for a shadowed user are provided from the database to a device operated by a shadower user in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald W. Bassett, Michael Wayne Brown, Rabindranath Dutta, Michael A. Paolini
  • Patent number: 7295753
    Abstract: Automated personal video recording on a personal video recorder, including recording shows, each show having an original compression level; further compressing a recorded show to a new compression level, the new compression level being higher than the recorded show's original compression level, thereby making available free space; and recording at least part of a new show in free space made available by further compressing the recorded show. Embodiments include recording a show having a compression level and increasing the show's compression level while recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen B. Boston, David Earl Blaschke, Michael Wayne Brown, Andrew Douglas Hately, Michael A. Paolini
  • Patent number: 7289983
    Abstract: Personalized searching including providing in a search portal a personal search term list; receiving from a user a navigation identification message; and inserting index records in a personalized search index. Inserting index records in a personalized search index typically comprises retrieving a document from a navigation location and indexing the navigation location and keywords from the personal search term list that occur in the retrieved document. A navigation identification message may comprise a search keyword and inserting index records in a personalized search index may include indexing the search keyword with the navigation location in the personalized search index. Embodiments typically include creating and transmitting to users, in dependence upon the personalized search index, search criteria, and user identification, responses to search query messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Francis Best, Michael Wayne Brown, Michael Richard Cooper
  • Patent number: 7289624
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for managing use of experts by callers waiting within a hold queue are provided. First, a call on hold in a hold queue is transferred to an expert system responsive to a request by the caller to speak with an expert. Then, responsive to detecting an answer by a party at the expert system, an authentication of the identity of the answering party is required. If the authenticated identity of the answering party matches an expected expert identity, then the call is connected to the expert, such that the expert is required to authenticate an identity before providing service to a call from the hold queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Joseph Herbert McIntyre, Michael A. Paolini, James Mark Weaver, Scott Lee Winters
  • Publication number: 20070237319
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products for informing a caller of a callee identity are disclosed that include: detecting a call receipt condition from a destination device at a trusted telephone network; brokering a connection between said destination device and an external server enabled to perform a callee identity authentication service; and responsive to receiving, from said external server, an authenticated callee identity of a callee utilizing said destination device, transferring said authenticated callee identity to an origin device, such that a caller initiating said call at said origin device is informed of an identity of a party answering said call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Joseph Herbert McIntyre, Michael Paolini, James Mark Weaver, Scott Lee Winters
  • Patent number: 7269622
    Abstract: A method, system and program is provided for watermarking messaging sessions such that the origin of recorded messaging sessions is traceable. A distinguishable watermark is applied to message entries within a messaging session. The messaging entries are then recorded with the distinguishable watermark applied, such that the origin of the message entries is traceable according to the distinguishable watermark. Users participating in the messaging session receive a recording of the watermarked message entries for the messaging session, wherein user of the recording of the messaging session is traceable according to the watermark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Rabindranath Dutta, Michael A. Paolini
  • Patent number: 7257617
    Abstract: A method, system and program for notifying users when messaging sessions are recorded are provided. In response to receiving a request to record a messaging session, a requested selection of multiple message entries associated with the messaging session are recorded. Then, multiple users participating in the messaging session are notified of the recording of the requested selection of the multiple message entries from the messaging session. In particular, the output of the messaging session is adjusted for each of the multiple users to distinguish a selection from among the multiple message entries being recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Rabindranath Dutta, Michael A. Paolini
  • Patent number: 7248872
    Abstract: Provided is a method, system, and program for providing information on users of wireless devices in a database to a personal information manager of one user wireless device. Records are maintained for users of wireless devices within the database. For at least one shadowed user, a list of others users tracking the shadowed user is maintained in the database. A determination is made, for each shadowed user, whether a modification was made to one database record for the shadowed user. For each user on the list of each shadowed user, information is transmitted to the wireless device of the user on the list indicating the shadowed user and the determined modification made with respect to the database record of the shadowed user. The transmitted information is displayed at the wireless device receiving the transmitted information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald W. Bassett, Michael Wayne Brown, Rabindranath Dutta, Michael A. Paolini
  • Patent number: 7249313
    Abstract: A wizard is utilized when creating a server-based transactional Web page application. The wizard keeps track of the interdependencies of the Web pages, any data accesses required for any of the Web pages, and any rules for presenting a different sequence of Web pages based upon differing aspects of anticipated user input. The wizard can then be used to access the required data if a user selection is made to download the application and run the application off-line at a client that is disconnected from the network. When running off-line, the wizard plays back the downloaded pages of the application in a sequence dependent upon the tracked interdependencies and received user input. When running off-line, the wizard controls the dynamic presentation of the downloaded pages and provides the required data to enable the transactional pages of the application to be completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Jerry Walter Malcolm, Aaron Keith Reed, Cristi Nesbitt Ullmann
  • Patent number: 7248776
    Abstract: Automated personal video recording on a multi-user personal video recorder, including recording a first show, displaying at least a portion of the first show, creating displayed space, freeing displayed space, making available free space, and recording at least part of a second show in free space made available by freeing displayed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen B. Boston, David Earl Blaschke, Michael Wayne Brown, Andrew Douglas Hately, Michael A. Paolini
  • Patent number: 7245716
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for allowing callers to adjust in position within a hold queue are provided. An advancement token earned by a caller while waiting in a hold queue is detected. The advancement token is stored for redemption in a future call by the caller according to an authenticated identifier for the caller, wherein future redemption of the advancement token will cause adjustment of a waiting position. In particular, a caller in the call hold queue may earn advancement tokens by answering questions posed by other callers in the call hold queue, where the questions are answered in a manner such that the other callers do not need additional aid from a representative. In addition, a caller may redeem advancement tokens earned in a previous hold queue while waiting in current hold queue, where the redeemable advancement tokens are accessible across multiple call centers according to the caller identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Joseph Herbert McIntyre, Michael A. Paolini, James Mark Weaver, Scott Lee Winters
  • Patent number: 7221738
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for origin device initiated callee identification are provided. At an origin device, a voice utterance of a callee is detected from a destination device. A callee identity associated with the voice utterance is identified at the origin device, such that the callee identity is transmittable as an authenticated identity of the callee for a call. A caller may select whether to continue a call dependent upon whether the callee identity is preferable. In addition, an intermediary device may receive the callee identity and specify services available during the call according to the callee identity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Joseph Herbert McIntyre, Michael A. Paolini, James Mark Weaver, Scott Lee Winters