Patents by Inventor Shawn P. Mullen

Shawn P. Mullen 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: 7881710
    Abstract: A portable communication device detects a current speed of travel of the portable communication device independent of any vehicle temporarily transporting the portable communication device. A speed based setting controller of the portable communication device compares the current speed to at least one threshold value set at the portable communication device. Responsive to the current speed exceeding the threshold value, the speed based setting controller automatically assigns a separate speed based setting to a current setting for each feature assigned to the threshold value, wherein each current setting for each feature designates the operability of that feature within the portable communication device, such that the current setting for each feature adjusts with a speed of travel as detected by the portable communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susann M. Keohane, Gerald F. McBrearty, Shawn P. Mullen, Johnny M. Shieh
  • Patent number: 7844354
    Abstract: A scroll-based volume controller detects a user selection to scroll through a browser window loaded with data comprising at least one display element, wherein an audio element is associated with the display element and wherein the size of the displayable data is larger than the display area of the browser window. The scroll-based volume controller, responsive to detecting the user selection to scroll through the browser window, calculates a change in position of the display element relative to the browser window. The audio element may include an audio file that is downloaded or streamed to the browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susann Keohane, Gerald F. McBrearty, Shawn P. Mullen, Jessica Murillo, Johnny M. Shieh
  • Patent number: 7833206
    Abstract: A known disposable per use surgical primary cassette is modified to avoid contamination thereof during use by aspirated fluid from a vitreous cutter connected thereto by bypassing the aspirated fluid into a receiving chamber of a relatively less expensive disposable secondary cassette, whereby during use a vacuum produced in a chamber of the primary cassette connected to the receiving chamber of the secondary cassette in turn produces a vacuum in the receiving chamber of the latter for drawing aspirated fluid from the vitreous cutter directly into the receiving chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Peregrine Surgical, Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher F. Lumpkin, Shawn P. Mullen, John E. Richmond, Michael D. Auld
  • Patent number: 7831923
    Abstract: Mechanisms for providing visual keyboard guides according to a programmable set of keys are provided. With the mechanisms of the illustrative embodiments, a user may select for which keys of a keyboard the user wishes to receive visual guides on a display of a data processing device associated with the keyboard. Thereafter, when the user's fingers are in proximity to keys of the keyboard, a comparison of the keys in proximity to the user's instrument to the keys for which visual guides are to be provided is made. If the keys in proximity to the user's instrument match keys for which visual guides are to be provided, a visual guide is displayed on the display of the data processing device. A graphical user interface may be provided to the user for setting which keys are to have associated visual guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susann M. Keohane, Gerald F. McBrearty, Shawn P. Mullen, Jessica C. Murillo, Johnny M. Shieh
  • Patent number: 7809911
    Abstract: Exemplary methods, systems, and products are described that operate generally by moving subroutine return address protection to the processor itself, in effect proving atomic locks for subroutine return addresses stored in a stack, subject to application control. More particularly, exemplary methods, systems, and products are described that write protect subroutine return addresses by calling a subroutine, including storing in a stack memory address a subroutine return address and locking, by a computer processor, the stack memory address against write access. Calling a subroutine may include receiving in the computer processor an instruction to lock the stack memory address. Locking the stack memory address may be carried out by storing the stack memory address in a protected memory lockword. A protected memory lockword may be implemented as a portion of a protected content addressable memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Denise M. Gentry, Shawn P. Mullen, James S. Tesauro
  • Patent number: 7779363
    Abstract: A function management tool detects a user selection to drag and drop a particular selectable button from a first interface of the management tool to a second interface of an instance of a running application of multiple existing applications accessible at a computer system, wherein the management tool runs separately from the plurality of existing applications, wherein a separate pre-designated function is associated with each selectable button. Responsive to the management tool detecting the user select the dragged and dropped selectable button from within the second interface of the instance of the running application of the plurality of existing applications, the management tool controls the instance of the running application of the plurality of existing applications according to a particular pre-designated function of the dragged and dropped selectable button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susann M. Keohane, Gerald F. McBrearty, Shawn P. Mullen, Jessica Murillo, Johnny M. Shieh
  • Patent number: 7765589
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for authorizing a user to access grid resources. A request is received from the user to access a resource on the data processing system. This request includes a certificate. An authentication process is performed using the certificate when the request is received. In response to successfully authenticating the user in the authentication process, a first host name for the certificate is requested from a trusted source. A reply containing the first host name is received. Access to the resource is provided if the first host name returned by the trusted source matches a second host name for the user from which the request originated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Trend Micro Incorporated
    Inventors: Susann M. Keohane, Gerald F. McBrearty, Shawn P. Mullen, Jessica K. Murillo, Johnny M. Shieh
  • Patent number: 7680893
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product that creates a transport dictionary, which links preferential terms and definitions to the Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) of an outgoing electronic mail (email). Prior to sending a message, users are provided the option of transporting words or acronyms unique to the dictionary of the sender and recipient, which have been utilized in the outgoing email message. Linking dictionary preferences to the outgoing email provides clarity to terms utilized in the email message and decreases the amount of time a responder has to spend skipping, adding, or defining terms that are unique to the incoming MUA dictionary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susann M. Keohane, Gerald F. McBrearty, Shawn P. Mullen, Jessica Murillo, Johnny M. Shieh
  • Patent number: 7672875
    Abstract: The server system, communicatively connected to multiple client systems via a network, facilitates at least one web page for download to the client systems, where the web page offers multiple products for purchase. Responsive to the server system detecting a particular product selection from a particular client system, the server system downloads to the particular client system a first package offer of the client selected product and at least one second product from among at least one vendor selected product at a first price at a first discounted rate for purchase of both the client selected particular product and the at least one second product. In addition, the server system includes a selectable option for replacing the first package offer in the download of the first package offer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susann M. Keohane, Gerald F. McBrearty, Shawn P. Mullen, Jessica Murillo, Johnny M. Shieh
  • Publication number: 20100017878
    Abstract: A method for providing an alert when a potentially or likely malicious web site is browsed to by a user. The method maintains web site identification details. If a web site purporting to be a known, previously identified, encountered and utilized web site is browsed to and requests information, the user is alerted to the precise differences between the stored web site historical identity and the identity of the present requester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gerald F. McBrearty, Jessica C. Murillo, Johnny Meng-Han Shieh, Susann M. Keohane, Shawn P. Mullen
  • Patent number: 7628321
    Abstract: Controlling electronic withdrawals by a drawee including receiving in the drawee from a withdrawal device a withdrawal request, where the withdrawal request includes a withdrawal device identifier, a drawer identifier, and a withdrawal amount; retrieving from storage in computer memory of the drawee data representing limitations on electronic withdrawals for the drawer, wherein the limitations include a limitation on drawer location; and authorizing, by the drawee, an electronic withdrawal in dependence upon the limitations, including the limitation on drawer location. In typical embodiments, the limitations on electronic withdrawals may include limitations on withdrawal type account, withdrawal period, and maximum withdrawal amount. In typical embodiments, the limitation on drawer location may include a geographic area that includes one or more locations of withdrawal devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susann M. Keohane, Gerald F. McBrearty, Shawn P. Mullen, Jessica Murillo, Johnny M. Shieh
  • Publication number: 20090279703
    Abstract: The present invention provides a computer implemented method, apparatus, and data processing system for associating a private part of a keystore of a user with a user authentication process in an encrypting file system. A secure shell daemon server establishes the user authentication process with a secure shell client such that the user authentication process is associated with a user and the user is authenticated. The secure shell daemon server obtains an acknowledgment from the secure shell client. The secure shell daemon server accesses a user public key of the user from the keystore of the user, responsive to receiving the acknowledgment. The secure shell daemon obtains a public secure shell cookie associated with the user from the keystore of the user. The public secure shell cookie is an access key in encrypted form. The access key is based on the user's public key to form the public secure shell cookie. The secure shell daemon server obtains the access key from the secure shell client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tommy L. McLane, Shawn P. Mullen, Jyoti B. Tenginakai
  • Patent number: 7596668
    Abstract: A method of tying related process threads within non-related applications together in terms of memory paging behavior. In a data processing system, a first process thread is related to one or more “partner” threads within separate high latency storage locations. The kernel analyzes the memory “page-in” patterns of multiple threads and identifies one or more partner threads of the first thread based on user input, observed memory page-in patterns, and/or pre-defined identification information within the thread data structures. The kernel marks the first thread and its corresponding related partner threads with a unique thread identifier. When the first thread is subsequently paged into a lower latency memory, the kernel also pages-in the related partner threads that are marked with the unique thread identifier in lockstep. Tying related threads from non-related applications together in terms of memory paging behavior thus eliminates memory management delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald F. McBrearty, Shawn P. Mullen, Jessica C. Murillo, Johnny Meng-Han Shieh
  • Publication number: 20090222796
    Abstract: Tracing of the interaction of third party processes on resources used by a program under trace is performed. A viral tag is associated with the program under trace. When the program “touches” a portion of memory, the memory manager associates the viral tag with the memory locations in this portion of memory. When subsequent processes “touch” the tagged memory locations, they acquire the viral tag and then spread it to other memory locations that these subsequent processes touch. The viral tag may be slightly modified so as to identify it as being based on the original viral tag but having been acquired by another process. Each time the viral tag is spread to another program, the viral tag may be slightly modified to indicate that the viral tag is now associated with another entity although is still associated with the original viral tag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susann M. Keohane, Gerald F. McBrearty, Shawn P. Mullen, Jessica C. Murillo, Johnny M. Shieh
  • Publication number: 20090216707
    Abstract: Resource utilization information for accessing a file is stored in metadata associated with the file. In response to a command to access the file, the resource utilization information is compared to pre-established warning criteria to determine if the resource utilization for accessing the file meets the criteria for generating a warning. Based on the results of the comparison, a warning message may be output, prior to accessing the file, if results of the comparison indicate that one or more warning criteria are met. The warning message may provide a provide a prompt for a user to determine if he/she still wishes to access the file and if so, the file is accessed; otherwise the operation for accessing the file is terminated prior to the file being accessed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susann M. Keohane, Gerald F. McBrearty, Shawn P. Mullen, Jessica C. Murillo, Johnny M. Shieh
  • Publication number: 20090197636
    Abstract: A cellular telephone system, including: a first cellular telephone for a child; a second cellular telephone for a first relative of the child; and at least a third cellular telephone for at least a second relative of the child; the first cellular telephone including a single button that, when the single button is pushed, automatically activates only one call to a closest one of either (a) the second cellular telephone or (b) a closest one of the at least a third cellular telephone; where closest is measured by at least one of closest geographically, closest by driving time, and closest by driving distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gerald F. McBrearty, Johnny M. Shieh, Susann M. Keohane, Jessica C. Murillo, Shawn P. Mullen
  • Publication number: 20090187780
    Abstract: A battery conservation component synchronizes with a user's schedule or calendar. The battery conservation component may disable functions or features to ensure that the device has sufficient battery life for selected calendar events. The battery conservation component may warn the user if a battery charge is necessary to make selected calendar events. The battery conservation component may be applied to a wide variety of portable devices with time-sensitive events. For example, the battery conservation component may be applied to a device with vehicle navigation and estimate time-sensitive events based on waypoints in the vehicle's route. The battery conservation component may synchronize with a user's travel itinerary. Alternatively, the battery conservation component may suggest alternative functions or features based on a time-sensitive event, such as suggesting a shorter movie on a flight or road trip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Susann M Keohane, Gerald F. McBrearty, Shawn P. Mullen, Jessica C. Murillo, Johnny M. Shieh
  • Patent number: 7540855
    Abstract: An aspirator cassette includes a housing having first and second ends sealed off by first and second end caps, respectively. A partition mechanism is enclosed within the housing for dividing its internal volume into first and second regions. First and second fluid flow ports are mounted on the first and second end caps, respectively, to provide fluid flow paths into and from the first and second regions, respectively. When the first region is filled with liquid, its associated first port is connected to a vacuum source for sucking the liquid out of the region, whereby as the liquid is removed, the partition mechanism responds by decreasing the volume of the first region, and increasing the volume of the second region causing its second port to draw a vacuum for sucking fluid from an aspiration device connected to the second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Peregrine Surgical, Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher F. Lumpkin, Shawn P. Mullen, John E. Richmond
  • Publication number: 20090110198
    Abstract: The present invention provides a computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product to restore an encrypted file. A computer receives a command to restore an encrypted file, wherein the encrypted file was previously backed up. The computer identifies a user associated with the encrypted file. The computer looks up a first keystore of the user based on the user, the first keystore having an active private key. The computer determines that a public key of the encrypted file fails to match an active public key of the first keystore. The computer restores a second keystore of the user to form a restored private key, wherein the second keystore was previously backed up. The computer responsive to a determination that the public key of the encrypted file fails to match the active public key of the first keystore, decrypts the encrypted file encryption key based on the restored private key to form a file encryption key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Neeta Garimella, Alexei Kojenov, Shawn P. Mullen, Ravi A. Shankar, John Viksne
  • Publication number: 20090106688
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for visually indicating the last line(s) of text on a page displayed in a window so that the user can see this visual indication as they are scrolling the text. The user also has the ability to specify a hard stop for the scrolling once the visual indication has reached a desired position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susann M. Keohane, Gerald F. McBrearty, Shawn P. Mullen, Jessica Murillo, Johnny M. Shieh