Patents by Inventor Suellen Kae Birkholz

Suellen Kae Birkholz 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).

  • Method and apparatus for automating software upgrades
    Patent number: 7055149
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for upgrading a software on a customer system are provided. In one embodiment, a method for upgrading a software on a customer system comprises: receiving, by a supplier system, a software inventory from the customer system; verifying one or more business contracts for the software inventory utilizing one or more databases connected to the supplier system; and determining one or more software upgrade releases for the software inventory utilizing a product topology database connected to the supplier system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE Ltd.
    Inventors: Suellen Kae Birkholz, Carol Ann Egan, Clair L. Ewert, James R. Fritsch, John David Gressett, Lonny R. Olson-Williams
  • Method and apparatus for automating software upgrades
    Publication number: 20030023963
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for upgrading a software on a customer system are provided. In one embodiment, a method for upgrading a software on a customer system comprises: receiving, by a supplier system, a software inventory from the customer system; verifying one or more business contracts for the software inventory utilizing one or more databases connected to the supplier system; and determining one or more software upgrade releases for the software inventory utilizing a product topology database connected to the supplier system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Suellen Kae Birkholz, Carol Ann Egan, Clair L. Ewert, James R. Fritsch, John David Gressett, Lonny R. Olson-Williams