Patents by Inventor Thomas Y. Kwok

Thomas Y. Kwok 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: 8635218
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for transforming a first document into a second document, whereby the second document is configured for use at an electronic device. The invention receives interface information about the electronic device. A content rules selector is configured to select content rules for modifying content in the first document. A presentation rules selector is configured to select presentation rules for presenting the content from the first document. A transformation generator is configured to combine the content rules and presentation rules to form transformation instructions for transforming the first document into the second document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Y. Kwok, Linh H. Lam, Thao N. Nguyen, Kakan Roy
  • Patent number: 8453050
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for creating and editing electronic documents. One embodiment of the inventive method involves generating an electronic document in a first document format type, in accordance with one or more user-specified parameters, and converting the electronic document from the first document format type into a second document format type, in accordance with a user instruction to finalize the electronic document. In one embodiment, the first document format type is a structured document format type, such as hypertext markup language or extensible markup language, while the second document format type is a secure document format type such as portable document format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel M. Dias, Thomas Y. Kwok, Thao N. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8356274
    Abstract: A method for providing multi-tenant services includes receiving a request from a user, establishing tenancy information for the user, wherein the tenancy information is selected which corresponds to a tenant of the user from among multiple tenants, customizing the request according to the tenancy information established for the user, forwarding the request to an application that is not multi-tenant aware, receiving results of the request from the application, customizing the results according to the tenancy information established for the user and corresponding to the tenant of the user, and returning customized results to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Y. Kwok, Thao N. Nguyen, Linh H. Lam
  • Patent number: 8055607
    Abstract: A system and method for autonomic problem determination. Events and problems associated with the events are received from a computing resource and are expressed as entries in an event-problem matrix. Expert knowledge is expressed as entries in one or more multi-level structure dictionaries. The system and method enables dynamic interaction between the events in the matrix and the current dictionaries with its entries being updated continuously to maximize correlation among the events and problems. The index of each term in the dictionary is used to calculate the weight of each event in the matrix wherein events having frequent association with a specific problem will be given a higher weight in the matrix. Using singular value decomposition (SVD), the weighted events enable an accelerated and accurate convergence to a set of specific associated problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hoi Y. Chan, Thomas Y. Kwok
  • Patent number: 7996353
    Abstract: A statistical approach implementing Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) to a policy-based management system for autonomic and on-demand computing applications. The statistical approach empowers a class of applications that require policies to handle ambiguous conditions and allow the system to “evolve” in response to changing operation and environment conditions. In the system and method providing the statistical approach, observed event-policy associated data, which is represented by an event-policy matrix, is treated as a statistical problem with the assumption that there are some underlying or implicit higher order correlations among events and policies. The SVD approach enables such correlations to be modeled, extracted and modified. From these correlations, recommended policies can be selected or created without exact match of policy conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hoi Y. Chan, David M. Chess, Thomas Y. Kwok, Steve R. White
  • Patent number: 7917767
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for adding signature information to electronic documents. One embodiment of the inventive method involves adding the signature information into a signature data field template corresponding to the electronic document, converting the signature data field template, including the added signature information, to an image file, and superimposing the image file over the electronic document to produce a signed electronic document. The inventive method substantially eliminates the potential for human error and security breaches in the signing of electronic documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Brant Berryman, Maieta Howze, Thomas Y. Kwok, Mary Jo McMillin, Thao N. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20100005443
    Abstract: A method for providing multi-tenant services includes receiving a request from a user, establishing tenancy information for the user, wherein the tenancy information is selected which corresponds to a tenant of the user from among multiple tenants, customizing the request according to the tenancy information established for the user, forwarding the request to an application that is not multi-tenant aware, receiving results of the request from the application, customizing the results according to the tenancy information established for the user and corresponding to the tenant of the user, and returning customized results to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Y. Kwok, Thao N. Nguyen, Linh H. Lam
  • Publication number: 20090222396
    Abstract: A system and method for autonomic problem determination. Events and problems associated with the events are received from a computing resource and are expressed as entries in an event-problem matrix. Expert knowledge is expressed as entries in one or more multi-level structure dictionaries. The system and method enables dynamic interaction between the events in the matrix and the current dictionaries with its entries being updated continuously to maximize correlation among the events and problems. The index of each term in the dictionary is used to calculate the weight of each event in the matrix wherein events having frequent association with a specific problem will be given a higher weight in the matrix. Using singular value decomposition (SVD), the weighted events enable an accelerated and accurate convergence to a set of specific associated problems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hoi Y. Chan, Thomas Y. Kwok
  • Patent number: 7571461
    Abstract: A Method and system are disclosed for accessing personal Web site or executing electronic commerce with security in a smart Java card. A personal Web site which includes personal or private information is stored in a personal smart Java card. Before a user can access the Web site stored in the smart Java card, the user is validated by any one of or in combination of PIN, facial images, hand images, eye image, voice characteristics, and finger prints. In addition, an encryption engine embedded in the smart Java card decodes and compares the entered PIN combined with a secure key or security certificate to verify the identity of the user. Before the bank account can be accessed freely by the user, the bank's computer system checks the combined secure data to ensure the authenticity of the card and the user's identity with multiple check points using Internet security protocols via Web browsers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Y. Kwok, Lawrence S. Mok
  • Patent number: 7568104
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for adding signature information to electronic documents. One embodiment of the inventive method involves adding the signature information into a signature data field template corresponding to the electronic document, converting the signature data field template, including the added signature information, to an image file, and superimposing the image file over the electronic document to produce a signed electronic document. The inventive method substantially eliminates the potential for human error and security breaches in the signing of electronic documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Brant Berryman, Maieta Howze, Thomas Y. Kwok, Mary Jo McMillin, Thao N. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20080260287
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for adding signature information to electronic documents. One embodiment of the inventive method involves adding the signature information into a signature data field template corresponding to the electronic document, converting the signature data field template, including the added signature information, to an image file, and superimposing the image file over the electronic document to produce a signed electronic document. The inventive method substantially eliminates the potential for human error and security breaches in the signing of electronic documents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER BRANT BERRYMAN, MAIETA HOWZE, THOMAS Y. KWOK, MARY JO MCMILLIN, THAO N. NGUYEN
  • Publication number: 20080263438
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for creating and editing electronic documents. One embodiment of the inventive method involves generating an electronic document in a first document format type, in accordance with one or more user-specified parameters, and converting the electronic document from the first document format type into a second document format type, in accordance with a user instruction to finalize the electronic document. In one embodiment, the first document format type is a structured document format type, such as hypertext markup language or extensible markup language, while the second document format type is a secure document format type such as portable document format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: DANIEL M. DIAS, Thomas Y. Kwok, Thao N. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20080235168
    Abstract: A statistical approach implementing Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) to a policy-based management system for autonomic and on-demand computing applications. The statistical approach empowers a class of applications that require policies to handle ambiguous conditions and allow the system to “evolve” in response to changing operation and environment conditions. In the system and method providing the statistical approach, observed event-policy associated data, which is represented by an event-policy matrix, is treated as a statistical problem with the assumption that there are some underlying or implicit higher order correlations among events and policies. The SVD approach enables such correlations to be modeled, extracted and modified. From these correlations, recommended policies can be selected or created without exact match of policy conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hoi Y. Chan, David M. Chess, Thomas Y. Kwok, Steve R. White
  • Publication number: 20080183691
    Abstract: A method, article, and system for managing document retrieval and ranking, and more particularly to providing a method, article, and system for utilizing not just the explicit metadata of a retrieved document, but also the extracted intrinsic metadata inside the content of the retrieved document, as well as the knowledge of the user-document relationship by relating the document implicit metadata to the user's information on the document's system database, as important parameters in calculating relevance or ranking score for retrieved documents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Y. Kwok, Thao N. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7363509
    Abstract: Under the present invention, a customized contract is created based on the needs of the parties and is then stored within a secure computer infrastructure. Security within the computer infrastructure is typically provided through encryption such as 128 bit encryption. Moreover, all actions taken with respect to the contract (e.g., approval, execution, etc.) occur within the infrastructure and are recorded so that a record can be provided. Any party taking action will first be authenticated before access to the infrastructure is granted. In order for the contract to be electronically executed, both the originating contract partner and the receiving contract partner must first deliberately approve the contract. Once approval has been obtained, the contract can be electronically executed by both parties. After execution is complete, a final image of the contract is generated that includes the electronic signatures and the date of execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Aston G. Farquharson, Michael J. Cammarota, John R. Harrison, Thomas Y. Kwok, Linh Hue Lam, Thao N. Nguyen, Michael A. Penn, Kakan Roy, Michael B. Sandler, Gary D. Wexler
  • Publication number: 20080005667
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for creating and editing electronic documents. One embodiment of the inventive method involves generating an electronic document in a first document format type, in accordance with one or more user-specified parameters, and converting the electronic document from the first document format type into a second document format type, in accordance with a user instruction to finalize the electronic document. In one embodiment, the first document format type is a structured document format type, such as hypertext markup language or extensible markup language, while the second document format type is a secure document format type such as portable document format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Daniel M. Dias, Thomas Y. Kwok, Thao N. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20070282778
    Abstract: A statistical approach implementing Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) to a policy-based management system for autonomic and on-demand computing applications. The statistical approach empowers a class of applications that require policies to handle ambiguous conditions and allow the system to “evolve” in response to changing operation and environment conditions. In the system and method providing the statistical approach, observed event-policy associated data, which is represented by an event-policy matrix, is treated as a statistical problem with the assumption that there are some underlying or implicit higher order correlations among events and policies. The SVD approach enables such correlations to be modeled, extracted and modified. From these correlations, recommended policies can be selected or created without exact match of policy conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hoi Y. Chan, David M. Chess, Thomas Y. Kwok, Steve R. White
  • Patent number: 6829711
    Abstract: A Method and system are disclosed for accessing personal Web site or executing electronic commerce with security in a smart Java card. A personal Web site which includes personal or private information is stored in a personal smart Java card. Before a user can access the Web site stored in the smart Java card, the user is validated by any one of or in combination of PIN, facial images, hand images, eye image, voice characteristics, and finger prints. In addition, an encryption engine embedded in the smart Java card decodes and compares the entered PIN combined with a secure key or security certificate to verify the identity of the user. Before the bank account can be accessed freely by the user, the bank's computer system checks the combined secure data to ensure the authenticity of the card and the user's identity with multiple check points using Internet security protocols via Web browsers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Y. Kwok, Lawrence S. Mok
  • Publication number: 20040044566
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program for providing content from a merchant site to a target user over a computer network. The merchant site provides a landing page to the target user in response to a request for data. The landing page includes a redirect module configured to redirect the target user to a destination page. The landing page also includes a cookie module configured to store a computer readable client cookie in memory identifying the marketing channel referring the target user to the merchant site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Janet K. Bostelmann, Casey L. Gentry, Thomas Y. Kwok, Linh H. Lam, Thao N. Nguyen, Kakan Roy
  • Patent number: 5243222
    Abstract: A method for providing vias, lines and other recesses in VLSI interconnection structures with copper alloys to create a thin layer of an oxide of an alloying element on the surface of the deposited alloy and on portions of the alloy which are in contact with an oxygen containing dielectric is disclosed. The present invention is also directed to VLSI interconnection structures which utilize this copper alloy and thin oxide layer in their vias, lines and other recesses. The oxide layer eliminates the need for diffusion barrier and/or adhesion layers and provides corrosion resistance for the deposited copper alloy. VLSI devices utilizing this copper alloy in the vias, lines and other recesses interconnecting semiconductor regions, devices and conductive layers on the VLSI device are significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James M. E. Harper, Karen L. Holloway, Thomas Y. Kwok