Patents by Inventor Todd E. Johnson

Todd E. Johnson 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: 9704115
    Abstract: A workflow system allows defining criteria for an automated task agent to perform tasks for a participant automatically without input from the participant at the time the task is performed. Automated tasks are performed by an automated task agent according to the participant's history in performing similar tasks in the past. Tasks completed by automated task agents are displayed to a user in a manner that distinguishes automated tasks from manual tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Todd E. Johnson, John E. Petri
  • Patent number: 9519884
    Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for workflow processing and, more particularly, for managing creation and execution of data driven dynamic workflows. One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method for managing execution of workflow instances. The method comprises providing a parent process template and providing a child process template. The child process template is configured to implement an arbitrary number of workflow operations for a given workflow instance, and the parent process template is configured to instantiate child processes on the basis of the child process template to implement a desired workflow. The method further comprises receiving a workflow configuration and instantiating an instance of the workflow on the basis of the workflow configuration. The instantiating comprises instantiating a parent process on the basis of the parent process template and instantiating, by the parent process template, one or more child processes on the basis of the child process template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Melissa Aron, Michael A. Blocksome, David G. Herbeck, Todd E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8819494
    Abstract: In an embodiment, in response to an error encountered by a test of a program, a rule is found that specifies the error and an action. A part in the program is selected in response to the action, the part is modified, and the test is re-executed. In various embodiments, the part is modified by changing the code in the part or by replacing the part with a previous version of the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Todd E. Johnson, Frederick A. Kulack, John E. Petri
  • Patent number: 8789056
    Abstract: A computer system provides a way to automatically generate compound commands that perform tasks made up of multiple simple commands. A compound command generation mechanism monitors consecutive user commands and compares the consecutive commands a user has taken to a command sequence identification policy. If the user's consecutive commands satisfy the command sequence identification policy the user's consecutive commands become a command sequence. If the command sequence satisfies the compound command policy, the compound generation mechanism can generate a compound command for the command sequence automatically or prompt an administrator to allow the compound command to be generated. Generating a compound command can be done on a user by user basis or on a system wide basis. The compound command can then be displayed to the user to execute so that the command sequence is performed by the user selecting the compound command for execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Cragun, David G. Herbeck, Todd E. Johnson, John E. Petri, Leah R. Smutzer
  • Publication number: 20120159247
    Abstract: In an embodiment, in response to an error encountered by a test of a program, a rule is found that specifies the error and an action. A part in the program is selected in response to the action, the part is modified, and the test is re-executed. In various embodiments, the part is modified by changing the code in the part or by replacing the part with a previous version of the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd E. Johnson, Frederick A. Kulack, John E. Petri
  • Publication number: 20120159491
    Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for workflow processing and, more particularly, for managing creation and execution of data driven dynamic workflows. One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method for managing execution of workflow instances. The method comprises providing a parent process template and providing a child process template. The child process template is configured to implement an arbitrary number of workflow operations for a given workflow instance, and the parent process template is configured to instantiate child processes on the basis of the child process template to implement a desired workflow. The method further comprises receiving a workflow configuration and instantiating an instance of the workflow on the basis of the workflow configuration. The instantiating comprises instantiating a parent process on the basis of the parent process template and instantiating, by the parent process template, one or more child processes on the basis of the child process template.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Melissa Aron, Michael A. Blocksome, David G. Herbeck, Todd E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8140373
    Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for workflow processing and, more particularly, for managing creation and execution of data driven dynamic workflows. One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method for managing execution of workflow instances. The method comprises providing a parent process template and providing a child process template. The child process template is configured to implement an arbitrary number of workflow operations for a given workflow instance, and the parent process template is configured to instantiate child processes on the basis of the child process template to implement a desired workflow. The method further comprises receiving a workflow configuration and instantiating an instance of the workflow on the basis of the workflow configuration. The instantiating comprises instantiating a parent process on the basis of the parent process template and instantiating, by the parent process template, one or more child processes on the basis of the child process template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa Aron, Michael A. Blocksome, David G. Herbeck, Todd E. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20110302004
    Abstract: A workflow system allows determining at least one date based on various factors including the complexity of a task, a participant's history as monitored by the workflow system, and a participant's profile as entered by the participant. In addition, the workflow system generates customized notifications according to the participant's reliability in meeting due dates in the past and a notification preference specified by the participant. The result is a powerful and flexible workflow system. The dates determined by the workflow system may include one or more due dates for tasks and one or more dates for notifications to participants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd E. Johnson, John E. Petri
  • Publication number: 20110301996
    Abstract: A workflow system allows defining criteria for an automated task agent to perform tasks for a participant automatically without input from the participant at the time the task is performed. Automated tasks are performed by an automated task agent according to the participant's history in performing similar tasks in the past. Tasks completed by automated task agents are displayed to a user in a manner that distinguishes automated tasks from manual tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd E. Johnson, John E. Petri
  • Publication number: 20110067025
    Abstract: A computer system provides a way to automatically generate compound commands that perform tasks made up of multiple simple commands. A compound command generation mechanism monitors consecutive user commands and compares the consecutive commands a user has taken to a command sequence identification policy. If the user's consecutive commands satisfy the command sequence identification policy the user's consecutive commands become a command sequence. If the command sequence satisfies the compound command policy, the compound generation mechanism can generate a compound command for the command sequence automatically or prompt an administrator to allow the compound command to be generated. Generating a compound command can be done on a user by user basis or on a system wide basis. The compound command can then be displayed to the user to execute so that the command sequence is performed by the user selecting the compound command for execution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Cragun, David G. Herbeck, Todd E. Johnson, John E. Petri, Leah R. Smutzer