Patents by Inventor Tsz S. Cheng

Tsz S. Cheng 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).

  • Publication number: 20150325094
    Abstract: One or more processors retrieve a set of data based on a variable of a rule. The rule is configured to evaluate a subject based on a preference of a user. One or more processors identify an opinion of a second user regarding the subject. One or more processors use the opinion of the second user and the set of data to define a value that corresponds to the variable of the rule. One or more processors determine a course of action to be recommended for the first user. The determination is based on incorporation of the value as the variable of the rule and on the preference of the first user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tsz S. Cheng, Gregory P. Fitzpatrick
  • Publication number: 20150319561
    Abstract: In response to receipt of a request for digital content that includes a subject matter of an event, one or more processors request the locations of a plurality of mobile devices during a time period of the event. One or more processors determine whether the location a mobile device indicates that it was present at the event during the period of time of the event. In response to a determination the mobile device was present at the event; one or more processors send a request for the digital content to a user of that mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tsz S. Cheng, Tejashkumar B. Purani
  • Publication number: 20150193723
    Abstract: A floor operations automation system can include an intelligent video module, profiles, decision rules, and a decision module. The intelligent video module can be configured to generate video analytics data from video captured by video cameras within a retail location. The profiles can contain data that represents a business practice or policy of the retail location and/or user-specified preferences for decision-related variables. The decision rules can express actions to be performed in response to predefined conditions within the retail location. The decision module can be configured to decide upon action to be performed, based upon the video analytics data, the profiles, and the decision rules. The decision can be made without direct input from a human agent of the retail location. The actions can affect a business system and/or a human agent associated with the retail location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: LEE A. CARBONELL, TSZ S. CHENG, JEFFREY L. EDGINGTON, PANDIAN MARIADOSS
  • Publication number: 20150019373
    Abstract: A good selected by a shopper within a commerce session can be identified. The commerce session can be associated with a provider. The provider can be associated with a product and/or a service. The commerce session can be associated with an e-commerce Web site and a physical retail site. Historic purchase data associated with the good can be determined. The historic purchase data can be associated with the shopper. A purchase pattern for the good can be established based on at least one of the historic purchase data and a personalization profile. The personalization profile can include a user preference and/or an event data associated with an event. The event can affect the future purchasing behavior of the shopper. A recommendation based on the purchase pattern can be provided. The recommendation can benefit the purchasing behavior of the shopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: LEE A. CARBONELL, TSZ S. CHENG, JEFFREY L. EDGINGTON, PANDIAN MARIADOSS
  • Publication number: 20150006304
    Abstract: A ratings device in a purchase environment receives a rating of goods, and writes the rating of goods to a physical medium. A point of sale device in the purchase environment reads the rating of goods from the physical medium and transmits the rating of goods to a ratings server. The ratings server can integrate and distribute the rating. The ratings device can include a scale configured to weigh a portion of the goods, logic configured to price the portion of goods based at least in part on the weight of the portion of goods, a user interface configured to receive a rating of goods of the type of the portion of goods, and a writer configured to write the rating to the physical medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Lee A. Carbonell, Tsz S. Cheng, Jeffrey L. Edgington, Pandian Mariadoss
  • Publication number: 20140329211
    Abstract: A method for providing location-relevant goal fulfillment messages to a mobile device can begin with a location-based goal coaching system receiving location data for a mobile device. When inside a non-residential location, a proximate area map for the mobile device can be dynamically generated using the received location data. The proximate area map can express a position of the mobile device within the non-residential location and points of interest or items within a predefined radius of the mobile device. Elements of the proximate area map that are relevant to a goal expressed in a previously defined user-specific goal profile can be identified. For each goal having a relevant identified element, a goal fulfillment recommendation can be created. The goal fulfillment recommendation can then be conveyed to the mobile device, making the user aware of the nearby presence of the item or point of interest and its relationship to the goal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: LEE A. CARBONELL, TSZ S. CHENG, JEFFREY L. EDGINGTON, PANDIAN MARIADOSS
  • Publication number: 20140245182
    Abstract: A method for electronically providing targeted messages can begin when a source-concealing targeted messaging system receives data items provided by a source user that define a targeted message that is to be presented within a social media context. The data items can include a set of recipients, a message body, and a set of trigger conditions indicating when the targeted message is to be presented to the recipients. The recipients can be members of a contact list of the source user within the social media system providing the social media context. Satisfaction of the trigger conditions can be monitored and the social media system can be monitored recipients. When the trigger conditions are satisfied and a recipient is currently using the social media system, the targeted message can be presented within a user interface of the social media system, such that the source user appears unaffiliated with the targeted message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: LEE A. CARBONELL, TSZ S. CHENG, JEFFREY L. EDGINGTON, PANDIAN MARIADOSS
  • Patent number: 8484344
    Abstract: An unsuccessful communication attempt to a mobile receiving device is detected. A contact list associated with the mobile receiving device is accessed. One or more proximate devices to the mobile recipient device are determined. Each of the one or more proximate devices are communication devices of a contact of the contact list. A digitally encoded message is conveyed to at least one of the one or more proximate devices. The digitally encoded message indicates that a communication attempt with the mobile receiving device was unsuccessful and requests a recipient of the digitally encoded message inform a holder of the mobile receiving device of the unsuccessful communication attempt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Butterfield, Tsz S. Cheng, Gregory P. Fitzpatrick
  • Publication number: 20130012175
    Abstract: An unsuccessful communication attempt to a mobile receiving device is detected. A contact list associated with the mobile receiving device is accessed. One or more proximate devices to the mobile recipient device are determined. Each of the one or more proximate devices are communication devices of a contact of the contact list. A digitally encoded message is conveyed to at least one of the one or more proximate devices. The digitally encoded message indicates that a communication attempt with the mobile receiving device was unsuccessful and requests a recipient of the digitally encoded message inform a holder of the mobile receiving device of the unsuccessful communication attempt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: DANIEL J. BUTTERFIELD, TSZ S. CHENG, GREGORY P. FITZPATRICK
  • Patent number: 8352401
    Abstract: A system that incorporates representational authenticity into virtual world interactions can include user representational authenticity data and a virtual world computing system. The user representational authenticity data can be used to describe the physical characteristics of a human user. The physical characteristics can be quantified utilizing standardized measurement techniques. The virtual world computing system can be configured to adjudicate the conduction of interactions performed by a virtual representation of the human user within the virtual world environment utilizing the user representational authenticity data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tsz S. Cheng, Gregory P. Fitzpatrick
  • Publication number: 20120331400
    Abstract: A visual representation of a human user for display within one or more graphical user interfaces to others interacting with the human user over a network can be identified. An authenticity score defining a degree of resemblance between the visual representation of the human user and physical characteristics of the human user can be calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: TSZ S. CHENG, GREGORY P. FITZPATRICK
  • Patent number: 8285839
    Abstract: A communication attempt directed towards a recipient device can be identified. At least one proximate device geographically proximate to the recipient device can be automatically detected. Responsive to the determining of the proximate devices, a digitally encoded message can be wirelessly conveyed to one or more of the determined proximate devices. In various embodiments the message can be a text message, an instant message, and/or a voice message. The digitally encoded message can direct a user of the proximate device to inform a user of the recipient device of the communication attempt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Butterfield, Tsz S. Cheng, Gregory P. Fitzpatrick
  • Patent number: 8107100
    Abstract: A method for managing deployed electronic documents that can begin when the deployed electronic document is accessed. A data probe can be automatically conveyed to a remotely located document manager responsive to the access attempt. The data probe can include data specific to the deployed electronic document. A management command can be received from the document manager. At least one management action can be locally and automatically performed for the deployed electronic document in accordance with the received management command. The management action can alter the content of the deployed electronic document and/or access rights to existing content of the deployed electronic document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Subil M. Abraham, Tsz S. Cheng, Daniel Hassell, Mathews Thomas
  • Patent number: 7853882
    Abstract: A method for selectively securing portlets can include a step of providing a portal that includes multiple portlets. A portlet enablement event associated with a set of at least one of the portlets can be determined. The set include a number of portlets less than a total number of portlets in the portal. Responsive to the portlet enablement event, portlet enablement states can be changed for each portlet in the set without changing portlet enablement states of portlets not included in the set. Different portlet enablement states can include enabled, disabled, and access restricted states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tsz S. Cheng, Gregory P. Fitzpatrick, Daniel Hassell, Mathews Thomas
  • Publication number: 20100262572
    Abstract: A system that incorporates representational authenticity into virtual world interactions can include user representational authenticity data and a virtual world computing system. The user representational authenticity data can be used to describe the physical characteristics of a human user. The physical characteristics can be quantified utilizing standardized measurement techniques. The virtual world computing system can be configured to adjudicate the conduction of interactions performed by a virtual representation of the human user within the virtual world environment utilizing the user representational authenticity data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsz S. Cheng, Gregory P. FitzPatrick
  • Publication number: 20100222084
    Abstract: A communication attempt directed towards a recipient device can be identified. At least one proximate device geographically proximate to the recipient device can be automatically detected. Responsive to the determining of the proximate devices, a digitally encoded message can be wirelessly conveyed to one or more of the determined proximate devices. In various embodiments the message can be a text message, an instant message, and/or a voice message. The digitally encoded message can direct a user of the proximate device to inform a user of the recipient device of the communication attempt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel J. Butterfield, Tsz S. Cheng, Gregory P. Fitzpatrick
  • Publication number: 20100125599
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a solution for obtaining trusted recommendations through discovery of common contacts in contact lists. The solution can utilize private contact lists (e.g., address book, phone lists) to permit users to search for and obtain trusted recommendations for a product and/or service. The presence of a contact in a contact list is recognized as recommendation of that contact. Recommendations can be determined through searching private contact lists and obtaining implicit relationships based on common contacts of multiple contact lists. Searches can be customized allowing recommendations to reflect results with high probability of confidence. Recommendations can also be affected by the degrees of separation between contact lists, professional peer relationships, expertise of contact list owner, and the like. Recommendation results can provide trusted recommendations for products and/or services without relying on potentially erroneous input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: TSZ S. CHENG, GREGORY P. FITZPATRICK
  • Publication number: 20080123683
    Abstract: A method of initiating contact based upon automatically shared profile data can include a step of automatically and wirelessly exchanging profile information between at least two computing devices. A determination can be made as to whether a contact opportunity exists by comparing received profile information with a set of previously established contact rules. A notification of a contract opportunity can be automatically presented upon one of the computing devices, depending upon whether the profile information favorably, compares with the contact rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: TSZ S. CHENG, DANIEL HASSELL, MATHEWS THOMAS
  • Publication number: 20080018926
    Abstract: A method for managing deployed electronic documents that can begin when the deployed electronic document is accessed. A data probe can be automatically conveyed to a remotely located document manager responsive to the access attempt. The data probe can include data specific to the deployed electronic document. A management command can be received from the document manager. At least one management action can be locally and automatically performed for the deployed electronic document in accordance with the received management command. The management action can alter the content of the deployed electronic document and/or access rights to existing content of the deployed electronic document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: SUBIL M. ABRAHAM, TSZ S. CHENG, DANIEL HASSELL, MATHEWS THOMAS