Patents by Inventor Viktors Berstis

Viktors Berstis 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: 11176551
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a commercial transaction is presented. An article of manufacture has a time cell that is read by an electronic apparatus. In response to a determination of a state of the time cell by the electronic apparatus, usage of the article of manufacture in a commercial transaction is enabled or denied based on the determined state of the time cell. The expiration period of a time cell controls the time period during which the commercial transaction is enabled or is denied to be performed; an unexpired time cell may both enable or deny performance of a commercial transaction, and an expired time cell may also both enable or deny performance of a commercial transaction. The time cell may be used to restrict the usage period of a coupon, a promotional offer, a pre-paid service, or some other commercial transaction that involves an article of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Viktors Berstis
  • Publication number: 20190019799
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a commercial transaction is presented. An article of manufacture has a time cell that is read by an electronic apparatus. In response to a determination of a state of the time cell by the electronic apparatus, usage of the article of manufacture in a commercial transaction is enabled or denied based on the determined state of the time cell. The expiration period of a time cell controls the time period during which the commercial transaction is enabled or is denied to be performed; an unexpired time cell may both enable or deny performance of a commercial transaction, and an expired time cell may also both enable or deny performance of a commercial transaction. The time cell may be used to restrict the usage period of a coupon, a promotional offer, a pre-paid service, or some other commercial transaction that involves an article of manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventor: Viktors Berstis
  • Patent number: 10056392
    Abstract: Mechanisms for controlling a commercial transaction is presented. An article of manufacture has a time cell that is read by an electronic apparatus. In response to a determination of a state of the time cell by the electronic apparatus, usage of the article of manufacture in a commercial transaction is enabled or denied based on the determined state of the time cell. The expiration period of a time cell controls the time period during which the commercial transaction is enabled or is denied to be performed; an unexpired time cell may both enable or deny performance of a commercial transaction, and an expired time cell may also both enable or deny performance of a commercial transaction. The time cell may be used to restrict the usage period of a coupon, a promotional offer, a pre-paid service, or some other commercial transaction that involves an article of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Viktors Berstis
  • Patent number: 9792034
    Abstract: A method and system for transferring an image. Displayed are: (a) a graphic object representing a web page, (b) a first destination point within the graphic object and first text which is adjacent to the first destination point and describes the first destination point, and (c) a second, different destination point within the graphic object and second, different text which is adjacent to the second destination point and describes the second destination point. A user mouse selection of one of the destination points within the graphic object is received, and in response, a selected image is copied into the web page at the selected destination point. The first destination point, the first text, the second destination point, and the second text are stored in the transfer map. The selected image is mapped to the one of the destination points in the transfer map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Danny Yen-Fu Chen, John W. Dunsmoir
  • Patent number: 9591026
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements to check for permission to record Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) messages and to respond to requests for permission are contemplated. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to check for permission to record VoIP messages and to respond to requests by transmitting an inquiry on permission to record a VoIP message of a participant in a VoIP call session comprising the VoIP message, receiving a response to the inquiry, determining by a processor whether the response to the inquiry grants permission to record the VoIP message, and recording the VoIP message based upon the response to the inquiry granting permission to record the VoIP message. Some embodiments may involve querying a participant in a VoIP call session comprising a VoIP message for permission to record the VoIP message through a user interface mechanism for checking for permission to record VoIP messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Randolph M. Forlenza
  • Publication number: 20170024102
    Abstract: A method and system for transferring an image. Displayed are: (a) a graphic object representing a web page, (b) a first destination point within the graphic object and first text which is adjacent to the first destination point and describes the first destination point, and (c) a second, different destination point within the graphic object and second, different text which is adjacent to the second destination point and describes the second destination point. A user mouse selection of one of the destination points within the graphic object is received, and in response, a selected image is copied into the web page at the selected destination point. The first destination point, the first text, the second destination point, and the second text are stored in the transfer map. The selected image is mapped to the one of the destination points in the transfer map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Danny Yen-Fu Chen, John W. Dunsmoir
  • Patent number: 9495719
    Abstract: A method and system for transferring an image. A user-selected image is received. Displayed are: (a) a graphic object representing a web page, (b) a first destination point within the graphic object and first text which is adjacent to the first destination point and describes the first destination point, and (c) a second, different destination point within the graphic object and second, different text which is adjacent to the second destination point and describes the second destination point. A user mouse selection of one of the destination points within the graphic object is received, and in response, the image is copied into the web page at the selected destination point. The first destination point, the first text, the second destination point, and the second text are stored in the transfer map. The selected image is mapped to the one of the destination points in the transfer map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Danny Yen-Fu Chen, John W. Dunsmoir
  • Publication number: 20160140682
    Abstract: A method and system for transferring an image. A user-selected image is received. Displayed are: (a) a graphic object representing a web page, (b) a first destination point within the graphic object and first text which is adjacent to the first destination point and describes the first destination point, and (c) a second, different destination point within the graphic object and second, different text which is adjacent to the second destination point and describes the second destination point. A user mouse selection of one of the destination points within the graphic object is received, and in response, the image is copied into the web page at the selected destination point. The first destination point, the first text, the second destination point, and the second text are stored in the transfer map. The selected image is mapped to the one of the destination points in the transfer map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Danny Yen-Fu Chen, John W. Dunsmoir
  • Patent number: 9280264
    Abstract: A system and method for transferring data or an image. A user-selected image or user-generated text within a word processing document is received. Displayed are: a graphic object representing a web page, and a first and second destination point within the graphic object. A user mouse selection of one of the destination points within the graphic object is received, and in response, the image or selected text is copied into the web page at the selected destination point. The first destination point and first text which is adjacent to the first destination point and describes the first destination point in a transfer map are stored. The second destination point and second text which is adjacent to the second destination point and describes the second destination point in the transfer map are stored. The user-selected text is mapped to the one of the destination points in the transfer map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Danny Yen-Fu Chen, John W. Dunsmoir
  • Publication number: 20150143265
    Abstract: A system and method for transferring data or an image. A user-selected image or user-generated text within a word processing document is received. Displayed are: a graphic object representing a web page, and a first and second destination point within the graphic object. A user mouse selection of one of the destination points within the graphic object is received, and in response, the image or selected text is copied into the web page at the selected destination point. The first destination point and first text which is adjacent to the first destination point and describes the first destination point in a transfer map are stored. The second destination point and second text which is adjacent to the second destination point and describes the second destination point in the transfer map are stored. The user-selected text is mapped to the one of the destination points in the transfer map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Danny Yen-Fu Chen, John W. Dunsmoir
  • Patent number: 9037989
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for multi-source, multi-destination data transfers that include identifying a plurality of destination points having destination contexts in one or more destination objects; selecting source content for transfer; displaying destination contexts for the destination points; and directing source content to at least one destination point in dependence upon the displayed destination contexts. In typical embodiments, identifying destination points includes recording each identified destination point and storing in association with each recorded destination point a copy of a destination context for each recorded destination point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Danny Yen-Fu Chen, John W. Dunsmoir
  • Publication number: 20150128228
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements to check for permission to record Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) messages and to respond to requests for permission are contemplated. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to check for permission to record VoIP messages and to respond to requests by transmitting an inquiry on permission to record a VoIP message of a participant in a VoIP call session comprising the VoIP message, receiving a response to the inquiry, determining by a processor whether the response to the inquiry grants permission to record the VoIP message, and recording the VoIP message based upon the response to the inquiry granting permission to record the VoIP message. Some embodiments may involve querying a participant in a VoIP call session comprising a VoIP message for permission to record the VoIP message through a user interface mechanism for checking for permission to record VoIP messages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Randolph M. Forlenza
  • Patent number: 8953756
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements to check for permission to record Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) messages and to respond to requests for permission are contemplated. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to check for permission to record VoIP messages and to respond to requests by transmitting an inquiry on permission to record a VoIP message of a participant in a VoIP call session comprising the VoIP message, receiving a response to the inquiry, determining by a processor whether the response to the inquiry grants permission to record the VoIP message, and recording the VoIP message based upon the response to the inquiry granting permission to record the VoIP message. Some embodiments may involve querying a participant in a VoIP call session comprising a VoIP message for permission to record the VoIP message through a user interface mechanism for checking for permission to record VoIP messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Randolph M. Forlenza
  • Patent number: 8943435
    Abstract: A method for receiving from a customer, customer subscription data at a menu tree service center prior to receiving a customer request from the customer, wherein the customer subscription data comprises at least one linked customer number linked to a spoken word or phrase. The method sends a service provider request for the linked customer number to the customer via the menu tree service center. The method receives a verbal response from the customer at the menu tree service center, wherein the verbal response comprises the spoken word or phrase. The method retrieves the linked customer number from the menu tree service center server based on the verbal response. The method sends the linked customer number to the service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Candice B Gilzean, Sonia M Gaillard
  • Patent number: 8849915
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements to communicate aurally during a chat conference are contemplated. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to communicate aurally during a chat conference by receiving through a user interface for the chat conference the designation of a participant in the chat conference, receiving through the user interface for the chat conference a command to capture audio, capturing audio, and transmitting the captured audio to the participant based upon the designation of the participant. In some embodiments, a participant may be designated by a mouse click on a name representing the participant. In some embodiments, the command to capture audio may be expressed by holding down a mouse button. In alternate embodiments, the command to capture audio may be expressed by a pop-up menu. In further embodiments, the captured audio may be stored and transmitted to additional participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Randolph M. Forlenza
  • Patent number: 8683223
    Abstract: A method and system for selective encryption within a document. A portion of the document selected and marked for encryption is detected, the selected portion of the document including plaintext. The detected portion of the document selected for encryption is encrypted as ciphertext. The encrypted portion of the document is decrypted with a proper decryption key, wherein the decrypting includes decrypting the encrypted portion of the document in response to presentation of required data by the accessor. The required data includes the proper decryption key, a name of the accessor, and an employee number of the accessor. The portion of the document is displayed as decrypted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Randolph M. Forlenza, Viktors Berstis
  • Patent number: 8640132
    Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-implemented planning process that aids a system administrator in the task of creating a job schedule. The process treats enterprise computing resources as a grid of resources, which provides greater flexibility in assigning resources to jobs. During the planning process, an administrator or other user, or software, builds a job-dependency tree. Jobs are then ranked according to priority, pickiness, and network centricity. Difficult and problematic jobs then are assigned resources and scheduled first, with less difficult jobs assigned resources and scheduled afterwards. The resources assigned to the most problematic jobs then are changed iteratively to determine if the plan improves. This iterative approach not only increases the efficiency of the original job schedule, but also allows the planning process to react and adapt to new, ad-hoc jobs, as well as unexpected interruptions in resource availability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Kyle Boon, Creighton M. Hicks, Bella Voldman
  • Publication number: 20130298048
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for multi-source, multi-destination data transfers that include identifying a plurality of destination points having destination contexts in one or more destination objects; selecting source content for transfer; displaying destination contexts for the destination points; and directing source content to at least one destination point in dependence upon the displayed destination contexts. In typical embodiments, identifying destination points includes recording each identified destination point and storing in association with each recorded destination point a copy of a destination context for each recorded destination point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Danny Yen-Fu Chen, John W. Dunsmoir
  • Publication number: 20130239064
    Abstract: A method for receiving from a customer, customer subscription data at a menu tree service center prior to receiving a customer request from the customer, wherein the customer subscription data comprises at least one linked customer number linked to a spoken word or phrase. The method sends a service provider request for the linked customer number to the customer via the menu tree service center. The method receives a verbal response from the customer at the menu tree service center, wherein the verbal response comprises the spoken word or phrase. The method retrieves the linked customer number from the menu tree service center server based on the verbal response. The method sends the linked customer number to the service provider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Candice B. Gilzean, Sonia M. Gaillard
  • Patent number: 8503622
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements to selectively retrieve Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) messages are contemplated. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to selectively retrieve VoIP messages by storing the VoIP messages, associating one or more descriptors with the VoIP messages, and displaying at least some of the VoIP messages. The display may include one or more of the descriptors associated with the displayed VoIP messages. The embodiments may include receiving a designation of a designated VoIP message from the VoIP messages. The embodiments may include retrieving the designated VoIP message. In some embodiments, the designated VoIP message may be played. In further embodiments, the designated VoIP message may be forwarded. In many embodiments, the descriptors associated with the displayed VoIP messages may consist of values of attributes of the displayed VoIP messages. In several embodiments, the attributes may have been received through a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Randolph M. Forlenza