Patents by Inventor Wayne Brown

Wayne Brown 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: 20120201365
    Abstract: A question of a first caller from among multiple callers waiting in a hold queue of a call center is published. Responsive to a second caller from among multiple callers indicating a readiness to answer to the question, the first caller is connected with the second caller. Responsive to the second caller answering the question, the second caller is awarded an advancement token for storage in association with an authenticated identifier for the second caller in a caller profile for redemption by the second caller for a value selected by the second caller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: MICHAEL WAYNE BROWN, JOSEPH HERBERT MCINTYRE, MICHAEL A. PAOLINI, JAMES MARK WEAVER, SCOTT LEE WINTERS
  • Patent number: 8234160
    Abstract: A particular consumable item, purchased by an individual for potential consumption, is detected. Separate health index values each associated with a separate one of multiple health index components are determined for consumption of the particular consumable item. At least one electronic incentive for the individual is selected based on the separate health index values matching at least one health index value requirement specified in a database of electronic incentives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Rabindranath Dutta, Michael A. Paolini, Newton James Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8230391
    Abstract: The present invention improves correlation of events emitted by software components during a thread of execution. Each software component invoked during the thread registers with a correlation information manager associated with the thread of execution and then deregisters from said correlation information manager when it ceases to participate in the thread. The correlation information manager stores registered software components in a stack structure. Whenever an event is to be emitted by a software component, the associated correlation information manager provides explicit correlation information that identifies at least the software component that emitted the most recent event in the thread and all software components that registered with the correlation information manager after the software component that emitted the most recent event and that are still registered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Friedemann Schwenkreis
  • Publication number: 20120185305
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for providing consumer healthy habits incentives are provided. A consumable item, consumed by an individual, is detected. A health factor is detected for the consumable item. An electronic incentive is selected for the individual according to the health factor, such that the individual is encouraged to consume a healthy selection of consumable items. An electronic incentive may be further specified according to the personal health history, exercise history and consumption history of an individual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: MICHAEL WAYNE BROWN, RABINDRANATH DUTTA, MICHAEL A. PAOLINI, NEWTON JAMES SMITH, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120134483
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for billing for service provided to destination device according to the calling plan of the individual receiving the call. An authenticated identity for a callee answering a call placed to a destination device is received at an intermediary device. The intermediary device then accesses a billing plan for the authenticated identity of the callee and loads the billing plan for specifying charges for the call, such that telephone service billed to the callee is accessible at multiple destination devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Joseph Herbert McIntyre, Michael A. Paolini, James Mark Weaver, Scott Lee Winters
  • Patent number: 8160235
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for allowing callers to adjust in position within a hold queue are provided. An advancement token earned by a caller while waiting in a hold queue is detected. The advancement token is stored for redemption in a future call by the caller according to an authenticated identifier for the caller, wherein future redemption of the advancement token will cause adjustment of a waiting position. In particular, a caller in the call hold queue may earn advancement tokens by answering questions posed by other callers in the call hold queue, where the questions are answered in a manner such that the other callers do not need additional aid from a representative. In addition, a caller may redeem advancement tokens earned in a previous hold queue while waiting in current hold queue, where the redeemable advancement tokens are accessible across multiple call centers according to the caller identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Joseph Herbert McIntyre, Michael A Paolini, James Mark Weaver, Scott Lee Winters
  • Patent number: 8139736
    Abstract: A destination telephony device, responsive to detecting a call between a caller at an origin telephony device and a callee at the destination telephony device within a trusted telephone network, authenticates an identity of the callee with a callee voice authenticated identifier through a voice sample provided by the callee during the call. The destination telephony device receives an order form from the origin device for an order placed with the caller by the callee from the destination telephony device. The destination telephony device controls output of the order form from at least one output interface of the destination telephony device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Joseph Herbert McIntyre, Michael A Paolini, James Mark Weaver, Scott Lee Winters
  • Patent number: 8102547
    Abstract: A text modification mechanism is provided for formatting data such that the information can be reasonably deciphered by a human, but cannot be easily recognized by computer recognition techniques. The text modification mechanism alters printed text so that computer recognition of characters becomes difficult. Modification of the text may be accomplished with manipulation of the fonts or the background. The mechanism may also modify the text based on user preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Mark Joseph Hamzy, Scott Thomas Jones
  • Publication number: 20120000830
    Abstract: A process for upgrading bitumen recovered from an oil reservoir without hydrogen production is particularly useful in field upgrading applications. In this process, recovered bitumen enters a fractionator and is contacted with heated gases from a fluidized bed reactor. The bitumen and heated gases are fractionated into segregated products including at least a liquid pitch, unstable fractions, and an upgraded liquid product. The liquid pitch is introduced into the reactor to produce a vapor phase liquid product; the reactor comprises solid particles moving through the reactor and a fluidizing gas fluidizing the solid particles at a conversion temperature which is suitable for facilitating the conversion of at least some of the liquid pitch into the vapor phase liquid product. The heated gases comprising the vapor phase liquid product and fluidizing gas are directed from the reactor to the fractionator to contact the bitumen stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Gerard Monaghan, Stephen Porter, Ross Holuk, Robert Sugiyama, Wayne Brown
  • Patent number: 8086246
    Abstract: Provided are a system, program, and data structures for providing user location information with a personal information manager program. Position coordinates of a wireless device associated with a user are generated, along with time information indicating a time when the position coordinates were generated. The position coordinates and time information are processed to determine geographic locations and associated time periods. For each determined geographical location and associated time period, the user of the wireless device was located at the geographical location for the associated time period. A request is received for information on the user for a selected time interval. A determination is then made of time periods associated with geographic locations that are within the selected time interval. Information is then generated on the geographic locations and associated time periods that are within the selected time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Rabindranath Dutta, Michael A. Paolini
  • Patent number: 8086355
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to power management and the like, and more particularly, to an apparatus, a system, a method, and a computer-readable medium for providing power controlling functionality to generate configurable power signals and to deliver power during fault conditions. In at least some embodiments, a power control unit can generate power signals having configurable attributes as a function of a mode of operation, a fault type, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Global Embedded Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Stanley Stanczak, Louis Stephen Smutek, Alan Wayne Brown, David Allen Backus
  • Patent number: 8078492
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for providing consumer healthy habits incentives are provided. A consumable item, consumed by an individual, is detected. A health factor is detected for the consumable item. An electronic incentive is selected for the individual according to the health factor, such that the individual is encouraged to consume a healthy selection of consumable items. An electronic incentive may be further specified according to the individual health history, exercise history and consumption history of an individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Rabindranath Dutta, Michael A. Paolini, Newton James Smith, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110289213
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for tracking locally broadcast electronic works are provided. According to one aspect of the invention, a sending player locally broadcasts an electronic work. In particular, the local broadcast may be a wireless broadcast creating an ad-hoc radio system. At least one recipient player receives the localized broadcast of the electronic work and accepts a distribution cookie for tracking distribution of the electronic work. The at least one recipient player updates the distribution cookie with tracking information about the broadcast of the electronic work, including ratings by users at the second player and purchase of the broadcast electronic work. Each of the at least one recipient players may in turn become a sending player that broadcasts the electronic work to other recipient players and requires the other recipient players to accept a copy of the distribution cookie updated by the second player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: MICHAEL WAYNE BROWN, MICHAEL A. PAOLINI, NEWTON JAMES SMITH, JR., CORNELL G. WRIGHT, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110287709
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for responding to recipient ratings of wirelessly broadcast electronic works are provided. A secondary player receives a wireless broadcast of an electronic work from a primary player. Next, responsive to a playback of the electronic work from the secondary player, the secondary player requires a recipient of the electronic work to rate the electronic work. Then, responsive to the recipient rating the electronic work or an automatic rating selection made based on the recipient's preferences, the options available to the recipient may be dynamically adjusted. First, responsive to the recipient rating the electronic work with a favorable rating, the secondary player triggers a purchase offer for the electronic work when the secondary player is connected to a network providing access to a purchase server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: MICHAEL WAYNE BROWN, MICHAEL A. PAOLINI, NEWTON JAMES SMITH, JR., CORNELL G. WRIGHT, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110282726
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for providing consumer healthy habits incentives are provided. A consumable item, consumed by an individual, is detected. A health factor is detected for the consumable item. An electronic incentive is selected for the individual according to the health factor, such that the individual is encouraged to consume a healthy selection of consumable items. An electronic incentive may be further specified according to the personal health history, exercise history and consumption history of an individual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: MICHAEL WAYNE BROWN, RABINDRANATH DUTTA, MICHAEL A. PAOLINI, NEWTON JAMES SMITH, JR.
  • Patent number: 8054957
    Abstract: A trusted telephone network, including at least one service provider, receives a request for service from an origin device. The origin device is associated with a line number to be billed for according to a line subscriber billing plan. An identity of a caller requesting the service from the origin device is authenticated. Then, a billing plan associated with the authenticated caller identity is accessed and utilized to replace or supplement the line subscriber billing plan, such that billing for service provided at an origin device is specified according to the caller currently utilizing the origin device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Joseph Herbert McIntyre, Michael A Paolini, James Mark Weaver, Scott Lee Winters
  • Patent number: 8041293
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for responding to recipient ratings of wirelessly broadcast electronic works are provided. A secondary player receives a wireless broadcast of an electronic work from a primary player. Next, responsive to a playback of the electronic work from the secondary player, the secondary player requires a recipient of the electronic work to rate the electronic work. Then, responsive to the recipient rating the electronic work or an automatic rating selection made based on the recipient's preferences, the options available to the recipient may be dynamically adjusted. First, responsive to the recipient rating the electronic work with a favorable rating, the secondary player triggers a purchase offer for the electronic work when the secondary player is connected to a network providing access to a purchase server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Michael A. Paolini, Newton James Smith, Jr., Cornell G. Wright, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8041290
    Abstract: A method, system, and program for tracking locally broadcast electronic works are provided. According to one aspect of the invention, a sending player locally broadcasts an electronic work. In particular, the local broadcast may be a wireless broadcast creating an ad-hoc radio system. At least one recipient player receives the localized broadcast of the electronic work and accepts a distribution cookie for tracking distribution of the electronic work. The at least one recipient player updates the distribution cookie with tracking information about the broadcast of the electronic work, including ratings by users at the second player and purchase of the broadcast electronic work. Each of the at least one recipient players may in turn become a sending player that broadcasts the electronic work to other recipient players and requires the other recipient players to accept a copy of the distribution cookie updated by the second player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Michael A. Paolini, Newton James Smith, Jr., Cornell G. Wright, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110232568
    Abstract: A gas injector for use in injecting process gas into a space in a vertical furnace between a tower supporting multiple wafers and a tubular liner includes a tubular straw having an open distal end and a first bore extending along a first axis and composed of a first single material selected from the group consisting of silicon, quartz, and silicon carbide, and a connector detachably connected to the straw section, composed of a second material other than the first material and including a supply tube having a second bore extending along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and in fluid communication with the first bore and having a distal end connectable to a gas supply line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: FERROTEC (USA) CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fergal O'Moore, Karl Williams, Nam Q. Le, Vincent Wayne Brown
  • Patent number: 7979489
    Abstract: A method, system and program for notifying users when messaging sessions are recorded are provided. In response to receiving a request to record a messaging session, a requested selection of multiple message entries associated with the messaging session are recorded. Then, multiple users participating in the messaging session are notified of the recording of the requested selection of the multiple message entries from the messaging session. In particular, the output of the messaging session is adjusted for each of the multiple users to distinguish a selection from among the multiple message entries being recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Rabindranath Dutta, Michael A. Paolini