Patents Issued in July 4, 2017
  • Patent number: 9697461
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for interconnecting neurons in a neural network. At least one node among a first set of nodes is interconnected to at least one node among a second set of nodes, and nodes of the first and second set are arranged in a lattice. At least one node of the first set represents a sensory-motor modality of the neural network. At least one node of the second set is a union of at least two nodes of the first set. Each node in the lattice has an acyclic digraph comprising multiple vertices and directed edges. Each vertex represents a neuron population. Each directed edge comprises multiple synaptic connections. Vertices in different acyclic digraphs are interconnected using an acyclic bottom-up digraph. The bottom-up digraph has a corresponding acyclic top-down digraph. Vertices in the bottom-up digraph are interconnected to vertices in the top-down digraph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Dharmendra S. Modha
  • Patent number: 9697462
    Abstract: A synaptic time-multiplexed (STM) neuromorphic network includes a neural fabric that includes nodes and switches to define inter-nodal connections between selected nodes of the neural fabric. The STM neuromorphic network further includes a neuromorphic controller to form subsets of a set of the inter-nodal connections representing a fully connected neural network. Each subset is formed during a different time slot of a plurality of time slots of a time multiplexing cycle of the STM neuromorphic network. In combination, the inter-nodal connection subsets implement the fully connected neural network. A method of synaptic time multiplexing a neuromorphic network includes providing the neural fabric and forming the subsets of the set of inter-nodal connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Jose M. Cruz-Albrecht, Narayan Srinivasa, Peter Petre, Youngkwan Cho, Aleksey Nogin
  • Patent number: 9697463
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for computing a layer output for a convolutional neural network layer, the method comprising: receiving the layer input, the layer input comprising a plurality of activation inputs, the plurality of activation inputs represented as a multi-dimensional matrix comprising a plurality of depth levels, each depth level being a respective matrix of distinct activation inputs from the plurality of activation inputs; sending each respective kernel matrix structure to a distinct cell along a first dimension of the systolic array; for each depth level, sending the respective matrix of distinct activation inputs to a distinct cell along a second dimension of the systolic array; causing the systolic array to generate an accumulated output from the respective matrices sent to the cells; and generating the layer output from the accumulated output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Ross, Andrew Everett Phelps
  • Patent number: 9697464
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of solving the decision, for example, testing if, given a finite number of transformations which can be applied to a finite number of elements, the corresponding n-generated discrete object has a hamiltonian cycle and/or path, searching, for example, obtaining the explicit construction of one several or all the hamiltonian cycles and or paths of the given input, counting, for example, obtaining an upper bound of the number of Hamiltonian cycles and/or paths of the given input and optimization, for example, selecting one of several hamiltonian cycles and/or paths solutions according to an specified criterion, versions of the hamiltonian traversal (cycle and/or path) problem in class of combinatorial discrete objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Ignacio Reneses Asenjo
  • Patent number: 9697465
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques (300, 500, 600) and apparatuses (102, 700) for drawing an inference using multiple sensors. These techniques and apparatuses enable a computing device to choose (302) a set of sensors that are capable of providing information for an inference, invoke (304) the chosen set of sensors to provide the information, receive (306) the information from at least a subset of the chosen sensors, and draw (308), based on the received information, the inference. In some cases, the set of sensors are chosen such that time or resources of the computing device can be conserved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Jianguo Li, Paul C. Davis, James A. Rumpler, Di You
  • Patent number: 9697466
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to determine an expected or predicted opinion of a target individual. To do so, a deep question answer system may build a corpus which includes a first collection of documents attributable to a first person and a second collection of documents identified from content in the first collection of documents and evaluate the corpus to build a model representing opinions of the first person relative to topics, concepts, or subjects discussed in the first and second collections of documents. The deep question answer system may also receive a request to predict an opinion of the first person regarding a topic and generate a predicted opinion of the first person regarding the topic from the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adam T. Clark, Jeffrey K. Huebert, Aspen L. Payton, John E. Petri
  • Patent number: 9697467
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a method and a system for determining a set of plans that best match a set of preferences. The method may include receiving into a goal specification interface at least one goal to be accomplished by the set of plans; receiving into a preference engine a pattern that includes preferences; generating a planning problem by using the preference engine; generating a set of plans by at least one planner; and providing the set of plans for selection of one plan to deploy. In a further embodiment, the preferences may be an occurrence or non-occurrence of at least one component, an occurrence of one component over another component, an ordering between at least two components, an existence or non-existence of at least one tag in a final stream, an existence of one tag over another tag in the final stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anton V. Riabov, Shirin Sohrabi Araghi, Octavian Udrea
  • Patent number: 9697468
    Abstract: A system is disclosed having a storage, a communications module for interacting with a medical measurement device, an analysis controller, and a test module that allows for the testing and evaluating of decision-support algorithms. A method for testing decision-support algorithms is disclosed having the steps of receiving into storage of a ruggedized, compact computer at least one decision-support algorithm; detecting with a communications module the initiation of a vital-sign monitoring session; receiving and storing vital-sign information into storage by the communications module; pushing the stored vital-sign information by an analysis controller to a test module running the stored at least one decision-support algorithm; and providing at least one output from the decision-support algorithm to at least one of a database and a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Jaques Reifman, Maxim Y. Khitrov, Andrew T. Reisner, Liangyou Chen, Thomas McKenna
  • Patent number: 9697469
    Abstract: A method and system for making financial or medical decisions. The method comprises training sets of models using classification training with sets of data derived from segregated data sources. Overall weighting of each model within the sets of models are determined for each of the sub-datasets. The sets of models, the overall weighting of each model and a number of examples provided from the data for each of the datasets are transmitted to a central server over a communication network, wherein the central server is configured to determine the relative weights of each of the sets of models in the overall ensemble model based on the number of examples, combine the sets of models, receive new application data, and predict at least one of outcome variables, an uncertainty factor for the variables, and drivers of the outcome variables based on the new application data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew McMahon, Lawrence Wong, Matthew Burriesci, Martin Lee, Bo Han
  • Patent number: 9697470
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining one or more causes for variability in data. The method includes selecting a first range of a multivariate model output data on a user interface and employing a computing system, operatively coupled to the user interface, to determine one or more process data causing a variability of the multivariate model output data in the first range when compared to a second range of the multivariate model output data. At least some of the process data includes data derived from a physical measurement of a process variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy Iskandar, Bradley D. Schulze, Kommisetti Subrahmanyam, Haw-Jyue Luo
  • Patent number: 9697471
    Abstract: A plant model management device according to one embodiment includes a generation unit and a combining unit. The generation unit receives a first set of prior probability distributions of a first set of automatic operation parameters. The first set of automatic operation parameters define a condition required for modeling a plant model that is a model based on data concerning a plant. The generation unit generates a first set of posterior probability distributions of the first set of automatic operation parameters and a first set of probabilistic plant models based on the first set of prior probability distributions. The first set of posterior probability distributions reflect compatibility with learning data that is past time-series data concerning a first explanatory variable and a first objective variable. The combining unit combines the first set of probabilistic plant models using the first set of posterior probability distributions to generate a first plant model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Nakabayashi, Shouta Ukai, Hidehiko Wada, Tetsuya Otani
  • Patent number: 9697472
    Abstract: Disclosed in some examples are systems, methods, and machine readable mediums which allow for the automatic creation of a skills hierarchy. The skills hierarchy comprises an organization of a standardized list of skills into a hierarchy that describes category relationships between the skills in the hierarchy. The category relationships may include no relationships, parent relationships, and child relationships. A skill may be considered a parent of another skill if the parent skill describes a broader category of skill that includes the child. Other relationships such as grandparent (e.g., a parent's parent), great-grandparent, grandchild, great grandchild and so on may be defined inferentially as well. In some examples, the constructed hierarchy may be organized with broader skills at higher levels and narrower skills at lower levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation
    Inventors: Matt Burgess, Peter N. Skomoroch
  • Patent number: 9697473
    Abstract: A Josephson parametric converter is provided. The Josephson parametric converter includes a multi-Josephson junction ring modulator having a first, a second, a third, and a fourth node and a first, a second, a third, and a fourth array of N Josephson junctions arranged in a ring configuration with the nodes inter-dispersed between the arrays. The first array is between the first and second nodes, the second array is between the second and third nodes, the third array is between the third and fourth nodes, and the fourth array is between the fourth and first nodes. N is an integer having a value greater than one. The Josephson parametric converter further includes a first and a second resonator formed from lumped-element capacitors that shunt the multi-Josephson junction ring modulator and respectively enable a first and a second mode of the Josephson parametric converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Baleegh Abdo
  • Patent number: 9697474
    Abstract: Multi-class classification by training a machine learning system based on training inputs each of which includes features and at least one class label. Each training input is assigned a membership value that can indicate if an entity having the features of the training input is a member of the class corresponding to the class label that is also included in the training input. To determine if an entity having test features is a member of several test classes, test inputs can be constructed where each input includes the test features and a class label corresponding to one of the test classes. The test inputs are processed by the trained machine learning system, which produces as outputs test membership values that represent the likelihood that the entity having the features in the test input belong to the test class corresponding to the test class label also included in the test input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Yifang Liu, Konstantinos Katsiapis, Samuel Ieong, Roberto Bayardo
  • Patent number: 9697475
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for using an additive context model for entity disambiguation. An example method may include receiving a span of text from a document and a phrase vector for the span. The phrase vector may have a quantity of features and represent a context for the span. The method also includes determining a quantity of candidate entities from a knowledge base that have been referred to by the span. For each of the quantity of candidate entities, the method may include determining a support score for the candidate entity for each feature in the phrase vector, combining the support scores additively, and computing a probability that the span resolves to the candidate entity given the context. The method may also include resolving the span to a candidate entity with a highest probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Amarnag Subramanya, Michael Ringgaard, Fernando Carlos das Neves Pereira
  • Patent number: 9697476
    Abstract: A model is implemented that includes one or more classes. For each of the one or more classes of the model, a set of input variables of the big data set are represented as a matrix with non-zero values only provided as diagonal entries. A most likely class for each input variable is determined based at least in part on inverting the matrix. One or more predictions are determined for one or more output variables based at least in part on the most likely class of one or more input variables from the set of input variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Neustar, Inc.
    Inventor: Armand Prieditis
  • Patent number: 9697477
    Abstract: In order to provide a non-factoid question answering system with improved precision, the question answering system (160) includes: a candidate retrieving unit (222), responsive to a question, extracting answer candidates from a corpus storage (178); a feature vector generating unit (232) for generating features from combinations of a question with each of the answer candidates; SVMs (176) trained to calculate a score of how correct a combination of the question with an answer candidate is, upon receiving the feature vector therefor; and an answer ranker unit (234) outputting the answer candidate with the highest calculated score as the answer. The features are generated on the basis of the results of morphological analysis and parsing of the question, a phrase in the question evaluated as being positive or negative as well as its polarity, and the semantic classes of nouns in the features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
    Inventors: Jonghoon Oh, Kentaro Torisawa, Chikara Hashimoto, Takuya Kawada, Stijn De Saeger, Junichi Kazama, Yiou Wang
  • Patent number: 9697478
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for generating targeted e-mails based on individual subject behavior and interests, as determined by an application's website browsing behavior, online and offline purchases, ratings, and other implicit and explicit indications of subject preferences and interests. The subject's behavior data is collected directly from the subject's client browser or from the application's own information and used to generate profiles of the subjects that will be sent e-mails and the objects that will be recommended. Targeted content is generated by matching subject and object profiles in combination with any subject segmentation filters that the application provides. The e-mail targeting is optimized by measuring subject response to targeted e-mails and adjusting recommendation strategies used to generate subsequent recommendations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: CERTONA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Geoffrey J. Hueter, Steven C. Quandt, Noble H. Hueter, Christopher J. Bryant
  • Patent number: 9697479
    Abstract: A system for upgrading airline seats during an online pre-boarding auction that is accessible through travelers' mobile devices. The auction starts at or after check-in but prior to the boarding of a flight. During the auction, travelers that have confirmed reservations for an airline flight are permitted to bid on one or more seat upgrades through their mobile devices. For example, the travelers may be bidding on upgrades from economy to first class, and the bids may be submitted through bidding applications installed on the travelers' mobile devices. The auction can be a live auction that updates the travelers on the status of the auction and receives bids from the travelers throughout the auction. The auction ends prior to boarding, and the winning travelers are sent upgrade confirmations, such as scannable boarding codes that can be used as boarding passes when boarding the flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SeatBoost LLC
    Inventor: Kevin M. Stamler
  • Patent number: 9697480
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of analyzing a workflow is provided. The method can include generating a multi-stage workflow representation corresponding to a physical process, the representation defining for each stage of the workflow at least one activity performed during the process. The method also can include associating at least one activity-based cost with each activity performed during the process, and estimating a distribution of costs over the stages of the workflow based on cost data generated by repeated execution of the process. The method can further include determining, based upon the estimated distribution of costs, whether a cost imbalance is associated with at least one stage of the workflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wayne Malkin
  • Patent number: 9697481
    Abstract: A method of operating a hospital information system, and a hospital information system are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes providing a taskflow editing tool with a limited number of editing options to a user; creating a taskflow defining a number of tasks and connections of the tasks by the user using the taskflow editing tool; and performing an automated test run of the created taskflow, wherein the automated test run is checked according to a number of criteria and wherein results of the check are reported to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Chiheb Charrad, Lutz Dominick, Karlheinz Dorn, Christian Scharf, Vladyslav Ukis
  • Patent number: 9697482
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and systems for tracking and reporting environmental impact and agricultural-producer information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SureHarvest, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Dlott, Harry W. Rosenberg, Clifford P. Ohmart, Rebecca Connolly
  • Patent number: 9697483
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and systems for tracking and reporting environmental impact and agricultural-producer information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SureHarvest, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Dlott, Harry W. Rosenberg, Clifford P. Ohmart, Rebecca Connolly
  • Patent number: 9697484
    Abstract: Morphing object types in enterprise content management systems is described. A text properties file is created that maps properties associated with an object type to properties associated with a new object type. A database associated with an enterprise content management system is queried to retrieve objects based on the object type. The objects are stored in a staging database. The objects are deleted from the database. Property tables are created in the database based on the new object type. The objects are migrated from the staging database to the newly created property tables based on the text properties file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Open Text Corporation
    Inventors: Michael T. Mohen, Christopher Dyde
  • Patent number: 9697485
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the organization, management, and graphical display of multiple logically related entities. In some embodiments, the systems and methods provide the real-time display of status and location information for a fleet of tracked vehicles. In some embodiments, the systems and methods permit the automatic clustering of assets based on a user's view of an underlying map. In some embodiments, the assets are vehicles that are a part of a managed fleet. In some embodiments, the assets are logically arranged into clusters of like assets. In some embodiments, the clusters provide graphical indications of status or class information of their underlying assets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Telogis, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph James Mason, Jason Mathew Koch
  • Patent number: 9697486
    Abstract: Techniques are described for facilitating performance of tasks by human users. A task exchange server system acts an intermediary to facilitate performance by human task performer users of tasks provided by other task requesters, such as by providing information about tasks via an electronically accessible site. The task exchange server may further cause information about tasks to be provided to at least some users as they interact with third-party sites not provided by the task exchange server, such as third-party sites operated by entities unrelated to the task exchange server's operator. The third-party sites may include information about tasks along with other information that the third-party sites provide to users, or instead a separate client-side program executing on computing devices of certain users may obtain and present information about tasks to the users, such as in conjunction with information provided by unaffiliated third-party sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter D. Cohen, Christopher E. Smoak
  • Patent number: 9697487
    Abstract: Systems and methods for verifying and monitoring employees are provided. Employees call-in to the system at scheduled times. If an employee misses a scheduled call-in, an alert can be generated. An employer notification process can generate the alert, notifying a supervisor of the employee's missed call. The alert can include the employee's name, the location of the employee, and the time he/she was supposed to call. Such systems and methods can be used to verify that a worker is at the proper location at the proper time and awake and alert during the entire time period that he/she is supposed to be working.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SteadyCare, LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Phillip Clifford, Patricia A. Marrin
  • Patent number: 9697488
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for generating predictions for unit allocation in a materials processing network are described. Various embodiments may include a capacity planner for defining a model including, for each of a plurality of discrete periods of time, a corresponding representation of a materials processing network including materials handling facilities, constraints associated with ones of the materials handling facilities, and logic for determining efficient flows of materials within the materials processing network during that discrete period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Qaseem Ahmed Shaikh, Mikael O. Weigelt, Jiefeng Shen
  • Patent number: 9697489
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing a business services dashboard. In some embodiments, a method might comprise defining relationship(s) between at least one technology service and at least one business service provided by an enterprise, and receiving data associated with real-time technical events corresponding to changed conditions in one or more technology services utilizing at least one technology asset. Each defined relationship might indicate a dependence on the one or more technology services by one or more business services. The method might further comprise identifying, based on the defined relationship(s), one or more business events that impact the one or more business services of the enterprise, as a result of the changed condition. Business user views and technical user views might be generated and sent to user devices associated with respective business and technical group users. Corresponding system and apparatus may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Naresh Nayak, Gowrish Bhaskar, Viswanath Seetharam
  • Patent number: 9697490
    Abstract: Review data associated with a plurality of entities is received. Each of the entities is associated with a particular industry and the review data comprises review data obtained from a plurality of review sites. From at least a portion of the received review data, a review benchmark for the industry is determined. The benchmark is provided as output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Reputation.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey James Piper, Brent Michael Franson, Thomas Gerardo Dignan
  • Patent number: 9697491
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for analyzing performance data in a transit organization. Accelerometer metrics are collected for a vehicle along a first axis. The metrics collected from the vehicle are summarized by unit measurement. The metrics summarized by unit measurement are then stored in storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Trapeze Software ULC
    Inventors: Ian Keaveny, Sebastien James Hinds, Andrew Henry Leitch Kerr
  • Patent number: 9697492
    Abstract: The exemplary embodiments described herein are related to techniques for automatically generating narratives about data based on communication goal data structures that are associated with configurable content blocks. The use of such communication goal data structures facilitates modes of operation whereby narratives can be generated in real-time and/or interactive manners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: NARRATIVE SCIENCE INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence Birnbaum, Kristian J. Hammond, Nathan Drew Nichols, Andrew R. Paley, Shingo Murata, Pia Opulencia
  • Patent number: 9697493
    Abstract: A transport carrier (i.e., an armored vehicle or any mode of transportation) may be equipped with cash storage and recycling capabilities. The transport carrier may be equipped to replenish funds as needed and/or pick up a surplus of funds. The transport carrier may be in communication with a financial institution and/or a central server. In some arrangements, the central server may dynamically route the transport carrier to cash handling devices as various locations in order to efficiently meet the needs of the devices and associated clients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Amy Baker Folk, Daniel Christopher Bohen, Veralyn Dee Hensley, James Heddleson, Michelle Davis Nichols, Todd Atwood
  • Patent number: 9697494
    Abstract: In a user-interactive method and system, a display application for enhancing user interaction over a network is provided. The method includes receiving preference information from a first user, the preference information indicating at least one type of image the first user wishes to view. In response to a network interaction being established between at least the first user and a second user, the method further includes retrieving a plurality of images associated with the second user based on the preference information. The method further includes displaying the plurality of images based on the preference information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bernadette A. Carter, Belinda Y. Chang, Fuyi Li, Pamela A. Nesbitt, Lisa A. Seacat
  • Patent number: 9697495
    Abstract: A processor-driven method provides a step-by-step process to assess an organization's ability to meet project and contract standards resulting from a negotiated contract. This assessment also highlights the most efficient path for performance and identifies strengths and weaknesses in the organizations abilities. The method can aid an organization's front line sale force in identifying resources that are optimal for use in a particular contract and can generate a back end work flow for implementation and tracking of program deliverables by administrators, program or contract managers and others based on the requirements of a negotiated project. The identification of key project phases and solutions and the ability to build process flows based on a library of the organization's operational information, e.g., resources, tools, artifacts, within intersections of the phases and solutions, allows an organization to determine best path to contract completion. The best path may optimize cost, time, and personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Cognizant TriZetto Software Group, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mark Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 9697496
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are for processing damage survey information associated with a disaster event. According to one aspect, a method for processing damage survey information associated with a disaster event includes in response to the disaster event, receiving, at a disaster recovery system (DRS), the damage survey information. In some embodiments, the damage survey information includes an area of impact that defines an area in which at least one physical plant was damaged in the disaster event and a physical plant type identifier (PPTI) for each physical plant damaged in the disaster event. Each PPTI identifies a physical plant type of a plurality of physical plant types. The method also includes analyzing the damage survey information to determine to which of a plurality of disaster recovery dispatch units (DRDUs) the DRS should route the damage survey information and routing the damage survey information to the appropriate DRDUs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Hamilton, Jeremy Sullins
  • Patent number: 9697497
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to the sharing of synchronization information corresponding to content among devices in a communication network. An originating device collects synchronization information related to the presentation of content to a user via the originating device. The synchronization information is defined according to reference points related to the presentation of the content to the user via the originating device, including a current state of the presentation of the content and/or additional information obtained during the presentation of the content. Based on detection of a synchronization event, the originating device transmits the collected synchronization information, resulting in the receipt of the synchronization information by one or more receiving devices. Thereafter, the presentation of the content to the user on one of the receiving devices can incorporate the synchronization information collected and transmitted by the originating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Kessel, Ian W. Freed, Guy A. Story, Jr., Howard Wolfish, Amit D. Agarwal, Nanyan Nicholls, John Lattyak, James C. Slezak, Beryl Tomay, Jeffrey P. Bezos
  • Patent number: 9697498
    Abstract: Systems, methods and a machine-readable media are described herein for a salary range engine to identify at least one attribute of a first member profile from a plurality of member profiles of a social networking service. The salary range engine correlates the at least one attribute with respect to at least a portion of trained salary data in a trained salary data repository. The salary range engine infers a target salary range based on a correlation between the at least one attribute of the first member profile and at least the portion of the trained salary data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation
    Inventors: Luke MacDonald Vilnis, Andrew David Blevins, Gloria Lau, Vitaly Gordon
  • Patent number: 9697499
    Abstract: While consuming digital content, a user may highlight a portion considered relevant or of interest. When this user highlight corresponds with an existing highlight created by other users in a community of users, a highlight match indicator is presented to the user. This indicator provides a positive reinforcement to the user that they have serendipitously highlighted a portion which others in the community of users found relevant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Emily Margaret Anderson, Tom Killalea
  • Patent number: 9697500
    Abstract: A resource reference is detected in a base resource, such as a web page or an email message. The resource reference refers to a target resource, such as another webpage or another email message. An appropriate activity-based resource type for the resource reference is then identified. The resource reference is then linked to an activity-based resource such that when the base resource is displayed and a user interacts with the resource reference, the activity-based resource is displayed to the user. The activity-based resource comprises a calculated field that has a value that indicates how one or more users have interacted with one or more resources. The value of the calculated field is calculated using activity data indicating how users interacted with the resources. The activity data is generated without receiving input of the activity data from the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Ilya Tumanov, George Perantatos, John Surapunt Wana, Brian R. Meyers
  • Patent number: 9697501
    Abstract: A system and methodology that facilitates management of user accessibility via a scheduling application is provided. A user can link or map interruptability levels to schedule entries, such as calendar entries or tasks thereby facilitating automatic communication management. Essentially, interruptability rules (and corresponding categories) can be associated to calendar entries and tasks thereby automating implementation of interruptability rules to manage communications received during calendar entries, tasks, meeting, appointments, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Rajesh Ramanathan
  • Patent number: 9697502
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for enforcing eMeeting guidelines is described. An indication of one or more use restriction guidelines is received. The one or more use restriction guidelines is associated with an electronic communication session. The one or more use restriction guidelines is provided to a computing device associated with an invitee associated with the electronic communication session. An indication is received that the invitee has accepted a portion of the one or more use restriction guidelines. The portion of the one or more use restriction guidelines is enforced with respect to one or more devices associated with the invitee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Judith Helen Bank, Liam Harpur, Ruthie D. Lyle, Patrick Joseph O'Sullivan, Lin Sun
  • Patent number: 9697503
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media are provided. One example method includes establishing a connection with a vehicle over a wireless network, and associating the vehicle to a user account of an online service, wherein a vehicle type for the vehicle is identified in the user account. The method further includes receiving vehicle data for vehicle status information. The vehicle status information is for one or more vehicle systems of the vehicle. The method includes accessing one or more databases that include diagnostics data for the vehicle type and crowd sourced data for the vehicle type. The method includes processing the vehicle data that is received against the diagnostics data and the crowed sourced data. The processing is configured to select an alert from among a plurality of possible alerts. The crowd sourced data is configured to influence a confidence level for selecting the alert. The method includes sending a notification of the alert to the user account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventors: Angel A. Penilla, Albert S. Penilla
  • Patent number: 9697504
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a transacting media container having video content and an affiliate tracking identifier with first entity information associated with a first entity. The method also includes identifying second entity information associated with a second entity and retrieving supplemental content based on the second entity information. The method further includes adding the supplemental content to the transacting media container and the second entity information to the affiliate tracking identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Cinsay, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Spitz, Todd Downing, Christian Briggs
  • Patent number: 9697505
    Abstract: Arrangements relate to processing financial transactions on an automated teller machine (ATM). An ATM identifier can be presented on a display of the ATM. An ATM identifier confirmation can be received from a mobile computing device. Responsive to determining that the ATM identifier confirmation matches the identifier presented on the display of the ATM, a customer authentication or a transaction request can be received from the mobile computing device. Responsive to verifying the customer authentication or the transaction request, the transaction request can be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Biao Hao, Denzil S. Menezes, Wade A. Miller, Raymond L. Yee
  • Patent number: 9697506
    Abstract: A parking system is provided. The parking system includes a computerized parking management system and at least one single-space parking meter configured to communicate parking data between the single-space parking meter and the parking management system via a wireless network. The system includes a mobile citation unit configured to communicate parking enforcement data between the mobile citation unit and the parking management system via the wireless network. The parking management system processes and stores parking data received from the single-space parking meters and processes and stores enforcement data from the mobile citation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Duncan Parking Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gavin Jones, Balu Subramanya, Mike Nickolaus
  • Patent number: 9697507
    Abstract: A method, system and computer product for discount coupon acquisition, management and redemption. In one embodiment, the method comprises scanning a coupon with a portable computing device without establishing a data connection to the portable computing device. The method further comprises decoding a scanned image of the coupon for storage in the portable computing device, and generating information of the coupon by the portable computing device for redeeming the coupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Andrea Mariotti
  • Patent number: 9697508
    Abstract: Existing infrastructure for processing credit card transactions at point-of-sale (POS) devices is leveraged to provide secure and convenient payment with a mobile device. A mobile transaction infrastructure that is integrated with the credit card interchange network receives information from the mobile device and passes this information to a gateway provider or a payment processor. By combining information from both the mobile device and the POS device, this backend infrastructure can uniquely identify a transaction and appropriately charge an account associated with the user of the mobile device. The transaction may be matched with the mobile device be based on location, time, transaction charge, and/or other factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Harsha Ramalingam
  • Patent number: 9697509
    Abstract: In a control method of a control system including a terminal configured to execute an application, a device configured to send or receive data, and a controller connected to the device, a request for a device control is transmitted from the application to the controller. At the controller, the device control by the controller is established after the controller receives the request. At the terminal, the device control by the application through the controller is established after establishing the device control by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Takasu, Koichiro Tsutsumi, Shigeo Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9697510
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate retail transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a retail terminal includes: a user interface to receive a phone number of a customer; a memory; a data communication interface; and a processor coupled with the memory and the data communication interface to transmit the phone number to a server computer to cause the server computer to communicate with a mobile phone at the phone number to confirm a transaction at the retail terminal and to transmit one or more premium messages to the mobile phone to collect funds for the transaction, and to receive from the server computer a message indicating that the funds are available for the transaction. The retail terminal is to perform the transaction in response to the message from the server computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Boku, Inc.
    Inventors: Glyn Barry Smith, Rachel Jane Gillam, Michael Cahill