Expert System Shell Or Tool Patents (Class 706/60)
  • Patent number: 9449278
    Abstract: Troubleshooting a technical problem on a user device using a network-based remediation platform. Receiving problem statements relating to technical problems associated with a user device, activating a domain of cases, assigning a score for the cases based on a scoring algorithm, and determining one or more remediation actions to suggest based on the score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Efstratios N. Davlos, Francimar C. Schmitt, Edmund R. Brown, Gavin Anthony Condon
  • Patent number: 9406037
    Abstract: Techniques for performing searches and presenting reports to users include receiving a user query request comprising condition classifications or text words or text phrases, receiving a user report request comprising report classification information that includes a request term, accessing an ontology providing a plurality of classifications, where each classification comprises a set of terms, accessing, using the ontology, a set of document associated with the report classification information, computing an aggregate measure of the request term based on a relationship between the request term and the set of documents, generating a requested report based on the aggregate measure of the request term and presenting the requested report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Inventors: Yannis Papakonstantinou, Robert Meadows
  • Patent number: 9285987
    Abstract: A multi function peripheral is provided with a display controller for causing a display section to display reception screens for respective settings on functions executable in the electrical apparatus, an instruction receiver for receiving an instruction to designate a content of each setting from the user, a display format receiver for receiving an instruction to select any one of a wizard display format, a list display format and a menu display format from the user, and a storage for storing the display format received by the display format receiver while relating it to the contents of the respective settings received by the instruction receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Mori, Takanori Miyamoto, Tetsuya Maeda, Dai Shigenobu
  • Patent number: 9266626
    Abstract: Aided analysis of the failure tolerance of an aircraft system, comprising a plurality of subsystems at least one of which comprises a monitoring unit and notification of a detected event, using critical event charts. After selecting at least one receivable notification message represented by a node of the critical event chart, elements of the minimal diagnostic set capable of resulting in the generation of the at least one selected notification message are identified, the identified elements forming part of the failure tolerance report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Vincent Cheriere, Jeremy Roger, Laia Vilalta Estrada, Ioana Geanta
  • Patent number: 9256833
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to generating fuzzy inferences of procedure types based on fuzzy logic. Membership functions can be used to relate item variables to a degree of correspondence to various item types. Fuzzy rules can specify processing to be conducted using membership values produced by evaluations of membership functions. An output of the processing can include an inference that a content object corresponding to the item variables relates to one or more procedure types. Further, some embodiments disclosed herein relate to querying hierarchical data structures to identify related items. A hierarchical data structure can associate each of a set of procedure types with one or more item types and/or item identifiers or characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Healthtrust Purchasing Group, LP
    Inventor: Melanie Anne McMeekan
  • Patent number: 9224088
    Abstract: A scenario is simulated by providing an agent that is an object in the scenario, providing a time window for the scenario that spans the farthest reachable past time and the farthest reachable future time with respect to a present time for the agent and/or at least one player that interacts with the simulated scenario, providing at least one event that represents a change in at least one attribute of the agent, and updating a state of the scenario by applying the at least one event to the agent within the time window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Inventor: Christopher Hazard
  • Patent number: 9218166
    Abstract: A development system with improved methodology for creation and reuse of software assets is shown and described. In one embodiment, for example, in a development system, a method is described for facilitating creation of a reusable application, the method comprises steps of: during development of the application, capturing knowledge and intent of the application's original developer alongside source code created for the application; producing an archival module storing the source code for the application together with metadata capturing the knowledge and intent of the original developer, the metadata including at least one script guiding subsequent developers in use and modification of the source code for the application; and consuming the archival module by a follow-on developer, including executing the at least one script for facilitating creation of a reusable version of the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Embarcadero Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ravikumar Ramanathan
  • Patent number: 9165251
    Abstract: A method for specifying complex event processing (CEP) system rules. A rule construction interface is provided for constructing rules for a rule set of the complex event processing system, where the rules include definitions of one or more detected events and corresponding actions. In response to an identification of a new event or action during the rule construction process via the rule construction interface, a corresponding event or action logical construct is generated for representing the event or action in the complex event processing system. An intermediate logical construct is generated to provide a data connection for the event or action logical construct. The event or action logical construct is linked to a corresponding action or event logical construct via the intermediate logical construct so as to enable data flow between the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Doina L. Klinger, James S. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9137143
    Abstract: A multiprocessor computer system comprises a dragonfly processor interconnect network that comprises a plurality of processor nodes and a plurality of routers. The routers are operable to adaptively route data by selecting from among a plurality of network paths from a target node to a destination node in the dragonfly network based on one or more of network congestion information from neighboring routers and failed network link information from neighboring routers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mike Parker, Steve Scott, Albert Cheng, John Kim
  • Patent number: 9075830
    Abstract: An event processor accepts event representations that comprise perdurance and epistemological relationships among entities or entity references, and the event processor stores information derived from event representations in a datastore. A search component searches entities based on local epistemological and perdurance properties, and a perdurance engine traverses the perdurance relationships obtained from the datastore. An epistemological propagator generates derived epistemological relationships using the perdurance engine and local epistemological data obtained from the datastore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Morphism LLC
    Inventor: James H. Stephens, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9070172
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of performing an oilfield operation. The method steps include extracting context information from a host application associated with an oilfield project, sorting the context information into a plurality of dimensions of relevance, generating at least one search profile for each of the plurality of dimensions of relevance, requesting a plurality of searches using the at least one search profile, receiving one or more oilfield data items resulting from the plurality of searches, and selectively adjusting the oilfield operation based on one or more oilfield data items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Floyd Broussard, Najib Abusalbi
  • Patent number: 9047564
    Abstract: An interface facilitates user input of quantitatively weighted recommendations, including weighted factors in support of decision choices. A user input mechanism allows a user to specify a factor in support of a choice, and to specify values for quantitative parameters associated with the factor along two or more axes. An overall quantitative weight for the factor is generated based on the specified quantitative parameters. In one embodiment, a graphical user interface is presented, wherein the user specifies the values for the weighting parameters by dragging a movable indicator within an N-dimensional space. Each axis of the N-dimensional space corresponds to a weighting parameter. An overall quantitative weight for the factor is calculated, for example, as the product of the specified values along each of the axes. A visual indication of this calculation is presented, so as to provide an intuitive sense of the overall weight assigned to the factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Inventor: Patrick Laughlin Kelly
  • Publication number: 20150081615
    Abstract: Provided are architectures, system, methods, and computer program products that provide a user with the ability to define an association of data and/or information from known reference sets perceived by the user as relevant to a subject matter domain, thereby imparting and formalizing some of the user's knowledge about the domain. An associative relevancy knowledge profiler may also allow a user to create a profile by modifying or restricting the known reference sets and windowing the results from the association as a user might refine any other analysis algorithms. An associative relevancy knowledge profiler may also be used to define a user profile used by the user and others. A user profile may be usable in various manners depending upon, for example, rights management permissions and restrictions for a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Anthony Prestigiacomo
  • Patent number: 8984136
    Abstract: Examples disclose systems and methods for recognizing objects. A method may be executable to receive a query from a robot. The query may include identification data associated with an object and contextual data associated with the object. The query may also include situational data. The method may also be executable to identify the object based at least in part on the data in the query received from the robot. Further, the method may be executable to send data associated with the identified object to the robot in response to the query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony G. Francis, Jr., Arshan Poursohi
  • Patent number: 8965818
    Abstract: Methods and systems may support conclusions of a clinician by enabling the clinician to arbitrarily define the symptoms according to the patient's record. The method may comprise: (a) determining a plurality of symptoms representing a patient and including characteristics of the patient, the symptoms being categorized as present symptoms, absent symptoms or open symptoms; (b) establishing a multi-tier relationship between said symptoms and a plurality of diseases based on a knowledge model; (c) adjusting weighting factor(s) for at least one multi-tier relationship based on said knowledge model; (d) optionally adjusting at least one weighting factor of step (c) by an expert; and (e) building a ranking of diseases from said multi-tier relationship based on said weighting factors. The method may provide an efficient ranking of disease information, thereby supporting a clinical diagnosis that may consider multiple symptoms while emphasizing particular symptoms in view of the clinician's expertise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sonja Zillner, Heiner Oberkampf
  • Patent number: 8892500
    Abstract: A display device to display a representation of a set of states, each one of the states being associated with a corresponding variable. Each of the states displayed is designated as being a most significant state for the corresponding variable. Input representing a probability estimate to be associated with a displayed state is entered and used to generate data for use in an expert system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
    Inventors: John Stewart Anderson, Richard William Manley, Tim Hughes, Mark James Phillip Drake
  • Patent number: 8880606
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flexible, multi-modal system useful in communications among users, capable of synchronizing real world and augmented reality, wherein the system is deployed in centralized and distributed computational platforms. The system comprises input devices to generate signals representing speech, gestures, pointing direction, and location of a user, and transmit the same to a multi-modal interface. A plurality of agents and one or more databases are integrated into the system, where at least some of the agents receive signals from the multi-modal interface, translate the signals into data, compare the same to a database, generate signals representing meanings as defined by the database, and transmit the signals to the multi-modal interface. Finally, a plurality of output devices are associated with the system to receive and process signals from the multi-modal interface, some of said signals representing messages to the user to be communicated by means of an output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Research Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Aldunate, Gregg E Larson
  • Publication number: 20140324767
    Abstract: An improved technique uses an expert system to provide automated provisioning of resources for a storage system. Along these lines, a user submits values of a set of provisioning targets parameters in a administrative interface screen to a storage processing device. The expert system uses these values to form a set of facts within an expert system stored on the storage processing device that includes a knowledge base having a set of logical rules and an inference engine. The storage processing device then inputs these facts and logical rules into the inference engine which is configured to fire logical rules having preconditions that match the facts. The actions of these logical rules then provide content for the provisioning of the storage resources, which are displayed to the user or used for automatic storage provisioning operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Alexey Alexandrovich Polkovnikov, Dmitry Nikolayevich Tylik, Sergey Alexandrovich Alexeev
  • Patent number: 8862250
    Abstract: A computer-implemented integrated expert system for the identification of abnormal events in an industrial plant. The expert system integrates a model-based expert system with a rule-based expert system. The model-based expert system receives data on the operating conditions of a process unit in the industrial plant and calculates one or more results that determine whether the process unit is operating abnormally. The rule-based expert system also receives data on the operating conditions of the process unit and applies its rules to the process data. The rule-based expert system also applies its rules to the one or more results generated by the model-based expert system. The integrated system may also suppress any redundant messages generated by the model-based expert system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Byung-Su Ko, Ramesh Vaidhyanathan, Jeffrey Richter, Thomas F. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 8862536
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods that facilitates rendering of data in an industrial automation environment. According to an aspect of the invention, a device analyzer can determine properties associated with a plurality of devices intended for delivery of data. An HMI generator can format the data respectively in accordance with the determined properties of the devices and deliver the formatted data to the respective devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Software Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton Harold Bromley, Monte Leroy Fevang, Shafin A. Virji
  • Patent number: 8856014
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to connect consumers to diverse advice sources of experts. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing a list of experts to a mobile device via a wireless media channel for presentation to a consumer; responsive to receiving from the mobile device a selection of one expert from the list of experts, initiating a telephonic connection between the expert and the consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question for advice. In one example, the list includes information to indicate whether one or more of the experts are individually available to telephonically communicate with the consumer at a time when the list is provided to the consumer. In one example, initiating the telephonic connection includes: initiating a first call to the consumer; initiating a second call to the expert; and joining the first and second calls to make the telephonic connection between the expert and the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: YP Interactive LLC
    Inventors: Anuj Agarwal, Nitin Ahuja, Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Mark Arthur Buchler Halstead, Sean Van Der Linden
  • Patent number: 8849729
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for simplifying a causal influence model that describes influence of parent nodes Xi (i=1, . . . , n) on possible states of the child node Y. The child node Y and each one of the parent nodes Xi (i=1, . . . , n) are assumed to be either a discrete Boolean node having states true and false, a discrete Ordinal node having a plurality of ordered states; and a Categorical node having a plurality of unordered states. The influence of each parent node Xi on the child node Y is assumed to be a promoting influence and an inhibiting influence. User interfaces are described that incorporate these specific node types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Charles River Analytics, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary T. Cox, Jonathan Pfautz, David Koelle, Geoffrey Catto, Joseph Campolongo
  • Patent number: 8843388
    Abstract: A web-based employment application process is accessed by a candidate who browses, from a client terminal, to the website that hosts the process. From the website, maintained by a server, the candidate launches the program that executes and manages the process. During an online session, the candidate can navigate through the entire process, including the eligibility determination, resume submission and evaluation, and KSA assessment. Following the last stage of the process, an interview conducted by an interactive voice response system, the program evaluates the interview responses. If acceptable, the candidate is hired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Lanae Westfall, Wendi Lee Zeller
  • Patent number: 8805771
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for providing contextual feedback of rules proximity based on co-occurrence history in a business rules management system (BRMS). In an embodiment of the invention, a method for providing contextual feedback of rules proximity based on co-occurrence history can include selecting a rule for editing in a rules editor executing in memory of a computer, identifying different rules also having been applied to an input in common with the selected rule and displaying the identified different rules in the rules editor in connection with the selected rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Baudel, Frank Van Ham
  • Patent number: 8805772
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for providing contextual feedback of rules proximity based on co-occurrence history in a business rules management system (BRMS). In an embodiment of the invention, a method for providing contextual feedback of rules proximity based on co-occurrence history can include selecting a rule for editing in a rules editor executing in memory of a computer, identifying different rules also having been applied to an input in common with the selected rule and displaying the identified different rules in the rules editor in connection with the selected rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Baudel, Frank Van Ham
  • Patent number: 8799210
    Abstract: A framework for supporting transition of one or more applications of an organization is provided. The one or more applications are transitioned from a first set of users to a second set of users. The framework includes a transition module, a knowledge capture module, a knowledge validation module, and a collaboration module. The transition module generates one or more transition plans based on information corresponding to the one or more applications. The knowledge capture module captures a plurality of knowledge elements corresponding to the one or more applications. The knowledge capture module further establishes association between the plurality of knowledge elements. The knowledge validation module validates the plurality of knowledge elements and their association. The collaboration module provides collaboration between the first set of users and the second set of users during the transition of the one or more applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Infosys Limited
    Inventors: Virendra Paliwal, Savio D'Souza, Dinesh Kumara Shetty, Venkatakrishnan Balasubramanian, Lakshmi Narasimhan Narayanan
  • Patent number: 8789056
    Abstract: A computer system provides a way to automatically generate compound commands that perform tasks made up of multiple simple commands. A compound command generation mechanism monitors consecutive user commands and compares the consecutive commands a user has taken to a command sequence identification policy. If the user's consecutive commands satisfy the command sequence identification policy the user's consecutive commands become a command sequence. If the command sequence satisfies the compound command policy, the compound generation mechanism can generate a compound command for the command sequence automatically or prompt an administrator to allow the compound command to be generated. Generating a compound command can be done on a user by user basis or on a system wide basis. The compound command can then be displayed to the user to execute so that the command sequence is performed by the user selecting the compound command for execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Cragun, David G. Herbeck, Todd E. Johnson, John E. Petri, Leah R. Smutzer
  • Patent number: 8700558
    Abstract: An interface facilitates user input of quantitatively weighted recommendations, including weighted factors in support of decision choices. A user input mechanism allows a user to specify a factor in support of a choice, and to specify values for quantitative parameters associated with the factor along two or more axes. An overall quantitative weight for the factor is generated based on the specified quantitative parameters. In one embodiment, a graphical user interface is presented, wherein the user specifies the values for the weighting parameters by dragging a movable indicator within an N-dimensional space. Each axis of the N-dimensional space corresponds to a weighting parameter. An overall quantitative weight for the factor is calculated, for example, as the product of the specified values along each of the axes. A visual indication of this calculation is presented, so as to provide an intuitive sense of the overall weight assigned to the factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: Patrick Laughlin Kelly
  • Patent number: 8682829
    Abstract: The determination of whether an event, such as a taxable event for a commercial transaction, has occurred uses an executable decision tree. The decision tree includes a number of test nodes that each include a comparison field and at least one allowed value. A data value associated with the comparison field is accessed and compared to the allowed values. If the comparison field equals an allowed value, execution proceeds to a child node, and if not, execution proceeds to a sibling node. The child and sibling nodes are either another test node, a result node, or an error node. Execution of the decision tree proceeds until a result node or an error node is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Knut Barthel
  • Patent number: 8677248
    Abstract: Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes. In some situations, the providing includes receiving from first and second sources indications of an ability to supply values for, respectively, an indicated one of the state attributes and another of the state attributes. In such situations, the providing also includes, in response to receiving a request from a first client for a value of the indicated one attribute, determining that the first source is available to supply the value, obtaining the value from the first source, and supplying a value obtained from the first source to the first client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Abbott, Joshua M. Freedman, Dan Newell, James O. Robarts
  • Patent number: 8655822
    Abstract: Embodiments of this invention comprise modeling a subject's state and the influence of training scenarios, or actions, on that state to create a training policy. Both state and effects of actions are modeled as probabilistic using Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP) techniques. The POMDP is well suited to decision-theoretic planning under uncertainty. Utilizing this model and the resulting training policy with real world subjects creates a surprisingly effective decision aid for instructors to improve learning relative to a traditional scenario selection strategy. POMDP provides a more valid representation of trainee state and training effects, thus it is capable of producing more valid recommendations concerning how to structure training to subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: Aptima, Inc., Wright State University
    Inventors: Georgiy Levchuk, Jared Freeman, Wayne Shebilske
  • Publication number: 20140012787
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for information process and motor control using artificially constructed apparatus. More specially, the present invention provides a system and method that can process nature language and other informational input including visual, audio and other sensory inputs and respond intelligently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Qin Zhang
  • Patent number: 8612176
    Abstract: Clustering of nominal attributes using a nominal population metric enables comparisons of entities which are not easily comparable. In some embodiments, nominal population metrics are determined using a similarity matrix and a nominal population matrix using comparisons. In some embodiments, nominal population metrics are determined using a nominal population matrix using distributions. A computing device is able to determine the nominal population metrics with the appropriate hardware and applications configured for computing the nominal population metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Auburn University
    Inventor: Juan E. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 8548827
    Abstract: The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for medical diagnosis support for patient data of a patient through a data processing system, wherein the data processing system comprises a graphical user interface and a database containing rules for calculating diagnosis risks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: CompuGroup Medical AG
    Inventors: Frank Gotthardt, Dierk Helmann
  • Patent number: 8543660
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes at least one computing device located within a local media content network and configured to 1) generate a media index of local media content stored by one or more media content access devices located within the local media content network and cloud media content stored by one or more cloud computing devices located within a cloud media content service network and 2) manage the local media content and the cloud media content based on the media index and on a predefined media management heuristic. Corresponding methods, systems, and apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, Anthony M. Lemus, Michael D'Argenio, Donald H. Relyea
  • Patent number: 8539487
    Abstract: A computer system provides a way to automatically generate compound commands that perform tasks made up of multiple simple commands. A compound command generation mechanism monitors consecutive user commands and compares the consecutive commands a user has taken to a command sequence identification policy. If the user's consecutive commands satisfy the command sequence identification policy the user's consecutive commands become a command sequence. If the command sequence satisfies the compound command policy, the compound generation mechanism can generate a compound command for the command sequence automatically or prompt an administrator to allow the compound command to be generated. Generating a compound command can be done on a user by user basis or on a system wide basis. The compound command can then be displayed to the user to execute so that the command sequence is performed by the user selecting the compound command for execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian John Cragun, David Gerard Herbeck, Todd Eric Johnson, John Edward Petri, Leah Rae Smutzer
  • Patent number: 8538768
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to connect consumers to diverse advice sources of experts. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing a list of experts to a mobile device via a wireless media channel for presentation to a consumer; responsive to receiving from the mobile device a selection of one expert from the list of experts, initiating a telephonic connection between the expert and the consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question for advice. In one example, the list includes information to indicate whether one or more of the experts are individually available to telephonically communicate with the consumer at a time when the list is provided to the consumer. In one example, initiating the telephonic connection includes: initiating a first call to the consumer; initiating a second call to the expert; and joining the first and second calls to make the telephonic connection between the expert and the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ingenio LLC
    Inventors: Anuj Agarwal, Nitin Ahuja, Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Mark Arthur Buchler Halstead, Sean Van der Linden
  • Patent number: 8527452
    Abstract: A system and computer program product for specifying complex event processing (CEP) system rules. A rule construction interface is provided for constructing rules for a rule set of the complex event processing system, where the rules include definitions of one or more detected events and corresponding actions. In response to an identification of a new event or action during the rule construction process via the rule construction interface, a corresponding event or action logical construct is generated for representing the event or action in the complex event processing system. An intermediate logical construct is generated to provide a data connection for the event or action logical construct. The event or action logical construct is linked to a corresponding action or event logical construct via the intermediate logical construct so as to enable data flow between the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Doina L. Klinger, James S. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8515715
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a method, a system and a program storage device for simulating electronic device performance as a function of process variations. In these embodiments, functions of a primary model parameter for each of multiple secondary model parameters across multiple different process conditions can be determined based on a relatively small number of target sets of device characteristics. These functions can then be used to augment a simulator so that during subsequent simulations of the electronic device over a wide range of varying process conditions, a change in a value for the primary model parameter will automatically result in corresponding changes in values for the secondary model parameters. By augmenting the simulation environment in this manner, the disclosed embodiments efficiently provide more robust simulation results over prior art techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Pamela Castalino, Sudesh Saroop, Peter W. Schneider, Joseph P. Walko
  • Patent number: 8489997
    Abstract: Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes. In some situations, the providing includes receiving from a module a request related to the modeling of the current state with the multiple state attributes. In such situations, the providing further includes, without further intervention related to the request by the module, determining that the request cannot currently be satisfied, and indicating to the module that the request cannot currently be satisfied, monitoring at later times after the indicating to determine whether the request can be satisfied, and indicating to the module that the request can be satisfied if it is determined at one of the later times that the request can currently be satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Abbott, Joshua M. Freedman, Dan Newell, James O. Robarts
  • Patent number: 8489539
    Abstract: Computer-aided systems and methods are provided for determining the skin composition of a specific user according to Traditional Chinese Medicinal (TCM) principles by statistically analyzing biological and/or psychological information collected from such user, such as age, gender, bodily sensation, skin condition and complexion, sleep pattern, dietary habits, energy level, stress level, physical fitness and emotional wellness, so as to classify the skin composition of the user according to TCM principles but without employing a TCM practitioner. Preferably, the skin composition classification is indicative of Yin-Yang balance of the skin of the user or the lack thereof. The present systems and methods may further recommend to the user one or more topical skin care regimens and/or ingestible skin benefit products suitable for the skin composition of the specific user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: ELC management, LLC
    Inventors: Denise M. DiCanio, Arlette Palo, Jing Cheng, Rose Marie Sparacio, Julie A. Hidalgo, Eric G. Yovine
  • Patent number: 8447719
    Abstract: A method of compiling causal rules into continuations for use in root cause analysis of a system comprising a plurality of inter-related elements, comprising defining observable events occurring on system elements; defining at least one of a cause and a result of each of the events; defining causal rules, each rule describing a causal relationship between an event and one of its cause and its result; and compiling the causal relationships as continuations in a continuation passing style (CPS) for use in analyzing the root cause of subsequent observed events symptomatic of at least one problem on the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Bob Bethke, Srikanth Natarajan
  • Patent number: 8442933
    Abstract: A visualization system that generates visual mash-ups for industrial automation includes a mash-up component that combines output from a subset of disparate sources into a common interface. The disparate sources include at least one of equipment, computers, or devices within an industrial automation environment. A visualization component generates and displays a mash-up visualization that includes information associated with the common interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Joseph Baier, Clifton Harold Bromley, Mark Hobbs, Teunis Hendrik Schouten, Douglas James Reichard, Kevin George Gordon, Taryl Jon Jasper, Robert Joseph McGreevy, Bruce Gordan Fuller
  • Publication number: 20130103636
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for visualizing rule input attributes with a rule according to disparate rule attribute distributions. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for visualizing rule input attributes with a rule according to disparate rule attribute distributions has been provided. The method includes identifying in response to a selection of a rule for viewing in a rule viewer an input for the selected rule and determining an attribute for the input. However, attributes present in a guard for the selected rule can be excluded. The method also can include computing a global distribution of the attribute irrespective of the identified input and a specific distribution for the identified input. The attribute can be flagged as being correlated with the selected rule when it is determined that a sufficient disparity exists between the global distribution and the specific distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Baudel, Frank Van Ham
  • Publication number: 20130103635
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for visualizing rule input attributes with a rule according to disparate rule attribute distributions. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for visualizing rule input attributes with a rule according to disparate rule attribute distributions has been provided. The method includes identifying in response to a selection of a rule for viewing in a rule viewer an input for the selected rule and determining an attribute for the input. However, attributes present in a guard for the selected rule can be excluded. The method also can include computing a global distribution of the attribute irrespective of the identified input and a specific distribution for the identified input. Thereafter, the attribute can be flagged as being correlated with the selected rule when it is determined that a sufficient disparity exists between the global distribution and the specific distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas BAUDEL, Frank VAN HAM
  • Publication number: 20130073512
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for providing contextual feedback of rules proximity based on co-occurrence history in a business rules management system (BRMS). In an embodiment of the invention, a method for providing contextual feedback of rules proximity based on co-occurrence history can include selecting a rule for editing in a rules editor executing in memory of a computer, identifying different rules also having been applied to an input in common with the selected rule and displaying the identified different rules in the rules editor in connection with the selected rule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas BAUDEL, Frank VAN HAM
  • Publication number: 20130073511
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for providing contextual feedback of rules proximity based on co-occurrence history in a business rules management system (BRMS). In an embodiment of the invention, a method for providing contextual feedback of rules proximity based on co-occurrence history can include selecting a rule for editing in a rules editor executing in memory of a computer, identifying different rules also having been applied to an input in common with the selected rule and displaying the identified different rules in the rules editor in connection with the selected rule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas BAUDEL, Frank VAN HAM
  • Patent number: 8392353
    Abstract: Methods for constructing and maintaining knowledge representation systems (KRS) are disclosed. The KRS is initially organized and populated using knowledge engineers. After initial organization, scientific domain experts digest and structure source texts for direct entry into the KRS using templates. These templates constrain both the form and content of the digested information, allowing it to be entered directly into the KRS. The methods disclosed herein permit the construction and maintenance of a much larger KRS than could be constructed and maintained using known methods. Fact type specific fact templates are completed, accepting predefined fact types found in predetermined information sources. Fact template may comprise a user interface that constrains user entry to one of a predetermined set of valid entries. The user interface may include a user field that permits entry of new information not included in the predetermined set of valid user entries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ingenuity Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Cho, Richard O. Chen, Ramon M. Felciano, Daniel R. Richards
  • Patent number: 8380655
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of locating an expert having individualized knowledge of a seeker's request. A computer based match and route system is used to locate an expert. In the memory component of the system, a seeker profile is created and is embedded, prior to a request for an inquiry, with pre-selected inquiry criteria and values. An interactive problem definition page displays numerous inquiry criteria and values for a seeker to select. An expert having individualized knowledge regarding a seeker's request is located by filtering the pre-selected and seeker selected inquiry criteria and values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: XpertUniverse, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. Nevin, Abraham Zelkin, Richard W. Mason, John Steinhoff
  • Patent number: 8352413
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing controlled access to value dispensing devices are described and in certain examples, systems including those for providing controlled access to a postage meter from multiple programs executing on an external collocated processor are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Brennan, Hafeesmon Chettiparambil, Sambasivam Thillaikumaran, Brian C. Hannigan