Miscellaneous Patents (Class 706/62)
  • Publication number: 20090271354
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to find out parts to be a highly possible cause of failure without searching all of part data of all of products. Dispersed parts data on a parts tree are sequentially accessed from a set of known failed products, and part attribute values each having a higher support in the faulty product are extracted. In this process, a subset of parts used in the faulty product is also obtained simultaneously. The part attribute values having higher supports and the subset of parts used in the faulty product are represented as a tree in which a parts type serves as a node. Next, an information gain of a rule that having the two part attribute values is a cause of failure is calculated on two part attribute values having higher supports on the tree of the parts type. This calculation is locally performed on a common parent part of two parts and parts having a certain information gain is outputted as a cause of failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumihiko Kitayama, Hirofumi Matsuzawa, Masayuki Numao, Madoka Yuriyama
  • Patent number: 7610257
    Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods are disclosed herein that relate to processes, which construct an empirically derived and statistically based risk evaluation and policy formulation system. For example, a process can be configured so as to accept as input an information base in computer readable form and produce either a single or multistage system composed of alternative decision making strategies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: SAS Institute Inc.
    Inventor: Clark Richard Abrahams
  • Patent number: 7606777
    Abstract: An artificial visual recognition system and method employ a digital processor and a model executed by the digital processor. The model has a loose hierarchy of layers. Each layer, from a lowest hierarchy level to a top level, provides relatively increasing selectivity and invariance of the input image. The hierarchy allows bypass routes between layers. On output, the model produces feature recognition and classification of an object in the input image. In some embodiments, windowing means provide windows of the input image to the model, and the model responds to shape-based objects in the input image. In another feature, segmenting means segment the input image and enables the model to determine texture-based objects in the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Thomas Serre, Tomaso Poggio, Maximilian Riesenhuber, Lior Wolf, Stanley M. Bileschi
  • Patent number: 7593912
    Abstract: A method for evaluating reliance level of a virtual metrology system is disclosed. In this method, a reliance index (RI) and a RI threshold value are calculated by analyzing the process data of production equipment, thereby determining if the virtual metrology result is reliable. Besides, in this method, a global similarity index (GSI) and individual similarity indexes (ISI) are also provided for defining the degree of similarity between the current set of process data and all of the sets of historical process data used for establishing the conjecture model, thereby assisting the RI in gauging the degree of reliance and locating the key parameter(s) that cause major deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: National Cheng Kung University
    Inventors: Fan-Tien Cheng, Yeh-Tung Chen, Yu-Chuan Su
  • Patent number: 7593914
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for constructing optimal cybernetic based systems. The method is based on a process of formalized rational inquiry, measurement and planned action. More particularly, the method relies upon the precise determination of alternatives through inquiry, a formal logical model of measurement, and the subsequent matching of information obtained through measurement to possible courses of action to arrive at a realizable and useful cybernetic system architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventor: Robert L. Fry
  • Patent number: 7593913
    Abstract: A system for providing medical decision support for diagnosis and treatment of disease comprises a medical knowledge database comprising medical information, the medical information including probabilities of disease outcomes for a disease of interest, a memory device for storing a program, a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to obtain patient information and in vitro test results for a patient, and automatically generate a recommendation for a medical test based on a combination of the patient information, the in vitro test results, and medical information from the medical knowledge database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Lu-yong Wang, Daniel Fasulo, Dorin Comaniciu
  • Patent number: 7584166
    Abstract: A method is provided for a medical risk stratification system. The method may include obtaining data records associated with one or more health variables and a plurality of medical risks from a plurality of MRS models based on an expert knowledge combination process and establishing a medical risk process model indicative of interrelationships between the plurality of medical risks and a plurality of health parameters based on the data records. The method may also include obtaining a set of values corresponding to the plurality of health parameters and calculating values of the plurality of medical risks simultaneously based upon the set of values corresponding to the plurality of health parameters and the medical risk process model. Further, the method may include optimizing the plurality of health parameters to minimize the plurality of medical risks simultaneously and presenting the values of the plurality of medical risks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony J. Grichnik
  • Patent number: 7580913
    Abstract: A method and system for analyzing impact of change in an organizational entity. A graph H includes nets, nodes of the nets, edges connecting the nodes, and edge weights for the edges. The edge weights denote changes in some nodes resulting from changes in other nodes. For a given set Z of nodes A and for each node B characterized by a set S of at least one path of edges connecting nodes of H from node A to node B for each node A of Z, a measure M(Z,B) of a change in node B resulting from a change in each node A of Z is determined. M(Z,B) is a function of the edge weights in each path of S. Each node B of H is displayed via a graphical representation G(B) assigned to each node B. G(B) is a function of M(Z,B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ankur Chandra, Douglas Warren McDavid, Jorge L. C. Sanz, Jennifer Quirin Trelewicz
  • Patent number: 7580912
    Abstract: A performance data mining system combines detailed sensor analysis data with other data sources to discover interesting patterns/rules for performance and utilizes real time sensor analysis to dynamically derive mining results in real time during an event. The system automatically generates advice/strategy and predictions based on specified criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventors: Ingrid Birgitta Carlbom, Yves D. Jean, Agata Opalach, Gopal S. Pingali
  • Patent number: 7567948
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to find out parts to be a highly possible cause of failure without searching all of part data of all of products. Dispersed parts data on a parts tree are sequentially accessed from a set of known failed products, and part attribute values each having a higher support in the faulty product are extracted. In this process, a subset of parts used in the faulty product is also obtained simultaneously. The part attribute values having higher supports and the subset of parts used in the faulty product are represented as a tree in which a parts type serves as a node. Next, an information gain of a rule that having the two part attribute values is a cause of failure is calculated on two part attribute values having higher supports on the tree of the parts type. This calculation is locally performed on a common parent part of two parts and parts having a certain information gain is outputted as a cause of failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fumihiko Kitayama, Hirofumi Matsuzawa, Masayuki Numao, Madoka Yuriyama
  • Patent number: 7562064
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods that can be used for targeted advertising. The system determines where to present impressions, such as advertisements, to maximize an expected utility subject to one or more constraints, which can include quotas and minimum utilities for groups of one or more impression. The traditional measure of utility in web-based advertising is click-though rates, but the present invention provides a broader definition of utility, including measures of sales, profits, or brand awareness, for example. This broader definition permits advertisements to be allocated more in accordance with the actual interests of advertisers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Maxwell Chickering, David E. Heckerman
  • Patent number: 7555470
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system by which research data can be collected and analyzed during the course of the research testing, and the research testing itself possibly modified to account for conclusions drawn from the research data. In a first aspect of the invention, a research subject can respond to a protocol stored on a server by manipulating input keys on a remotely located client device onto which a research protocol has been installed. The protocol can include questions concerning the subject's physical or mental well being such as whether their symptoms are relieved or not, or even exacerbated. The protocol can also include calling for data obtained by coupling the client device with another medical device such as a glucose monitor. In a preferred embodiment, the subject is presented with narrowly structured questions and suggested answers provided by the protocol. The set of possible answers is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Health Hero Network, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Brown
  • Patent number: 7552105
    Abstract: The present invention has been made to calculate objective variable distribution having high reliability irrespective of the section size in an explanatory variable in which frequency drastically changes to thereby obtain highly reliable importance degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kazuho Maeda
  • Patent number: 7542954
    Abstract: A method for representing a dataset comprises clustering the dataset using an unsupervised, non-parametric clustering method to generate a set of clusters each comprising a set of data points in an image; clustering the data points of each cluster using a supervised, partitional clustering method to partition each cluster into a specified number of sub-clusters; generating a density estimate value of each grid point of a set of grid points sampled from the image at a specified resolution for each sub-cluster using a kernel density function; identifying a maximum density estimate value and a sub-cluster associated with the maximum density estimate value for the grid point; adding each grid point for which the maximum density estimate value exceeds a specified threshold to the sub-cluster associated with the maximum density estimate value; and, for each cluster, merging the sub-clusters of the cluster into a corresponding cluster region in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tanveer Syeda-Mahmood, Peter J. Haas, John M. Lake, Guy M. Lohman
  • Patent number: 7542953
    Abstract: A data processing system is provided that comprises a processor, a random access memory for storing data and programs for execution by the processor, and computer readable instructions stored in the random access memory for execution by the processor to perform a method for obtaining a shape interpolated representation of shapes of clusters in an image of a clustered dataset. The method comprises generating a density estimate value of each grid point of a set of grid points sampled from the image at a specified resolution for each cluster using a kernel density function; evaluating the density estimate value of each grid point for each cluster to identify a maximum density estimate value of each grid point and a cluster associated with the maximum density estimate value; and adding each grid point for which the maximum density estimate value exceeds a specified threshold to the associated cluster to form a shape interpolated representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tanveer Syeda-Mahmood, Peter J. Haas, John M. Lake, Guy M. Lohman
  • Patent number: 7542961
    Abstract: The system of the present invention for assessing and analyzing the risks of adverse effects resulting from the use of at least one substance of interest, comprises a selector for identifying at least one substance of interest; a profiler for selecting from multiple profiles related to the safety of the at least one substance of interest, using at least one filter; at least one data mining engine; and an output device for displaying the analytic results from the data mining engine. Preferably, the at least one data mining engine is selected from (1) a proportional analysis engine to assess deviations in a set of the reactions to the drug of interest; (2) a comparator to measure the reactions to the drug of interest against a user-defined backdrop, and (3) a correlator to look for correlated signal characteristics in drug/reaction/demographic information; and an output device whereby a user can receive analytic results from the selector, the proportional analysis engine, the comparator, and the correlator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Inventor: Victor Gogolak
  • Patent number: 7539659
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that effectuates selective viewing of multimedia audio and/or visual content. The disclosed system can include a component that obtains multimedia audio or visual content from a broadcast server, categorizes the multimedia audio or visual content, and associates index tags to categorized multimedia audio or visual content. The index tags are utilized to provide a facility to search or summarize the categorized multimedia audio or visual content, wherein the resultant searches and summarizations can be displayed on a display associated with the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis G. Wong, Dale A. Sather, Kenneth Reneris, Thaddeus C. Pritchett, Eric J. Horvitz, Talal Ali Batrouny
  • Patent number: 7536366
    Abstract: Systems and methods that enhance estimate(s) of features (e.g., word associations), via employing a sampling component (e.g., sketches) that facilitates computations of sample contingency tables, and designates occurrences (or absence) of features in data (e.g., words in document lists). The sampling component can further include a contingency table generator and an estimation that employs a likelihood argument (e.g., partial likelihood, maximum likelihood, and the like) to estimate features/word pair(s) associations in the contingency tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Ward Church, Ping Li
  • Patent number: 7536375
    Abstract: A hand held or portable device (1) is configured to include a multitude of factors from which sporting success conditions such as applicable to fishing and hunting success may be predicted. In one embodiment, these may include: a lunar information element (2), a solar information element (3), a barometric information element (4), and a temperature information element (5) that provide input (directly or indirectly) to combination elements (6) and a sport success prediction element (7) that may provide a simplistic or other display (8) to a user. A composite barometric-lunar-solar-temperature effect may be calculated for the present or for a remote time and date through a future time forecast element (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Speedtech Instruments
    Inventors: George J. Schisler, Eric P Bergersen, David L. Laylin
  • Patent number: 7526456
    Abstract: A method of operating a Linear Complementarity Problem (LCP) solver is disclosed, where the LCP solver is characterized by multiple execution units operating in parallel to implement a competent computational method adapted to resolve physics-based LCPs in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Lihua Zhang, Richard Tonge, Dilip Sequeira, Monier Maher
  • Patent number: 7526467
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for identifying at least one property of data. An example of the method includes receiving data, and making assessments regarding the data. The method also includes applying at least one behavioral operator, and outputting results. The method further comprises receiving feedback concerning system performance. Additionally, the method includes adjusting at least one parameter based on the feedback received concerning system performance, wherein the at least one parameter is a parameter of a machine learning method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Natural Selection, Inc.
    Inventor: David B. Fogel
  • Patent number: 7509299
    Abstract: An importance system calculates the importance of pages using a conditional Markov random walk model rather than a conventional Markov random walk model. The importance system calculates the importance of pages factoring in the importance of sites that contain those pages. The importance system may factor in the importance of sites based on the strength of the correlation of the importance of a page to the importance of a site. The strength of the correlation may be based upon the depth of the page within the site. The importance system may iteratively calculate the importance of the pages using “conditional” transition probabilities. During each iteration, the importance system may recalculate the conditional transition probabilities based on the importance of sites that are derived from the recalculated importance of pages during the iteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tie-Yan Liu, Wei-Ying Ma
  • Publication number: 20090076784
    Abstract: System for simulating events in a real environment containing static objects and dynamic objects: a) position locating unit for continuously determining the real environment the position of the dynamic objects in relation to the static objects within a time period in which the even takes place; b) storage elements for storing data describing the dynamic and static objects of the environment; c) processing elements for processing (b1) data from the storage elements describing the static and dynamic objects (b2) data from the position locating unit indicating at a certain moment the mutual positions of the static and dynamic objects of the environment, the processing elements being loaded with simulation software; d) display elements for displaying a simulated view from a selected viewpoint on the simulated environment as a result of the processing by the processing elements; e) control elements to repeat the functioning of the processing and display elements for a range of consecutive time moments which togeth
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Thian Liang Ong, Manuel Regen
  • Patent number: 7499893
    Abstract: A simulated consciousness method (10) for an improved human/computer interface. A computer system (12) is programmed to have a Digital Life Form (32) possessing a plurality of attributes (65). A plurality of actions (64) taken relative to objects (60) in the environment (30) contribute to simulated feelings (76) which ultimately control the viability of the Digital Life Form (32). When there are not sufficient energy packets (66) to sustain the Digital Life Form (32) then simulated death 52 results. Therefore, only actions (64) which contribute to the viability of the Digital Life Form (32) are repeated in the long-run. Some of those actions (64) include perception of reality, concept formation, and natural language processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Blue Oak Mountain Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory J. Czora
  • Patent number: 7475053
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for constructing optimal based systems. The method is based on a process of formalized rational inquiry, measurement and planned action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventor: Robert L. Fry
  • Patent number: 7475054
    Abstract: An integrated intelligent environment provides responses to incoming user requests for information. Aspects of the integrated intelligence environment allow information to be efficiently gathered from past solutions, and/or new information to be collected from multiple information sources. The integrated intelligence may include learning agents, mobile objects, and optimizer components that allow for the efficient gathering of information across multiple platforms. The learning agents facilitate providing a response to the user request by determining how similar requests were handled in the past. The mobile objects are configured to seek information from the multiple information sources, and may utilize a publish and subscribe framework. The optimizer determines whether a cost associated with a possible solution justifies use of that solution. A feedback mechanism allows users to rate the provided responses to their requests for information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John D. Hearing, Brian J. Smith
  • Patent number: 7461047
    Abstract: A question answering system includes a similar-question generation unit, a first search unit, a second search unit, and an answer selection unit. The similar-question generation unit selects a feature word from an input question to generate a transformational question in which the feature word is replaced with another word. The first search unit executes a first search process based on the transformational question. The second search unit selects a word included in a first search result acquired as an extension word and executes a second search process with using the selected extension word. The answer selection unit analyzes a correspondence relation among extension words included in a second search result, determines the feature word and a constructive part of an answer equivalent word in the second search result based on an analysis result, and selects a word determined to be an answer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Masuichi, Daigo Sugihara, Tomoko Ohkuma, Hiroki Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 7461046
    Abstract: Systems, devices, methods, and software are provided that are suitable for use in the creation, implementation, use and/or refinement of treatment protocols. The software is configured for use in a client-server environment where the server communicates with client devices such as PDAs, laptops, tablets, or desktop computers. The software is directed to programming for basing an assessment of risk of bacterial infection in a subject on the presence, or lack, of viral illness in that subject. The diagnosis of viral illness is made through the use of results obtained from an enterovirus polymerase chain reaction test or a direct fluorescent assay test for respiratory viruses. Such test data, in conjunction with ‘time to positivity’ data for urine, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or other cultures, is then processed by the software to assess the individual risk of occurrence of various conditions, such as bacterial infection, in a particular subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: The University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Carrie L. Byington, Andrew T. Pavia, John C. Christenson
  • Patent number: 7461048
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that use clinical information, molecular information and computer-generated morphometric information in a predictive model for predicting the occurrence (e.g., recurrence) of a medical condition, for example, cancer. In an embodiment, a model that predicts prostate cancer recurrence is provided, where the model is based on features including seminal vesicle involvement, surgical margin involvement, lymph node status, androgen receptor (AR) staining index of tumor, a morphometric measurement of epithelial nuclei, and at least one morphometric measurement of stroma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Aureon Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail Teverovskiy, David A. Verbel, Olivier Saidi
  • Patent number: 7454400
    Abstract: A plurality of components are specified to perform a negotiation, where each component is a participant, a coordinator, or both. Each component is provided with a conversion table that maps a set of parameters between invocation patterns instantiated by the participants. Each coordinator is provided with a negotiation graph that it modifies to coordinate its neighborhood of negotiation graphs, and each participant is provided with a negotiation graph that it modifies for each invocation pattern it instantiates. Two message types are sent between components that communicate directly with each other in each neighborhood of negotiation graphs. The two message types are sent between the components to collaboratively mirror their negotiation graphs using their conversion tables in each neighborhood of negotiation graphs so that each participant only views information concerning those aspects in its negotiation graph that relate to the parameters of the invocation patterns it instantiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Andreoli, Stefania Castellani
  • Patent number: 7453992
    Abstract: A system and method for representing call content in a searchable database includes transcribing call content to text. The call content is projected to vector space, by creating a vector by indexing the call based on the content and determining a similarity of the call to an atomic-class dictionary. The call is classified in a relational database in accordance with the vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng Wu, Andrzej Sakrajda, Hong-Kwang Jeff Kuo, Vaibhava Goel, David Lubensky
  • Patent number: 7437344
    Abstract: The invention may involve using an artificial intelligence engine to provide beauty advice. Beauty advice may include a recommendation for a product. The recommended product may be complementary to a second product. The second product may be a user-selected product. A notification of the recommended product may be provided to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: L'Oreal S.A.
    Inventor: Jerome Peyrelevade
  • Patent number: 7437345
    Abstract: The present invention suppresses a harmonic component without impairing the phase orthogonality of a pair of complex signals. A polyphase filter is configured so that K pieces of filter circuits, each of which comprises a resistor and a capacitor, are connected and +360/K degrees out of phase with a preceding one. Since counterclockwise rotation occurs when expression is given in terms of the complex plane, a notch occurs in a negative frequency region. A RC value is set so that a notch occurs in a specified frequency band to suppress a (4N+1)-order harmonic component. Since the polyphase filter has a symmetrical structure, an unbalanced component contained in an input signal is eliminated at a frequency that agrees with a pole determined by the RC value. This action improves the orthogonality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Sachio Iida
  • Patent number: 7428517
    Abstract: A multi-dimensional modeling technique and system for knowledge based management, comprises a perceptual engine of relations and concepts; a logical engine of relations and concepts; an inference engine of relations and concepts. The engines operatively connect to a data analysis engine for analyzing an information source, such as a text, sound, video, images, measurement and control data as to its information and knowledge content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Inventors: Michaël Rik Frans Brands, Dirk Medard Helena Van Hyfte
  • Patent number: 7409378
    Abstract: A negotiation is carried out between a plurality of participants. Each participant defines an invocation pattern. A set of coordinator parameters are attached to each invocation pattern, where the set of coordinator parameters define interdependencies between parameters of the plurality of participants that are shared across their invocation patterns. A graph is constructed to carry out the negotiation of a set of actions to be performed by selected ones of the plurality of participants, with nodes of a first node type that represents a negotiating context or a second node type that represents a decision point. The participants construct the graph with primitives instantiated by the invocation patterns. At least one node in the graph is a decision point that merges two or more negotiation contexts into a single decision point. The single decision point combines values of the parameters from the two or more negotiation contexts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Stefania Castellani, Jean-Marc Andreoli
  • Publication number: 20080168022
    Abstract: A multimedia organization and playback system intelligently organizes media objects, such as music files, and plays back their contents. The system considers and analyzes multiple media object attributes to determine groups of similar songs. As a result, the system delivers a consistent selection of media to the listener despite wide variations in media characteristics and without overburdening the listener with complicated configuration input. The listener may play back grouped songs based on the similarities between songs. Successive selections may be more or less similar to a current selection based on the organization of the music objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Daniel Benyamin
  • Patent number: 7376633
    Abstract: A computer program product is described for solving the traveling salesman problem in polynomial time. The probability distribution of the space of all paths is modeled in a configurational density distribution. A Hamiltonian is constructed specifying the costs, distance, or penalty associated with different legs of paths encompassed in the configurational density distribution. Starting at a maximum temperature where free energy dominates and the penalty function plays little role, the system is iteratively adapted to reduce the temperature in steps incrementally chosen to preserve the linear characteristic of the approximation, until a lower temperature state of reduced energy is reached in which a preferred set of paths can be identified from the configurational density distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Khimetrics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Ouimet
  • Patent number: 7369918
    Abstract: A method of generating a mailer on demand by receiving data for an envelope and a matching document in a computer, placing data for the envelope and the document in a production queue, generating the envelope using the data, generating the document using the data, automatically verifying the correct generation and sequence of the envelope, automatically verifying the correct generation and sequence of the document, removing any envelope or document if the verification process returns a false condition for correct generation or sequence in order to maintain order integrity of the production queue and automatically regenerating the incorrectly generated or sequenced piece and all other corresponding piece(s) of the mailer, and matching a verified envelope with a matching verified document and creating the mailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Inventor: Rodger T. Cosgrove
  • Patent number: 7366707
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to methods of generating a profile data set. In an exemplary embodiment, data is accessed and the accessed data is processed using a dynamic cluster method, mobile center method, and/or a k-means algorithm, each using neighborhood data. Other aspects relate to methods of generating a diagnosis, advice, and/or other information. Further aspects relate to dynamic surveying and systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: L'Oreal S.A.
    Inventors: Olivier de Lacharriere, Philippe Bastien, Fouad Badran, Sylvie Thiria
  • Publication number: 20080065580
    Abstract: A unified workspace (UWS) design that provides a single system-wide display and interaction surface, and a set of tools that allow a user to discover relevant information. Data is surfaced across boundaries of applications and documents and stored implicitly from preset business logic or explicitly from user demand. Data can be implicitly and explicitly queried and aggregated from many different data sources such as various content types that are created in different formats and displayed on a single interaction surface. The UWS surfaces the required application functionalities to perform the tasks by partial launch of the associated application. Data elevation surfaces only the relevant amount of information, based on the context and activity, to assist the completion and decisionmaking process. Private and shared workspaces can be employed with object passing therebetween. The UWS provides a visual representation of each element such as information or relationship and allows direct user interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jeanine E. Spence, Wai Chan, Scott Neilson, Kathleen Linscott, David M. Bozich
  • Patent number: 7337160
    Abstract: Chalcogenide technology is used for radiation hardening for spaceborne systems and more particularly in C-RAM form for processors, field programmable gate arrays, startup RAMs, shadow storage and single-chip systems to protect these units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Marshall, Richard W. Berger, John C. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 7319992
    Abstract: Described is a method and apparatus for generating a customized dynamic virtual reality environment. The dynamic virtual reality environment communicates with a participant via a virtual personal assistant utilizing an input/output arrangement. The virtual personal assistant engages the participant in a natural language conversation to obtain the participant's preferences and personal information. The virtual personal assistant utilizes an artificial intelligence engine to recognize a plurality of natural languages. Information obtained from the conversation may be translated into a request for information, services or products. The virtual personal assistant may retrieve any of these from a plurality of remote servers via a communications network and present the data to the participant. Information obtained from the conversation may be used to evolve both the virtual reality environment and the virtual personal assistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: The Mission Corporation
    Inventor: Maria Gaos
  • Publication number: 20080005055
    Abstract: Methods and architectures for context-sensitive reminding and service facilitating are disclosed. The architectures monitor user context and activity, senses or infers relevant reminders, goals, such as those that come from a growing need of the user that should be fulfilled, and computes best reminders, and recommend plans on fulfilling need(s) in an optimum way. Statistical models of a user's knowledge and recall in different settings may be employed. Facilities, services, and merchants can be identified along a route that the user can take, and cost-benefit analysis is performed for determining which merchant(s) to select to fulfill the need(s). Routes may be created as opportunistic modifications of trips underway. Merchants can respond back with offers of sale to the user for all available needed items, and the user can respond with acceptance or denial of the offers. Merchants can also respond in a bidding fashion in order to gain user's patronage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eric J. Horvitz
  • Publication number: 20070255673
    Abstract: A method for judging standardization order of workpieces includes steps as follows: sampling different types of workpieces, and recording parameters of the samples; transforming the parameters of the respective samples into a plurality of respective standardization grades S for evaluating standardization order of the workpieces; and arranging a standardization order of the workpieces according to their respective standardization grades S.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicants: SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO,.LTD., Sutech Trading Limited
    Inventors: Ping Chen, Lei Li, Wen-Quan Xu, Zhi Cheng, Chang-Fa Sun, Qian Chen
  • Patent number: 7277876
    Abstract: A system, methods and apparatus are described involving the self-organizing dynamics of networks of distributed computers. The system is comprised of complex networks of databases. The system presents a novel database architecture called the distributed transformational spatio-temporal object relational (T-STOR) database management system (dbms). Data is continuously input, analyzed, organized, reorganized and used for specific commercial and industrial applications. The system uses intelligent mobile software agents in a multi-agent system in order to learn, anticipate, and adapt and to perform numerous functions, including search, analysis, collaboration, negotiation, decision making and structural transformation. The system links together numerous complex systems involving distributed networks to present a novel model for dynamic adaptive computing systems, which includes plasticity of collective behavior and self-organizing behavior in intelligent system structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Solomon Research LLC
    Inventor: Neal Solomon
  • Patent number: 7266537
    Abstract: A predictive modeling system and methodology makes predictions using unstructured content as an input, either alone or in conjunction with structured content. Content transformation rules are selected for application to the unstructured content, such as emails, call center notes, and other forms of human communication, by identifying the rules that are likely to improve the performance of a predictive modeling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Intelligent Results
    Inventors: Matthew S. Jacobsen, Robert J. Jasper, Michael M. Meyer, Kelly A. Pennock
  • Patent number: 7246103
    Abstract: Improved human-like realism of computer opponents in racing or motion-related games is provided. The computer driver may be “distracted” by various characteristics, such as nervousness caused by another competitor closing the gap behind a computer driver. The distraction effects may be reflected in the alteration of stimuli to represent the computer driver “missing” stimuli, as though the AI competitor has taken its virtual eyes away from the course in front of its vehicle for an extended time period in order to watch the racing vehicle behind it. In addition, some distractions may be caused by different directional stimuli. When it is determined that an AI driver has glanced into the rear view mirror, visual stimuli from in front of the vehicle may be skipped because a human driver would not be able to simultaneously process visual stimuli from both the front of the vehicle and the rear view mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ralf Herbrich, Michael E. Tipping, Mark Hatton
  • Patent number: 7233937
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which a search request containing search criteria is received from a first user. The search criteria include at least one search category. Filter search specification associated with the at least one search category is determined. The filter search specification is used to specify a particular type of records in the at least one search criteria to be selected for the search request. A search is performed based upon the filter search specification and the search criteria to identify records that match filter search specification and the search criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Pavitra Subramaniam, Jason Zoss, Jian-Jung Ying, Marc Caltabiano
  • Patent number: 7216113
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and business processes enabling individual chemists to design, order, and obtain data for multiple experiments or measurements in a timely and cost-effective manner. In particular implementations, the invention includes methods and apparatus for designing sets of custom experiments, ordering the execution of the experiments, communicating the order to a remote laboratory, executing the experiments at that laboratory using high-throughput technologies, and communicating the experimental results to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Isy Goldwasser, David R. Dorsett, Jr., Jere D. Fellmann
  • Patent number: 7197486
    Abstract: In a method for determining a minimum value of an optimization function under constraints given by equations, a set of points which satisfy the constraints is regarded as a Riemannian manifold within a finite-dimensional real-vector space, the Riemannian manifold is approached from an initial position within the real-vector space. An exponential map regarding a geodesic line equation with respect to a tangent vector on the Riemannian manifold ends at a finite order, an approximate geodesic line is generated as a one-dimensional orbit. An approximate parallel-translation is performed on the tangent vector on the Riemannian manifold and on the orbit generated in the orbit generating step by finite-order approximation of the exponential map regarding the parallel translation of the tangent vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Asai, Shigeki Matsutani