Database And Data Structure Management Patents (Class 707/802)
  • Publication number: 20100228787
    Abstract: A system to delete a data volume may include storage of a plurality of data pages of the data volume of a data area into a cache, prevention of writing of data pages to the data volume, and designation of each of the plurality of data pages in the cache as modified. The system may also include writing of all data pages in the cache that are designated as modified to a respective location in one or more other data volumes of the data area, and updating, for each of the written data pages, a converter page of the cache to associate the written data page with its respective location in the one or more other data volumes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Henrik Hempelmann, Torsten Strahl
  • Publication number: 20100228784
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that relate to single instance storage of asset parts utilizing a back reference count associated with each asset part. Entries in a journal associated with the asset parts reflect the intention to increment or decrement an asset part's back reference count. The journal may be used to maintain an accurate and reliable reference count for asset parts replicated across multiple disk drives in a distributed storage system, where the replication is structured to reduce the risk of data loss in the event of a disk drive failure. The journal entries may comprise generation numbers used to maintain a back reference count associated with an asset part and to verify a back reference count associated with an asset part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Peter D. Beaman, Tuyen M. Tran, Robert S. Newson
  • Publication number: 20100228650
    Abstract: A method of tracking information in a multi-tier computerized environment, the method comprising: receiving an at least one packet; storing data associated with the at least one packet and with an at least one request or transaction associated with the at least one packet; parsing a byte stream generated from conversion of the at least one packet; detecting data associated with the at least one request or transaction related to the byte stream; matching a thread associated with the byte stream with the at least one request or transaction associated with the at least one packet according to predetermined fields within the byte stream, an apparatus for implementing the same and methods for determining resource consumption of requests or transactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: CORRELSENSE Ltd.
    Inventors: Lanir Naftaly Shacham, Oren Shlomo Elias
  • Publication number: 20100226529
    Abstract: The presently claimed invention relates generally to digital watermarking, and processing imagery (e.g., including video) or audio content. One claim recites a method including: obtaining first media comprising imagery or audio; obtaining second media comprising imagery or audio; aggregating the first media and the second media to yield a unit; and using a programmed electronic processor, examining the unit for the presence of a digital watermark. Another claim recites a method comprising: upon encountering imagery or audio content, performing a screening operation on the imagery or audio content; based at least in part on the result of the screening operation, determining whether to derive or extract identifying data from the imagery or audio content, said act of determining uses a programmed electronic processor; providing the identifying data for storage in an electronic data record.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: Geoffrey B. Rhoads
  • Publication number: 20100228791
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed according to the invention, which comprises an input unit, a memory unit for storing a music database, a display unit and a control unit. The music database comprises a plurality of pieces of music attached with visual tags. The electronic device according to the invention can facilitate the users to quickly and efficiently search out what they want to listen. Further, a method of forming the music database for the electronic device is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20100228786
    Abstract: The present invention provides a data processing system and a method of assessing the data value of a data assets inventory which comprises: a) preparing a data map on a computer database comprising inputting data types and data subtypes into said database, connecting a data storing location to the data subtypes and recording the data subtype occurrences in said database; b) assigning a weighting to each data subtype occurrence in said database to provide a data assets inventory and recording the data assets inventory in said database; c) preparing evaluation types on said database wherein the evaluation type has a calculation type attribute and wherein the evaluation type is either quantity independent or quantity dependent; d) connecting at least one evaluation type to each data subtype with a reference value and recording the reference value in said database; e) determining the data value of the data assets inventory and recording the data value in said database wherein when the evaluation type is quant
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: Tibor Török
  • Publication number: 20100228603
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for providing advertisements to users with verification that the user has viewed and understood the advertisement. As an incentive to view the advertisement, the user is provided with awards that can be redeemed for various goods and services. In an example, the user may redeem the awards for MP3 downloads, which the system obtains from a vendor system and stores in a staging area for provision to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: nGage Behavior, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Bolder, Lance Jackson
  • Publication number: 20100228415
    Abstract: A system and method are described for reducing the cost of efficient vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: SUNIL PAUL
  • Publication number: 20100228668
    Abstract: A proximity device transmits a first dynamic authentication value contactlessly to a terminal. The first authentication value is included in a discretionary data field of message data arranged in an ISO Track 1 and/or ISO Track 2 format. Message data is sent from the terminal to an issuer. The issuer separately derives a second authentication value and compares it with the first authentication value. An identifier associated with the primary account number (PAN) is also used and transmitted instead of the PAN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Edward J. Hogan, Carl M. Campbell, John Wankmueller, Gilles Garon
  • Patent number: 7792802
    Abstract: A method for archiving a log for a data storage system includes the steps of logging host inputs/outputs to the log, creating a snapshot of the log when it is full, resetting a next write offset to the start of the log after the snapshot is created while continuing the logging to the log, performing copy-on-write of the log to the snapshot, and archiving the snapshot to an archived log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: 3PAR, Inc.
    Inventor: Hariprasad Mankude Bhasker Rao
  • Patent number: 7792809
    Abstract: There is provided a parallel database system 1. System 1 includes a storage device 2 for maintaining a plurality of rows 3. System 1 also includes a plurality of access modules 4 for accessing in parallel a respectively assigned one or more of rows 3. An interface 5 receives data 6 indicative of a table 7 defined by a selection 8 of rows 3. A processor 9 is responsive to data 6 for selectively designating table 7 to be a single-module table. In this single module table, selection 8 is collectively assigned to an owning one of modules 4, indicated by reference numeral 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Tera data US, Inc.
    Inventors: Pekka Kostamaa, Bhashyam Ramesh
  • Patent number: 7792870
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying pages that can be authoritatively, to some confidence level or another, associated with a geographic location, and are provided for grouping documents such that authoritative location associations can be propagated from pages with higher location confidence to pages with lower location confidence. Pages might be identified with authoritative indicators, groups of pages identified including at least one addressed page and at least one unaddressed page, wherein an addressed page is a page having a higher confidence level than an unaddressed page, and at least one processing step performed that is location specific. The confidence level assigned to a page as part of the process represents the confidence that the page is associated with an identifiable geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Eugene Field, Daniel Eric Rose
  • Patent number: 7792836
    Abstract: A Domain Ontology Oriented Resource System (DOORS) and a Problem Oriented Registry of Tags And Labels (PORTAL) are infrastructure systems for resource metadata within a paradigm serving as a bridge between the original web and the semantic web. IRIS registers domain names while DNS publishes domain addresses with mapping of names to addresses for the original web. Analogously, PORTAL registers resource labels and tags while DOORS publishes resource locations and descriptions with mapping of labels to locations for the semantic web. They provide an analogous resource label system, semantic search applications, and the benefits of collaborative semantic networks. Advertising is supported in several ways. Businesses purchase the right to display their products or services in association with searches. Also, content providers accept placement of advertising. Ads are then selected for display based on the content displayed utilizing the invention to match service providers with advertisers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Global TeleGenetics, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Taswell
  • Patent number: 7792855
    Abstract: A method for mapping an XML document to a directory includes providing an entry to the directory corresponding to the XML document, providing one or more search attributes to the entry containing one or more corresponding search terms, and providing a full-text attribute containing full text of the XML document to the entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Computer Associates Think, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Betts, Tony Rogers
  • Patent number: 7792869
    Abstract: An algorithm for projecting information data belonging to a multidimensional space into a space having fewer dimensions, a method for the cognitive analysis of multidimensional information data based on said algorithm, and a program comprising said algorithm stored on a recordable support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Semeion
    Inventor: Paolo Massimo Buscema
  • Patent number: 7792872
    Abstract: Various embodiments include systems, methods, and user interfaces that provide abilities to administer data in a workflow system. In some embodiments, the workflow system is a portion of a larger system, such as a document management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
    Inventors: Tina De Hoyos Baltazar, Kelly Suzanne McChesney, Robert Andrew Massie, Scott Bureau
  • Patent number: 7792868
    Abstract: A method of linking data objects, such as video objects, image objects, and audio objects, and displaying data associated with the data objects based upon the strength of the relationship between the data objects. Another method for navigating a data collection of data objects by linking groups of data objects based upon related metadata is also disclosed. A user interface including the data associated with the grouped data objects facilitates browsing the data collection of data objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Charles A. Finkelstein, Dean Rowe
  • Patent number: 7792849
    Abstract: A database graphical comparison tool allows comparing database items that include multiple database statements and graphically displaying the comparison results in a ranked list of database statements. The graphical comparison tool includes a graphical user interface that allows a user to easily configure the tool for both manual and automatic (or scheduled) comparisons. In addition, the user may specify one or more actions that may be autonomically performed when the comparison of database items meets predefined criteria. Database items that may be compared using the database graphical comparison tool include optimizer monitors and plan cache snapshots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark John Anderson, Christopher Julius Brandt, David Stanley Charron, James Michael Flanagan, Scott Forstie
  • Patent number: 7792871
    Abstract: Various embodiments include systems, methods, and user interfaces that provide abilities to administer data in a workflow system. In some embodiments, the workflow system is a portion of a larger system, such as a document management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
    Inventors: Tina De Hoyos Baltazar, Kelly Suzanne McChesney, Robert Andrew Massie, Scott Bureau
  • Patent number: 7792873
    Abstract: A procedure is used to provide data structures that handle large numbers of active data entries and a high rate of additions and deletions of active entries. The procedure utilizes one or more of the following modifications. Timers are removed from individual session table entries and are linked via pointers. Bilateral links are established between the session table and the timer structure. Aging/timer checks are applied to the timer control block (TCB). A chain of TCBs, optionally including an excess of blocks, may be used along with packing of multiple TCBs into a single memory location. This excess of blocks permits a terminated session to continue to occupy a TCB until the timer process progresses to that block location in the chain of blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gordon T. Davis, Marco Heddes, Dongming Hwang
  • Publication number: 20100223493
    Abstract: For the consistent provision of configuration data in an industrial automation system comprising a plurality of networked control units, components of a service are combined by a local service configuration unit using a standard configuration interface to form a service. Services are configured by configuration data and activated, where the configuration data comprise information relating to the attribution of services to control units and dependencies between services. The configuration data are accepted from a control and monitoring unit in the industrial automation system by a system configuration service, checked and transmitted to destination control units. The transmitted configuration data are checked by local service configuration units associated with the destination control units for changes in comparison with previously used configuration data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: Siemens AG
    Inventor: Felix Brunner
  • Publication number: 20100223169
    Abstract: A system and method for retrieving a transaction associated with a property including obtaining property information pertaining to a property fl-om a third party source, storing the property information in a database, receiving a name to monitor or an address of a property to monitor, and transmitting a property information request including the name and/or address to the database. The system and method may also include searching the property information for a match with the name or address, identifying a transaction associated with the matched name or address and transmitting the transaction to a device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: First American CoreLogic, Inc.
    Inventor: Dianna Lee SERIO
  • Publication number: 20100223297
    Abstract: A data merging method for distributed computing uses a configuration file to guide the insertion of computational results obtained by distributed nodes into a database table, and to merge the computational results inserted in the database table. The configuration file is established according to the task splitting conditions of distributed computing. The method uses a data merging server to import and host the configuration file and create a database table corresponding to the configuration file. Each distributed node inserting its distributed computational result into the database table after completing the respective distributed computing task, while the data merging server merges the data in the database table. An interface standard applicable to various uses and various distributed computing tasks may be used such that the user only needs to establish a job-specific configuration file based on the interface standard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: Alibaba Group Holding Limited
    Inventors: Jianghua Li, Wei Wu, Song Chen
  • Publication number: 20100222178
    Abstract: An example system and method involves receiving data communicated from multiple exercise machines and storing machine-related data for the multiple exercise machines. The machine-related data includes at least maintenance data, use data and warranty data for a respective one or more of the exercise machines. The machine-related data is updated based on the data received from the multiple exercise machines and one or more operations is automatically performed with reference to the stored machine-related data to produce operation-generated information about one or more of the multiple exercise machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventor: Michael J Shea
  • Publication number: 20100223196
    Abstract: A cooperative system and an associated method are provided for resolving a distressed shipment during transport by a carrier, where the distressed shipment includes one or more parcels rendered temporarily undeliverable by an exception event while in transit from a shipper to a consignee. The inventive method involves the shipper in the task of contacting the consignee for the additional information necessary to resolve the shipment. The system creates a cooperative of participating shippers and carriers, working together to complete a shipment and thereby avoid the delay and expense associated with a premature or unnecessary return.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: David Eugene Reynolds, Aaron Scott Paxton, Roland Ralph Zavala, Laurielyn Fields, James Francis Coughlan, Christos Nicholas Anagnos
  • Publication number: 20100223282
    Abstract: A database (51) accessible in an IMS network and including at least one record including: an identifier of a terminal (10) in a transport plane; an identifier of said terminal (10) in a signaling plane; and at least one address of a quality of service and charging control entity (40) in said network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Sandrine Lataste, Steve Tsang-Kwong-U
  • Publication number: 20100223301
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for selectively accessing one or more web services from a client machine, the one or more web services and the client machine being accessible over a network. A request for information is received from a client machine with a conversion engine. The request is received over a synchronous interface. The request is processed in the conversion engine. The processed request is transmitted over an asynchronous interface from the conversion engine to at least one web service. Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for converting a web service description language file for a synchronous web service into a web service description language file for an asynchronous client machine are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: SALESFORCE.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Taras Shkvarchuk, Alexander Lerner, Thomas Nabiel Boulos
  • Publication number: 20100223157
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a virtual knowledge marketplace in the form of an Internet-based on-demand commercial exchange for professional knowledge and services. In one embodiment, the Knowledge Marketplace System is a networked computer system comprising a computerized data processing and communication network operative to exchange data. The system includes a plurality of networked servers including a web applications server which provides an interface portal for Knowledge Consumers and Knowledge Producers to access the system and exchange information. In one embodiment, the system is operative to both receive, organize, and store knowledge content in information packets created by Knowledge Producers in a database, and further operative in turn to enable Knowledge Consumers to search or browse for knowledge content and then purchase the content for viewing at a predetermined price.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventor: Simardip Kalsi
  • Publication number: 20100223103
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system and computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for facilitating consistent application of price polices on every sales transaction supported through a customer relationship management system, in order to identify price exceptions in violation of stated corporate pricing objectives. Having such capabilities coupled with a customer relationship management system enables embodiments of the present invention to reduce the time to identify and evaluate price exceptions that impact revenue and margin. Agents responsible for sales interaction with customers can immediately identify violations of price policies. Those responsible for authorizing exceptions can easily determine the effect of those exceptions upon impacted markets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Tarak Ishwarbhai Patel, Arun Abichandani, William Thomas Turchin, Deepak Hazarika, David Andrew Fraser, Paul Lars Helgeson, Anamitra Debnath, Neha Dubey, Kalyanpur Satish Baliga, Arvind Dangeti, Stanley Edward Quinn, Laurel Ann Turner, Rachel Alexander Scales, David Wayne Trice, Ranjani Rajasekaran
  • Publication number: 20100223263
    Abstract: A method and system for coordinating content processing in a mobile delivery framework, the method having the steps of embedding, within a metadata envelope associated with content, external references to external enablers; and inserting content processing coordination rules into the metadata envelope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventor: Michael Shenfield
  • Publication number: 20100223244
    Abstract: Methods and systems for extracting targeted data for real-time reporting are discussed. In an example, a system can include a data store, a server, and a denormalized database. The data store can maintain data created by an application. The server can be communicatively coupled to the data store. The server can include a data extraction module and a data compression module. The data extraction module can extract a subset of the data stored in the data store according to an extraction scheme. The data compression module can compress the extracted subset of the data into a set of aggregated key value pairs. The denormalized database can store the aggregated key value pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Ayon Sinha, Rabi Chakraborty
  • Publication number: 20100223329
    Abstract: A method of providing programming to a portable wireless music player includes connecting to a music service provider from a remote client and defining a play list at the music service provider through user interaction at the remote client. The player connects to the music service provider over a wireless service network and downloads music to the player from the music service provider in accordance with the previously defined play list. The music or other programming is played at the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventor: Warren E. Langdon
  • Patent number: 7788286
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating an agent schedule for a multi-contact center that has immediate queues and deferred queues. In one embodiment, a method includes scheduling software receiving a plurality of scheduling data from a user interface, and the scheduling software generating a plurality of scheduling constraints. The method further includes a search engine using the plurality of scheduling constraints to generate a plurality of potential schedules including first potential schedules for immediate queues, and second potential schedules for deferred queues. The method further includes performing a first analysis on the first potential schedules to generate first estimated service levels, and performing a second analysis on the second potential schedules to generate second estimated service levels, wherein the first estimated service levels and the second estimated service levels are expressed in interchangeable units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Verint Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Illah Nourbakhsh, Ofer Matan, Jason Fama, Scott Veach, Edward Hamilton, Alex Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7788294
    Abstract: A method and system for customizing a data logging and analysis program. The method includes connecting environmental sensors to a computer or other data collecting device and accessing a workflow customization interface that allows a user to select a customized workflow or optionally to customize a data collection program by selecting at least one action. The method also includes accessing a user interface to run a customized program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Graywolf Sensing Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: William F. Van Wart, Paul J. Denning, Richard T. Stonier
  • Patent number: 7788285
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for updating databases are disclosed. An update vector for an object is created for identifying updated attributes. A dependent object is identified and a dependency vector of the dependent object is compared with update vector to determine whether the dependent object depends on the updated attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Kumar Rajamani, Susan Kotsovolos, Russell J. Green, Rajagopalan Govindarajan, Jaebock Lee, Ho Chak Hung, Guhan Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 7788283
    Abstract: A system and process for enabling updates of an ink analysis document model are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jamie N. Wakeam, Subha Bhattacharyay, Gavin M. Gear, Timothy H. Kannapel, Todd M. Landstad, Sebastian Poulose, Zoltan C. Szilagyi, Jerome J. Turner, Haiyong Wang
  • Publication number: 20100217765
    Abstract: A system of machines, databases, user interfaces, graphical displays and data input systems produces comparisons of community health conditions, recommendations to achieve community health improvements and other tangible outputs. The creation, selection and evolution of promising health practices and best health practices is facilitated and continuously reported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Deryk Van Brunt, Marcos Athanasoulis
  • Publication number: 20100217767
    Abstract: A system, method and storage medium embodying computer-readable code for analyzing traffic data in a distributed computing environment are described. The distributed computing environment includes a plurality of interconnected systems operatively coupled to a server, a source of traffic data hits and one or more results tables categorized by an associated data type. Each results table includes a plurality of records. The server is configured to exchange data packets with each interconnected system. Each traffic data hit corresponds to a data packet exchanged between the server and one such interconnected system. Each traffic data hit is collected from the traffic data hits source as access information into one such record in at least one results table according to the data type associated with the one such results table. Each of the records in the results table corresponds to a different type of access information for the data type associated with the results table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Webtrends Inc.
    Inventors: William Glen Boyd, Elijahu Shapira
  • Publication number: 20100217780
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating creation of service provider accounts and configuration of devices associated therewith. Device parameters (306) are transmitted (700) from a device (302). In response, a service activation server (206) provides (308) a list of available service providers for that device (302), where the list is derived (702) using the device parameters to identify the appropriate available service providers. The device (302) enables the user (300) to select (704) a listed service provider(s), and communication is redirected (706) between the device (302) and the selected service provider (208) to enable the creation of the service account. The device (302) can then be configured for use with the established service account. Where a service account already exists for the user (300), the user (300) can provide a service-related identifier (506) from which the service activation server (206) can identify an appropriate service account to be configured for use on the device (302).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: NOKIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Esa Erola, Ville Warsta
  • Publication number: 20100217691
    Abstract: A method performed by a transfer instrument issuer involves issuing, to a recipient, a certificate which is linked to a national card account obtained by the transfer instrument issuer from an account issuer different from the transfer instrument issuer, without both issuing and providing a physical card for the national card account to the recipient of the certificate, the certificate having been purchased by a purchaser, who is not also the recipient, and containing all information necessary for the purchase of goods or services from any merchant who is capable of processing economic transactions involving one of the plurality national card accounts for which a physical card has issued, but without presentment of the physical card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Matthew J. Gillin, Roger Korfmann, Paul L. Raden
  • Publication number: 20100218085
    Abstract: A system uses “dimensions” to filter information in a computer network. Dimensions can be categories such as geographic location, corporate department, employee classification or time period, etc. Each dimension includes one or more “elements.” An element is essentially a “value” for the dimension. For example, in the “geographic location” dimension, values can be “worldwide,” “Europe,” “France,” etc. A “community” is a set of values for one or more dimensions. Thus, the community defines a segment, or “slice,” of documents or information within the total documents or information available. “Themes” are used to further organize the documents. Themes are subject categories. Documents, and document portions, can be associated with themes and are organized according to themes. Dimensions, dimension values, and themes can be set by a system administrator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Alexandre Dayon
  • Publication number: 20100217683
    Abstract: An online buyback system is provided, including: a database storing product sale information including product identification information, product specification, product sale price, and product sale date; a buyback request information receiving unit receiving buyback request information including product identification information from a computer of a buyback requester accessing a network; a sale checking unit referring to the product sale information stored in the database to check whether or not a product corresponding to the product identification information contained in the buyback request information has been sold; and a buyback processing unit processing such that the product corresponding to the product identification information is collected from the buyback requester when the product is determined to have been sold, and a buyback price of the product is paid to the buyback requester based on a time interval from the product sale date to buyback request date.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: In-gu Kang
  • Publication number: 20100217782
    Abstract: A system and methods for service discovery and publication are disclosed. Application programs write requests for service discovery, publication, and subscription to a service discovery application programming interface. The service discovery application programming interface invokes one or more lower-level protocols to satisfy the discovery, publication and/or subscription request. Service information retrieved from lower-layer protocols is formatted into a consistent data model and returned to the client application. In addition, service information may be stored in a persistent data store managed by a discovery persistence service communicatively connected to the service discovery API.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Milligan, Charles R. Reeves, Jeffrey B. Parham, Gopal Krishna R. Kakivaya, Lawrence A. Buerk, Angela Mills, Richard L. Hasha
  • Publication number: 20100217810
    Abstract: The invention provides an e-mail server, with which e-mails are communicated between a member belonging to the server and a communication mate of the member under the protection of function or performance for preventing SPAMs from being received by an improved white list system and e-mail addresses can be surely prevented from undesirably leaking out. The server comprises received e-mail filtering means for forming destruction judgment and delivery judgment on a received e-mail for causing the received e-mail to be delivered in accordance with a delivery permitting decision and transmission e-mail filtering means for conducting processing on a transmission e-mail by which a group of letters representing an e-mail address discordant with an addressee's e-mail address contained in the transmission e-mail is replaced with another group of letters representing an open e-mail address or eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Mamoru Sakaue
  • Publication number: 20100217774
    Abstract: A system and method for determining user response to wireless messages, comprising means for generating a wireless message including first content to be transmitted, means for adding second content to the message, the second content including a link to third content and means for transmitting the message to the user, wherein, in response to activation of the link, information regarding link activation is arranged to be recorded in a storage means. The link may be a URL or a telephone number of a redirection server that deals with redirection to the third content as well as logging of user responses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Richard Marshall
  • Patent number: 7783667
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for determining keys for use with data structures, such as objects, business objects, view business objects, and the like. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include determining a first key of a view business object node by combining one or more keys of the business object nodes used to form the view business object node, the first key used to identify the view business object node when the view business object node is a root node. The method may also include determining, when the view business object node has a parent node, a second key of the view business object node by combining the first key and at least one key of the parent node, the second key used to identify the view business object node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Oliver Scheerer, Uwe E. Fischer
  • Patent number: 7783661
    Abstract: A database query optimizer for a computer system having dynamically configurable logical partitions generates an optimized query strategy which is dependent on a logical partition configuration. When the query is executed, the configuration of the logical partition in which the query is executed is compared to the logical partition configuration for which the query was optimized. If the configurations are different, a new query can be automatically generated. Optimizing database queries to the current system configuration of a dynamic, logically partitioned system potentially offers greater efficiency in the execution of database queries for complex, logically partitioned systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Reuben Day, Robert Douglas Driesch, Jr., Randy Lynn Egan, Jeffrey Wayne Tenner
  • Patent number: 7783675
    Abstract: A method and system is presented for storing data in data cells containing only a single element of data. Each data cell includes four components: an Entity Instance identifier (“O”), an Entity Type identifier (“E”) an Attribute Type identifier (“A”), and an Attribute Value (“V”). Groups of cells with identical O and E values constitute a cell set. Every cell contains a unique combination of O, E, A, and V. Relationships between cell sets are established by creating two synapse cells. The first synapse cell has O and E values of the first cell set, and has A and V values equal to the E and O value, respectively, of the second cell. The second synapse cell has O and E values of the second cell, and has as its A and V values the E and O value, respectively, of the first cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventor: Boris Gelfand
  • Patent number: 7783655
    Abstract: Among other things, a user is enabled to identify arbitrary data records of interest that belong to a file of data records that are expressed in an arbitrary format. Pre-generated information about the records of the file is used to enable a user to view a portion of the arbitrary data records that a machine is capable of displaying at one time. The amount of time required to enable the user to view the portion after the data records of interest have been identified is essentially independent of the number of records in the file. The file and the pre-generated information about the records of the file are each too large to be stored, as a whole, in a memory that is used by the machine in accessing the arbitrary data records in response to the user's identification of records of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Miosoft Corporation
    Inventors: Albert B. Barabas, Mark D. A. Van Gulik, Ernst M. Siepmann
  • Patent number: 7783673
    Abstract: A system detecting emerging risks in various systems and relating a detected risk to its relative impact on a system or product. A server receives and stores risk information from geographically distributed computerized data sources via a communication network. The risk information includes an identification and rating of a specific risk, and information associating the specific risk with a geographical area. Utilizing the risk information and area attributes, such as correlation factors and spreading patterns, a specific risk emerging in a first geographical area and spreading to one or more second geographical areas is detected. Emerging risks can be detected in geographical areas for which no risk information has been received, allowing to set up, maintain, and operate a risk detection system with a simplified technical infrastructure since it is not necessary to measure, transmit, and store risk indicators for all geographical areas for which emerging risks are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Swiss Reinsurance Company
    Inventors: Reto Schneider, Annabelle Hett, Rudolf Frei