Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080207164 | Traffic Shaping of Cellular Service Consumption Through Modification of Consumer Behavior Encouraged by Cell-based Pricing Advantages - Changes in wireless service user behavior are encouraged and produced to shape utilization patterns among cells within a rate plan region by using shaping rules which define potential discounts from a standard charge rate under certain cell-specific utilization conditions, analyzing the shaping rules and utilization statistics of a cell upon service initiation, generating a discount from the standard rate for underutilized cells. The user is notified of these discount opportunities using text messages, icons, or other means. Over time, the users learn that at certain places and times, significant discounts are offered, and thus changes their behavior to take advantage of those discounts, thereby shaping traffic in a manner desired by the service provider. | 08-28-2008 |
20080225336 | Method and System to Allow Printing Compression of Documents - A print compression method and system reduces the amount of space required to print a document such that less paper is used during the printing of a document. A user defines criteria, which is used to perform document compression. However, the document compression only applies to the form of document being printed. This compression does not affect the document being edited. | 09-18-2008 |
20080291022 | AUTOMATIC LOCATING SYSTEM - In accordance with the present invention, radio frequency identification (RFID) and short message service center (SMS), or follow-on technology, e.g., Mobile Multimedia Services (MMS) technology is implemented to support an identification and messaging system. A social services server tracks a user's location with a RFID or GPS or similar system and also acquires locations for user-selected contacts which are made available to the system. When a system user is near a user-selected contact or individual within a selected group that the user wants to meet, a message or other alert, such as an SMS message, is automatically sent to the user's cellular telephone or other communications device, telling the user that the selected contact is nearby. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294337 | TRAVEL-RELATED INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM - A method and implementing computer system are provided in which users are enabled to provide spontaneous routing and driving condition information to a data base which is made available to other drivers on a real-time basis. Users are also enabled to define new routes between travel points and upload new route information for access by other users of the system. In an exemplary embodiment, wireless communication techniques are implemented to transfer data from a GPS device in an automobile to a data base on a central server to provide other users of the system who have access to the data base with the current status of dynamic driving conditions. | 11-27-2008 |
20080311885 | Traffic Shaping of Cellular Service Consumption Through Delaying of Service Completion According to Geographical-Based Pricing Advantages - Changes in user behavior of usage of wireless services from a mobile device are encouraged in order to effect shaping of traffic and utilization patterns among a plurality of cells within a rate plan region, wherein a discount indicator disposed in said mobile device is provided to notify a user of a discount available for consuming wireless service from a given cell. A geo-cost policy established for that user or mobile device in which rules and conditions according to the available discounts and class of service are defined. A service completer queues services and automatically completes queued services upon present conditions meeting said geo-cost policy rules, such as delaying and later delivering messages when the mobile device relocates to a cell where discounts are being offered. | 12-18-2008 |
20080316053 | Dynamic Vehicle Grid Infrastructure to Allow Vehicles to Sense and Respond to Traffic Conditions - A dynamic ‘vehicle grid’ system provides the ability for drivers to be automatically warned to the conditions of other vehicles in the vicinity. In this grid system, a motor vehicle would be equipped with a transmitter, receiver, computer and a selection of sensors. Other adjacent vehicles are also contain the same of equipment for transmitting and receiving signals. When the sensors in a vehicle detect a change such as hard braking (rapid deceleration) or very slow speed (blockages), it automatically sends this information via the transmitter over a wireless communication channel to any other receivers in the vicinity. | 12-25-2008 |
20090002164 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO QUICKLY AND ACCURATELY DETECT AND REPORT COMPONENT FAILURES USING RFID - An apparatus for reporting failed components which integrates a radio-frequency identification tag sub-circuit into each component of a system, including a latch controllable by a diagnostic function. The latch has at least two stable modes including an unlatched mode which prevents said tag from transmitting signals upon query by a radio-frequency identification reader, and a latched mode which enables said tag to transmitting signals upon query by a radio-frequency identification reader. The latch is transitioned to said latched mode by the diagnostic function responsive to detection of a failure, fault, or error condition of said component by said diagnostic function. Subsequent “reading” by an RFID reader of the tag allows identification of the failed component without requiring system power or communications busses to be operative, where only failed components respond to the RFID reader, and the latch prevents known-good components from responding to the reader. | 01-01-2009 |
20090017803 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC DETERMINATION OF A COMMON MEETING POINT - A method, computer program product, and a data processing system continuously tracks the potentially changing location of a plurality of global positioning system (GPS) enabled mobile devices such as a cellular phones or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). Generated GPS location updates are used to determine the location and directional velocity of each monitored device. Unique and separate optimal navigation convergence routes are provided to each device. Convergence locations and ETA indicators are provided. A common destination for the devices based on the separate convergence routes is provided. The common destination can be user selected or automatically determined by the system. The system is capable of providing convergence route and common destination information even when users of the various GPS devices are unaware of their present location, the location of other consenting devices, or the location of the common destination. | 01-15-2009 |
20090020370 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ELEVATORS - An elevator control method and system. The system comprises a control unit and a memory unit. The memory unit comprises user data segments associated with users for elevators within the system and transponder identification data segments associated with transponders. The method comprises receiving by the control unit, ID signals from the transponders. The control unit associates the user data segments with the ID signals and determines priority levels for the users. | 01-22-2009 |
20090049448 | Grid Non-Deterministic Job Scheduling - The present invention is method for scheduling jobs in a grid computing environment without having to monitor the state of the resource on the gird comprising a Global Scheduling Program (GSP) and a Local Scheduling Program (LSP). The GSP receives jobs submitted to the grid and distributes the job to the closest resource. The resource then runs the LSP to determine if the resource can execute the job under the conditions specified in the job. The LSP either rejects or accepts the job based on the current state of the resource properties and informs the GSP of the acceptance or rejection. If the job is rejected, the GSP randomly selects another resource to send the job to using a resource table. The resource table contains the state-independent properties of every resource on the grid. | 02-19-2009 |
20090063674 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND INSTANTLY IDENTIFYING FAULTS IN DATA COMMUNICATION CABLES - A method and an associated system for monitoring and instantly identifying faults in a data communication cable are disclosed. A fault monitoring program learns a reference data traffic pattern communicated through the data communication cable by reading inputs from a sensor. The reference data traffic pattern is stored and is used for determining normalcy of data traffic through the data communication cable. The fault monitoring program monitors for a fault in a data traffic, and, if a fault is detected, activates a fault indicator sending out fault signals to notify users of the fault. If the fault is not recovered within a predefined recovery period, the fault monitoring program deactivates the fault indicator and shuts down a power source for later use of the data communication cable. | 03-05-2009 |
20090124349 | SYSTEM FOR PERSONALIZING CONTENT PRESENTED IN AN AVATAR WAIT STATE - Customized wait state experiences are provided for an avatar in a virtual universe are provided by determining user alternative wait context preferences, selecting alternative wait state content objects accordingly, creating a wait state context in the virtual universe system using the alternative wait state content objects, and transporting the waiting avatar to the newly created wait state context for the duration of the wait. The custom context can include scenery, sounds, and even information streams and feeds. The avatar is optionally returned to the original context upon an event, such as a customer service representative, being available and ready to interact with the user. Artificial intelligence processes are optionally used to determine probable wait state context preferences for the user. Rewards may be given to the user for waiting, and for completing games or challenges. | 05-14-2009 |
20090135025 | TIME MONITORING SYSTEM - A system, a method, and service that monitors the time a space is occupied. The time period for occupation of the space may be prepaid or the fees may accumulate while the space is occupied. The system detects when an occupant enters the space and starts a timer. The system further provides a user interface whereby a user may prepay for an allotted period of time or may accumulate time in the space and then be billed later. Identifying information about the occupant may be acquired by an imaging device. The imaging device may further poll the space to determine if and when the occupant departs from the space. Identifying information may also be acquired through a user interface in which a user may enter identifying information, such as a credit card, a license number, a VIN, a driver's license, etc. The fact that the space has been occupied, the identifying information, and any prepaid amounts are transmitted via a communication device to a control station. The control station may monitor events in the space such that when an occupant departs the space, the timer is reset. Alternatively, the control station may issue fees for use of the space, may issue penalties or even call for removal of the occupant from the space if occupation of the space exceeds the amount of time purchased or poses an abuse of the privilege of using the space. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138344 | TIME MONITORING SYSTEM - A system, a method, and a service that monitors the time a space is occupied. The time period for occupation of the space may be prepaid or the fees may accumulate while the space is occupied. The system detects when an occupant enters the space and starts a timer. The system further provides a user interface whereby a user may prepay for an allotted period of time or may accumulate time in the space and then be billed later. Identifying information about the occupant may be acquired by an imaging device. The imaging device may further poll the space to determine if and when the occupant departs from the space. Identifying information may also be acquired through a user interface in which a user may enter identifying information, such as a credit card, a license number, a VIN, a driver's license, etc. The fact that the space has been occupied, the identifying information, and any prepaid amounts are transmitted via a communication device to a control station. The control station may monitor events in the space such that when an occupant departs the space, the timer is reset. Alternatively, the control station may issue fees for use of the space, may issue penalties or even call for removal of the occupant from the space if occupation of the space exceeds the amount of time purchased or poses an abuse of the privilege of using the space. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138345 | TIME MONITORING SYSTEM - A system, a method, and a service that monitors the time a space is occupied. The time period for occupation of the space may be prepaid or the fees may accumulate while the space is occupied. The system detects when an occupant enters the space and starts a timer. The system further provides a user interface whereby a user may prepay for an allotted period of time or may accumulate time in the space and then be billed later. Identifying information about the occupant may be acquired by an imaging device. The imaging device may further poll the space to determine if and when the occupant departs from the space. Identifying information may also be acquired through a user interface in which a user may enter identifying information, such as a credit card, a license number, a VIN, a driver's license, etc. The fact that the space has been occupied, the identifying information, and any prepaid amounts are transmitted via a communication device to a control station. The control station may monitor events in the space such that when an occupant departs the space, the timer is reset. Alternatively, the control station may issue fees for use of the space, may issue penalties or even call for removal of the occupant from the space if occupation of the space exceeds the amount of time purchased or poses an abuse of the privilege of using the space. | 05-28-2009 |
20090210500 | SYSTEM, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT AND METHOD OF ENABLING INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SYNERGISTICALLY IDENTIFY AND CONTROL SPAM E-MAIL - Presently, when an e-mail message is identified as SPAM, it is deleted and the process ends. According to the system, computer program product and method provided herein, upon identifying an e-mail message as SPAM, source information, identity and data stream of the e-mail message are transferred to a database accessible by trusted ISPs. The trusted ISPs may compare the transferred data stream to data stream of incoming and outgoing e-mail messages to determine whether they are also SPAM and the transferred source information and identity may be used to determine an original sender (i.e., a spammer) of the message. | 08-20-2009 |
20090289787 | RESIDENTIAL SECURITY CLUSTER WITH ASSOCIATED ALARM INTERCONNECTS - The illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for security cluster monitoring and notification. A security cluster comprised of a plurality of structures is monitored for a plurality of events. When an occurrence of an event as defined by a set of parameters associated with a structure in the plurality of structures is identified, information about the event is generated. The information about the event is displayed through a user interface and transmitted to a set of computing devices associated with a set of structures in the plurality of structures. | 11-26-2009 |
20100179878 | TARGETED VEHICLE ADVERTISING AND ENTERAINMENT SYSTEM METHOD - In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a system may be used with a first database, a second database and a global positioning system, wherein the first database has advertising content data and advertising correlation data stored therein, wherein the second database has identifying data and correlation data stored therein and wherein the global positioning system is operable to provide a position signal corresponding to a position of the system and the velocity of the system. The system includes a sensor portion, a processor portion and a display portion. The sensor portion is operable to detect a parameter and to generate a detected signal based on the detected parameter. The processor portion is operable to generate a correlation between the detected signal and a portion of the identifying data, to obtain a portion of the advertising content data based on a portion of the correlation data and the advertising correlation data, and to generate a display signal based on the advertising content data and the position signal. The display portion is operable to display data based on the display signal. | 07-15-2010 |
20120151061 | MANAGEMENT OF SERVICE APPLICATION MIGRATION IN A NETWORKED COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT - Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for managing distributed application relationships and dependencies, and migration of applications and/or of components within the same or a disparate networked (e.g. cloud) service provider which comprise applications, upstream and downstream data, and upstream and downstream network data connections of networked services. An application dependency management program module (“ADM”), and cloud service migration management program module (“CSMM”) are provided. The ADM, manually or by deductive logic, discovers and manages relationships and dependencies of computer software applications underlying cloud services, state information of the respective computer software applications, as well as upstream and downstream network data connections. The CSMM comprises ensuring that applications are not migrated or modified in a manner that could affect overall service, ensuring that a migration is performed correctly, maintaining a list of service level requirements for monitoring whether those requirements are being met, and performing application migration. | 06-14-2012 |