Brian T O'Connell

US Patent:

7518715, Apr 14, 2009

Filed:

Jun 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/145406

Inventors:

Paul A. Moskowitz - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Brian M. O'Connell - Cary NC, US
Clifford A. Pickover - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Keith R. Walker - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G01J 1/42

US Classification:

356218, 356226, 356229, 340635, 315291

Abstract:

A method for receiving light from a plurality of light sources using an apparatus configured to analyze the time dependence of the light intensity to determine a type of light bulb and light intensity from the plurality of light sources based upon a detected frequency of variation of the light intensity.

US Patent:

7806072, Oct 5, 2010

Filed:

Dec 1, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/325323

Inventors:

Paul A. Moskowitz - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Brian M. O'Connell - Cary NC, US
Clifford A. Pickover - Yorktown Heights NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G08B 21/12
F21V 33/00

US Classification:

116214, 340605

Abstract:

Methods provide an alert to the release of mercury. A sealed container containing an odor-producing agent is provided proximate to a sealed breakable enclosure containing mercury, the container and/or the breakable enclosure physically separating the agent from the mercury. In response to a breaking of the breakable enclosure, the agent produces an odor as a function of the breaking, the odor providing an alert to a release of the mercury. Service methods are also provided, for example wherein a service provider provides the sealed breakable enclosure containing mercury and deploys the odor-producing agent. Articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are also provided.

US Patent:

7945802, May 17, 2011

Filed:

Sep 17, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/856526

Inventors:

Paul A. Moskowitz - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Brian M. O'Connell - Cary NC, US
Clifford A. Pickover - Yorktown Heights NY, US
James W. Seaman - Falls Church VA, US
Keith R. Walker - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1/00
G06F 19/00

US Classification:

713500, 345691, 463 30, 463 31, 463 32

Abstract:

Described herein are processes and devices that intentionally modify time progression rates in a virtual universe. One of the devices described is a temporal variation device. The temporal variation device can determine an area, in a virtual universe, in which time progresses at a specific time progression rate. The temporal variation device can modify the time progression rate to be faster or slower in the area. By modifying the time progression rate in the area, rates at which action occur also change in a way that is correlated to the change in the time progression rate. The temporal variation device can maintain areas beyond the borders of the area at a time progression rate that is not modified. Therefore, the temporal variation device can create a relative time dilation between the determined area and other areas in the virtual universe outside of the determined area.

US Patent:

8013861, Sep 6, 2011

Filed:

Oct 31, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/932114

Inventors:

Paul A. Moskowitz - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Brian M. O'Connell - Cary NC, US
Clifford A. Pickover - Yorktown Heights NY, US
James W. Seaman - Falls Church VA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06T 13/00

US Classification:

345473, 345419, 715706

Abstract:

Described herein are processes and devices that reduce a display quality of an area of a virtual universe to conserve computing resources. One of the devices described is a virtual resource conserver. The virtual resource conserver determines, or selects, an area in the virtual universe. A computing resource processes data for presenting the area in the virtual universe. The virtual resource conserver evaluates significance factors about the area to determine a significance of how the area is being used, or an extent to which an area is being viewed by an avatar. The virtual resource conserver reduces a display quality of the area based on the significance of how the area is being used or viewed. The virtual resource conserver thus reduces usage of the computing resource.

US Patent:

8127297, Feb 28, 2012

Filed:

Oct 31, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/932319

Inventors:

Paul A. Moskowitz - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Brian M. O'Connell - Cary NC, US
Clifford A. Pickover - Yorktown Heights NY, US
James W. Seaman - Falls Church VA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 9/46
G06F 1/26
G06F 3/048
G06F 19/00
G06T 17/00

US Classification:

718104, 345428, 713320, 715757, 463 31

Abstract:

Described herein are processes and devices that use smart objects in a virtual universe to conserve computing resources. One of the devices described is a virtual resource conserver. The virtual resource conserver reads data that indicates that a resource conservation setting is to be selected for a virtual object in a virtual universe. The virtual resource conserver selects the resource conservation setting for the displayed virtual object. The resource conservation setting comprises data that describes a displayable characteristic about the virtual object, which can be reduced in display quality. The virtual resource conserver reduces the display quality of the virtual object in accordance with the selected resource conservation setting, thus conserving computing resources.

US Patent:

8161002, Apr 17, 2012

Filed:

May 28, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/128056

Inventors:

Vittorio Castelli - Croton on Hudson NY, US
Steven M. Harrison - Bremerton WA, US
Brian M. O'Connell - Cary NC, US
Clifford A. Pickover - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Keith R. Walker - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 17/00

US Classification:

707626, 707613, 707619, 707638, 707639

Abstract:

A system, a method and a computer readable media for replicating virtual universe objects are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes determining a first set of VU objects associated with a first user. The method further includes determining replication priority values for the first set of VU objects utilizing predetermined priority value rules. Each VU object of the first set of VU objects has a replication priority value. The method further includes determining a second set of VU objects from the first set of VU objects based on the replication priority values associated with the first set of VU objects. The method further includes replicating the second set of VU objects from a primary VU computer server to a first device.

US Patent:

8214750, Jul 3, 2012

Filed:

Oct 31, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/931826

Inventors:

Paul A. Moskowitz - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Brian M. O'Connell - Cary NC, US
Clifford A. Pickover - Yorktown Heights NY, US
James W. Seaman - Falls Church VA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 3/048

US Classification:

715757, 715848, 715850

Abstract:

Described herein are processes and devices that collapse areas in a region of a virtual universe to conserve computing resources. One of the devices described is a virtual resource conserver. The virtual resource conserver determines a first area of a region in a virtual universe. The first area has objects or avatars. A first computing resource processes data for presenting and controlling the objects or avatars in the first area. The virtual resource conserver determines a second area of the region that is similar in topology to the first area. The virtual resource conserver moves the objects or avatars from the first area to the second area and transfers data for presenting and controlling the avatars or objects from the first computing resource to a second computing resource. Finally, the virtual resource conserver reduces usage of the first computing resource, thus conserving resources in the virtual universe.

US Patent:

8271475, Sep 18, 2012

Filed:

May 27, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/127174

Inventors:

Neal M. Keller - Pleasantville NY, US
Brian M. O'Connell - Cary NC, US
Clifford A. Pickover - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Keith R. Walker - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707710, 715706

Abstract:

An approach that applies user context to searches in a virtual universe is described. In one embodiment, there is an enhanced virtual universe search tool that includes a receiving component configured to receive a query from an avatar that is online in the virtual universe. A scanning component is configured to scan a collection of avatar data describing attributes that are relevant to behavioral, search and informational needs of the avatar. A resource search component is configured to return search results for the query that are in accordance with the scanned collection of avatar data.