David Allen Merrill

US Patent:

7685246, Mar 23, 2010

Filed:

Jan 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/018854

Inventors:

Charles Steven Lingafelt - Durham NC, US
David Paul Merrill - New Paltz NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 15/16
H04L 9/32

US Classification:

709206, 709228, 709243, 713170

Abstract:

A method and system for improving control of an instant messaging system. Multiple instant message (IM) instances are initiated with identical credentials of a user of multiple users participating in an IM session controlled by an IM server. A front-of-screen representation enables the user to manage instance attributes and allows any user to view conversational connectivity information. The IM server receives the user's selection of a graphical element that represents a remote IM instance of the multiple IM instances. Via the first IM instance, the IM server receives the user's request for a computing device to perform an action that includes an interaction with the remote IM instance. The computing device performing the action is located remotely from the user and is executing the remote IM instance. The action is performed by controlling a remote system function of the computing device.

US Patent:

7882178, Feb 1, 2011

Filed:

Sep 5, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/850090

Inventors:

Charles Steven Lingafelt - Durham NC, US
David Paul Merrill - New Paltz NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709204, 709227

Abstract:

A method and system for using business rules to control invitations to participate in instant message (IM) collaborations. A primary invitee is invited to participate in an IM collaboration via a first IM. A business rule associated with the primary invitee is applied to determine that the primary invitee is unavailable to participate in the IM collaboration. A second IM is sent to automatically invite a backup invitee to participate in the IM collaboration. In another embodiment, a primary invitee with credentials specified by a business rule is to be invited to an IM collaboration at a specified time. An application of the business rule determines that the specified time is outside a valid invitation time period or the primary invitee's credentials are not included in a set of predefined credentials. Following the application of the business rule, a backup invitee is invited.

US Patent:

7882194, Feb 1, 2011

Filed:

Feb 23, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/360747

Inventors:

Charles S. Lingafelt - Durham NC, US
David P. Merrill - New Paltz NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 15/16
H04M 3/42
H04W 40/00

US Classification:

709207, 709204, 709205, 709206, 709227, 709228, 709229, 455416, 455455

Abstract:

System, method and program product for managing a chat session. A server maintains an identity and list of member(s) of a group that can be added to a chat session, and a list of people authorized to request that the group of member(s) be added to the chat session. A person in a chat session at a workstation makes a request to add the group of member(s) to the chat session. In response, the workstation sends the request to the server. In response to the request, the server determines if the person is authorized to add the group to the chat session. If so, the server sends an invitation to the member(s) to join the chat session. If not, the server does not send an invitation to the member(s) to join the chat session. To make the request to add the group to the chat session, the person can enter in a chat session text field a character string that is a command to add the group to the chat session. A program at the workstation monitors the text field and determines that the character string is the command to add the group to the chat session.

US Patent:

8266227, Sep 11, 2012

Filed:

Jul 10, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/602936

Inventors:

Charles Steven Lingafelt - Research Triangle Park NC, US
David Paul Merrill - Poughkeepsie NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709206, 709203, 709219, 370242

Abstract:

A method, system and program product for assigning a resource to a client in a collaborative environment. The method includes defining, using a tool, a threshold value for collaborative attributes for each resource responding to one or more clients and calculating on a periodic basis, using the tool, an updated value for the collaborative attributes for each resource. The method further includes comparing, upon receipt of a collaboration request, the updated value with the threshold value defined for collaborative attributes for a first resource and, if the updated value is less than the threshold value for the first resource, connecting the client to the first resource for establishing a collaborative session. If not, repeating comparing the updated value with the threshold value for the collaborative attributes defined for a next resource and connecting the client to the next resource whose updated value is less than the threshold value.

US Patent:

8321508, Nov 27, 2012

Filed:

Sep 25, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/860778

Inventors:

Charles S. Lingafelt - Durham NC, US
David P. Merrill - New Paltz NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709204, 709205, 709206, 4554561, 4554562, 4554563, 4554564, 4554565, 4554566

Abstract:

A system and method is provided for controlling collaboration participation. The system includes a computing infrastructure configured to monitor endpoint collaboration devices and/or users. The computing infrastructure is also configured to authorize collaboration between one or more of the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users with an initiating device if the computing infrastructure finds a match between stored attributes and information related to the one or more endpoint collaboration devices and/or users.

US Patent:

8443048, May 14, 2013

Filed:

Aug 1, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/564377

Inventors:

Charles Steven Lingafelt - Durham NC, US
David Paul Merrill - New Paltz NY, US
John Elbert Moore - Brownsburg IN, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709206, 709227, 709237, 370352

Abstract:

A method, system and program product for assigning a resource to a client in a collaborative environment. The method includes defining, using a tool, a threshold value for collaborative attributes for each resource responding to one or more clients and calculating on a periodic basis, using the tool, an updated value for the collaborative attributes for each resource. The method further includes comparing, upon receipt of a collaboration request, the updated value with the threshold value defined for collaborative attributes for a first resource and, if the updated value is less than the threshold value for the first resource, connecting the client to the first resource for establishing a collaborative session. If not, repeating comparing the updated value with the threshold value for the collaborative attributes defined for a next resource and connecting the client to the next resource whose updated value is less than the threshold value.