Robert W Weir

US Patent:

7430716, Sep 30, 2008

Filed:

Jul 28, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/900896

Inventors:

Robert Cameron Weir - Westford MA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 17/21

US Classification:

715257, 704 10

Abstract:

A method for adding words to an online dictionary used for spellchecking is described. A spellchecker module compares words of an electronic document with words in the online dictionary and identifies a word in the electronic document that is missing from the dictionary. After a user indicates a desire to add the missing word to the dictionary, the spellchecker module determines at least one related-word form of the missing word. The related-word forms depend upon the part of speech of the missing word. The spellchecker can prompt the user to identify the part of speech and then to verify each determined related-word form. The spellchecker concurrently adds the missing word and at least one related-word form of the missing word to the online dictionary in a single ‘add-to-dictionary’ operation.

US Patent:

7890442, Feb 15, 2011

Filed:

Oct 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/551556

Inventors:

Robert C. Weir - Westford MA, US
Asima Silva - Holden MA, US
Ping Wang - Westford MA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 17/00
G06N 5/00

US Classification:

706 45, 706 46, 706 47

Abstract:

A method and system for autocompletion of multiple fields in electronic forms that generates “inference networks” (Bayesian networks), and evaluates them to suggest likely options for user selection while filling out fields in corresponding electronic forms. The disclosed Bayesian networks are generated and evaluated based on a broad set of information. The information used by the disclosed system for generating an inference network includes form previously selected field values. The information used in the disclosed system to evaluate an inference networks while a current instance of a given form is being filled out includes values previously entered by a current user into preceding form fields, and values of ambient variables that are external to the forms, such as current day of the week, current time of day, etc. When the inference network is evaluated in this way, posterior probabilities are determined for values of fields not yet filled out in the current form instance. These posterior probabilities are used to present value options for the unfilled fields in a way that makes selection of the most-probable options convenient to the user.

US Patent:

7958032, Jun 7, 2011

Filed:

May 10, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/431383

Inventors:

Brian C. Schimpf - Harvard MA, US
Edith H. Stern - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Robert C. Weir - Westford MA, US
Barry E. Willner - Briarcliff Manor NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06Q 40/00

US Classification:

705 35, 705 40

Abstract:

A transaction entity handles event messages associated with events of interest. At least one type of event is identified that is of interest to a user. Each type of event further corresponds to an event type that is to be repeated by a transaction entity to an aggregating entity. Further, a description is associated with each identified type of event. The transaction entity identifies an occurrence of an event that is an identified type of event and generates an event message comprising a token that associates the user with an account maintained by the aggregating and the description that is associated with the identified type of event corresponding to the identified occurrence of the event. The event message is transmitted to the aggregating entity.

US Patent:

8006181, Aug 23, 2011

Filed:

Jul 11, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/171485

Inventors:

Robert Cameron Weir - Westford MA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 17/21
G06F 17/24

US Classification:

715257, 704 10, 715259

Abstract:

A system for adding words to an online dictionary used for spellchecking is described. A spellchecker module compares words of an electronic document with words in the online dictionary and identifies a word in the electronic document that is missing from the dictionary. After a user indicates a desire to add the missing word to the dictionary, the spellchecker module determines at least one related-word form of the missing word. The related-word forms depend upon the part of speech of the missing word. The spellchecker can prompt the user to identify the part of speech and then to verify each determined related-word form. The spellchecker concurrently adds the missing word and at least one related-word form of the missing word to the online dictionary in a single ‘add-to-dictionary’ operation.

US Patent:

8341754, Dec 25, 2012

Filed:

Oct 30, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/554134

Inventors:

Robert C. Weir - Westford MA, US
Diane Weir - Westford MA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04L 29/06

US Classification:

726 27, 726 28

Abstract:

A system for preventing on-line violations of open meeting regulations and similar laws, in which one or more special classes of users are defined for an electronic communication system. Special class definitions include the number of group members that make a quorum for each special class. If a user is a special class member, a determination is made as to whether posting or sending a message being composed would violate any legal restrictions associated with that special class such as a serial quorum based on a total number of special class members that would be participants in the communication to which the message would be added, if the message were in fact conveyed. If the number of special class members that would be participants in the communication if the message were conveyed reaches the special class quorum, the message is rejected, and prevented from entry into the communication system.

US Patent:

8359355, Jan 22, 2013

Filed:

Oct 16, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/872896

Inventors:

Patrick Joseph O'Sullivan - Ballsbridge, IE
Robert Cameron Weir - Westford MA, US
Edith Helen Stern - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Barry E. Willner - Briarcliff Manor NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709206

Abstract:

A method and computer program product for receiving an indication of an email being generated for at least one recipient. The email is analyzed to determine if the email includes at least one link to a piece of content on a remote content resource. If the email includes at least one link to a piece of content on a remote content resource, the at least one recipient is analyzed to determine if the at least one recipient has sufficient rights to access the piece of content on the remote content resource.

US Patent:

8650255, Feb 11, 2014

Filed:

Dec 31, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/347127

Inventors:

Patrick Joseph O'Sullivan - Ballsbridge, IE
Robert Cameron Weir - Westford MA, US
Edith Helen Stern - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Barry E. Willner - Briarcliff Manor NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 15/16
H04L 12/58

US Classification:

709206, 709201, 709202, 709203, 709204, 709205, 709207, 709223, 709224, 709225, 709226, 709227, 709228, 709229, 37920201, 37920301, 37920401, 37920501, 370260, 370263, 370264, 370265

Abstract:

A method and computer program product for receiving a join request, from a requestor, to join an online conversation in which an online user of an instant messaging system is participating. A notification is provided to the online user that the requester would like to join the online conversation.

US Patent:

20050091579, Apr 28, 2005

Filed:

Oct 14, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/685192

Inventors:

Duncan Mewherter - Acton MA, US
Amy Travis - Arlington MA, US
Koah-Hsing Wang - Winchester MA, US
Robert Weir - Somerville MA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F007/00
G06F017/00
G06F017/21

US Classification:

715513000, 707101000

Abstract:

The present invention is a system, method and apparatus for converting a slide show presentation for use within a non-presentation application such as a Web conferencing or virtual classroom application. In accordance with the present invention, a slide show presentation in its native format can be processed to extract slide title information for each slide in the slide show presentation. Additionally, important text within slide further can be extracted. Each slide in the slide-show can be converted to a raster image and disposed within markup. The markup can be annotated with the important text and both the markup and the slide title can be provided to the non-presentation application for use in concert with the non-presentation application. In this way, the context of each slide can be preserved for use within the non-presentation application as can an image of each slide itself.