Robert E 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:

7844693, Nov 30, 2010

Filed:

Sep 13, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/854803

Inventors:

Mohamed Bachiri - Melrose MA, US
Chenita Daughtry - Roxbury MA, US
Robert Weir - Westford MA, US
Carol Zimmet - Boxborough MA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 15/173

US Classification:

709223, 709203, 709217, 709219, 709224

Abstract:

An exemplary embodiment of a system for monitoring website content, including, a browser client operative to send a first request for content to a first website server, the content stored on a second website server, an intermediate server, operative to receive a URL associated with the content, from the first website sever, the URL comprising an address of the intermediate server, an address of the content, and an address for threshold data stored on the intermediate server associated with the content, the threshold data including a plurality of thresholds, the intermediate server further configured to send a second request for the content to the second website server, receive the content, determine whether the content exceeds the plurality of thresholds associated with the content, deny the first request for content, responsive to determining that the content exceeds one of the plurality thresholds associated with the content.

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:

8024361, Sep 20, 2011

Filed:

Oct 23, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/876866

Inventors:

Chenita D. Daughtry - Roxbury MA, US
Carol S. Zimmet - Boxboro MA, US
Robert C. Weir - Westford MA, US
Mohamed Bachiri - Melrose MA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 7/00

US Classification:

707786, 715759

Abstract:

A system for allowing multiple users to access and unlock shared electronic documents in a computer system. A group of users are defined as potential “lock-breaker” users for a document, such that they are automatically contacted in the event that a user wishes to unlock the document after it has been locked by another user. The lock-breaker users defined for a document are given access rights to the document that allow them to break a current lock on the document, so that it can be opened for editing, and accordingly re-locked. The lock-breaker users for a document may be organized in a hierarchy, such as a hierarchy matching the relationships of employees of an organization. The lock-breaker hierarchy may define the order in which the lock-breaker users are automatically contacted when a user wishes to access a locked document (e. g. an LDAP directory tree or social network).

US Patent:

8180657, May 15, 2012

Filed:

Dec 31, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/967824

Inventors:

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

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06Q 10/00

US Classification:

705 5, 705 6, 705 8, 705 26, 715751, 715753

Abstract:

A method and computer program product for receiving a slot request, from a second respondent having a second seniority level, for an original event slot that was previously reserved by a first respondent having a first seniority level. The second seniority level is compared to the first seniority level. If the second seniority level exceeds the first seniority level: the reservation of the original event slot by the first respondent is cancelled, and the event slot request for the original event slot by the second respondent is accepted.

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.