International Business Machines Corporation

Mark E Peters

Jacquelle D Leggett

Parley Avery Salmon

Lisa Seacat DeLuca

Al Chakra

Travis M Grigsby

Steven Michael Miller

Sandeep Kishan Singhal

Amit Golander

Ravi Krishna Kosaraju

Viswanath Srikanth

Marcelo Perazolo

Joseph A Hansen

Richard A Chapman

Carlos Antonio Lorenzo Hoyos

Andrea Jean Watkins Moryadas

Tavis M Grigsby

Julia K McCarthy

Lama R Abouchakra

George H Moryadas

Andrea J Watkins

Julie A Meserve

David G Knehr-McLaren

Stephen M Meserve

Steven David Swanson

Responsive to receipt of a first instant message during a first mode operation of an instant messaging program while a computer is driving an exposed output device, the first instant message is blocked. Responsive to receipt of a second instant message during a second mode operation while the computer is driving the exposed output device, an identification of a sender of the second instant message is displayed and a query is issued to determine whether instant message content should be displayed on the exposed output device. Responsive to receipt of a third instant message during a third mode operation while the computer is driving the exposed output device, it is determined that a sender of the third instant message is on a priority list, an identification of the sender is displayed, and a query is issued to determine whether instant message content should be displayed on the exposed output device.

Maintaining message privacy on an exposed display device

A determination is made as to whether a computer is in a slide presentation mode. In response to determining that the computer is in the slide presentation mode, a configured designee alert mode is automatically selected. Message data is received through a communications medium. The message data is transferred to an alternate designated recipient according to the automatically selected designee alert mode when the computer is in the slide presentation mode.

A system and method of controlling a portable radio may involve tuning a first receiver of the portable radio to a first broadcast from a first station, where the first broadcast includes specific program content. A switching event can be detected at the portable radio, where a second receiver of the portable radio may be tuned to a second broadcast from a second station in response to the switching event. The second broadcast can include the specific program content.

Enhanced radio

Illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, an apparatus in the form of a data processing system and a computer program product for social network based call management. In one illustrative embodiment, the computer implemented method comprises receiving an incoming call from a caller for a subscriber, and obtains preferences for the subscriber, wherein the preferences describe a caller relationship to the subscriber. Using a location provided in the preferences for the subscriber, the computer implemented method locates attributes for the caller. The computer implemented method processes the call in accordance with the attributes and the preferences.

Social network based call management

A solution for visual credential verification. The solution includes an apparatus, system, and method embodiment. The apparatus for visual credential verification includes an input module, a comparison module, and a response module. The input module receives from a security official an image of an unverified credential, such as a badge, that an individual has presented to the security official. The comparison module determines whether or not the unverified credential is valid or invalid. The determination includes comparing the image of the unverified credential with known good images of valid credentials. The comparison module may also compare authentication information such as a photo of the individual, a name, or a badge number, with known good authentication information. Based on the comparison module's determination, the response module notifies the security official that the unverified credential is either valid or invalid. A system for visual credential verification may be implemented with a server in communication with a security official's electronic device, such as a cell phone.

Visual credential verification

The invention is an instant-messaging system that minimizes undesirable alerts on an exposed output device. The instant-messaging system is configurable so that a user can select an alert mode that alters the instant-messaging system's response to receiving message data from a caller while a user is operating an exposed output device. Specifically, a user can select a 'do-not-disturb' mode, a 'designee' mode, a &#x201c;caller-id&#x201d; mode, or a &#x201c;priority&#x201d; mode. If the user selects the do-not-disturb mode, the system blocks the message and informs the caller that the user does not wish to be disturbed. If the user selects the caller-id mode, the system displays the caller's identification and then prompts the user to accept the message. If the user selects the priority mode, the system displays the caller's identification only if the caller is in the user's &#x201c;priority list.&#x201d;

A method, system and computer program product for enhancing the acquisition of data from a wireless access point during a window of acquisition. A wireless device in a vehicle obtains a list of wireless access points positioned along a route being traveled by a user of the wireless device. The wireless device acquires its current location and identifies the closest upcoming wireless access point in connection with its current location. If the wireless device had previously had a session with the upcoming wireless access point, then the wireless device continues sending packets to the upcoming wireless access point from the point of previous termination with the upcoming wireless access point until the session is restarted. The wireless device then accesses data from the upcoming wireless access point during the remaining window of acquisition.

Enhanced wireless access point communications while traveling

The invention comprises a financial management program and one or more databases containing information on merchants and their products. The program interacts with the databases containing the product information to return the prices and availability of goods located in a designated area. The program compares prices from various merchants and displays the results to the consumer. The program also allows the consumer to compare the prices with a household budget an financial data, while keeping track of trends in the consumer's spending and buying habits.

Comparison shopping via financial management software

Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to controlling access to an area or enclosed location, wherein any person in possession of a specified RFID badge or other RFID device is defined to be a person who is authorized to be in the area or location. One embodiment, directed to a method, includes the step of detecting the presence of a particular person in the area, who is not in possession of a specified RFID device. In response to detecting the presence of the particular person, a search is initiated to determine whether any authorized person is present in the area. Upon sensing the presence of one or more authorized persons in the area, the method further determines whether any of the sensed authorized persons is accompanying the particular person. In response to determining that no authorized person is accompanying the particular person, prespecified corrective action is initiated with respect to the particular person.

Using an RFID device to enhance security by determining whether a person in a secure area is accompanied by an authorized person

The present invention discloses a solution for automatically replacing a media files upon a device able to identify problems with locally stored media files. Initially, an automated process or user of a media playing device can initially identify a media file, which the media playing device is unable to play. The media playing device can be connected to an external device associated with a media store including a set of source media files. The source media files of the media store can be automatically queried for a corresponding one of the detected media file. A copy of a source media file resulting from the query can be automatically conveyed from the media store to the media playing device.

File error identification, reporting, and replacement of media files

The present invention is a mobile server wallet provider portal, system, method and apparatus. A MSWP portal can include a configuration for communicative coupling both to a plurality of MSWPs and also to a content proxy. A composite profile generator further can be included which can be configured to combine a plurality of MSWP profiles into a single, composite profile for routing payment messages in the proxy to the MSWP portal. Finally, the MSWP portal can include selection logic configured to process a user selection of one of the MSWPs to process a payment transaction received through the proxy. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the content proxy can be a wireless service proxy (WSP). In this regard, the WSP further can include a filter plug-in configured to route the payment messages to the portal when the payment messages match rules specified within the composite profile.

Server wallet provider portal

A system and method that optimizes use of renewable energy sources using modern satellites and telemetry to reduce the impact of renewable energy limitations. Location data corresponding to the device is retrieved using GPS technology and a GPS receiver which is located proximate to the device. Renewable energy generators are identified and include generation parameters that indicate the efficiency and output of the devices. Environmental energy factors are retrieved based upon the location data. The amount of available renewable energy is calculated based upon the environmental factors and the renewable energy generation parameters corresponding to each of the renewable energy generators. A travel plan that contains the user's travel intentions can be used. The travel plan indicates future location data as well as device idle time. Collected energy can fuel batteries and can also be used to provide hydrogen to a hydrogen fuel cell.

System and method for hybrid conservation of fossil fuel

A technique permitting an X.509 certificate to simultaneously support more than one cryptographic algorithm. An alterative public key and alternative signature are provided as extensions in the body of the certificate. These extensions define a second (or more) cryptographic algorithm which may be utilized to verify the certificate. These are not authenticated by the primary signature and signature algorithm in the primary cryptographic algorithm. These newly defined extensions are reviewed by a receiving entity if the entity does not support the cryptographic algorithm of the primary signature.

Extension of X.509 certificates to simultaneously support multiple cryptographic algorithms

Techniques are disclosed for deterring theft of media recording devices. Input received from a sensor, or some portion of the input, is encrypted prior to storing a media file. A decryption key must be provided when the media file is to be played back. If the key is not provided, then the file is preferably still played back, but is played back in a degraded manner. For example, a background color or other filler may be rendered in place of the encrypted portion. Additional parts of the file may also be degraded during playback. By making the playback unpleasant for the listener/viewer, theft of the recording device will be much less desirable&#x2014;yet recording can continue uninterrupted, thereby minimizing disruption to legitimate users. The disclosed techniques may also be used to deter theft of the recorded media.

Deterring theft of media recording devices by encrypting recorded media files

A system and method for state-based execution and recovery in a payment system is presented. A payment system uses a state machine to track completed sub-tasks using a state progress identifier and completion state data. When a failure occurs, stored completion state data and the state progress identifier indicate the last successfully completed sub-task. As such, when the payment system resumes payment operation execution after a failure, the state machine retrieves the stored completion state data and state progress identifier, and resumes execution based upon the retrieved information. As a result, the payment system continues payment operation execution at a point as to not duplicate the payment operation's previously completed sub-tasks.

Growing community of inventors

Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

Mark E Peters