Carol A Egan

US Patent:

7275048, Sep 25, 2007

Filed:

Oct 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/021203

Inventors:

Joseph Philip Bigus - Rochester MN, US
Carol Ann Egan - Rochester MN, US
Earl Walter Emerick - Rochester MN, US
Terry C. Reed - Rochester MN, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 17/00
G06N 5/02

US Classification:

706 46, 706 25, 706 10

Abstract:

An apparatus, program product, and method utilize a dynamic, automated, extensible and flexible intelligent agent-based product support “framework” to facilitate the provision of product support services to customers of computer-related products. Agent platforms are utilized on both a customer computer and a product support computer, with different agents configured to execute on one or both of such computers. Automated analysis and/or creation of remedial actions, based upon cross-customer operational data, and often relying upon intelligent agents for many or all of such actions, may be used to decrease product support personnel burden and effort. Publishing control may be provided to limit distribution of certain intelligent agents, as may multi-agent remediation of undesirable operational conditions, where agents from multiple parties collectively address a problem experienced by a customer.

US Patent:

7624393, Nov 24, 2009

Filed:

Sep 18, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/665656

Inventors:

Carol Ann Egan - Rochester MN, US
Earl Walter Emerick - Rochester MN, US
Thomas Alan Shore - Rochester MN, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 9/44
G06F 9/445

US Classification:

717173, 717169, 717175, 717178

Abstract:

The present invention provides methods and a computer-readable program for providing autonomic, event driven upgrade maintenance of one or more software modules residing on a computer system. In a preferred embodiment, a method begins by detecting a predefined triggering event on the computer system indicative of a potential maintenance issue. Next the computer system connects to an upgrade management server, where the upgrade maintenance server creates a list of recommended upgrade modules to download to the computer system, the list based upon the triggering event and a set of selection policies. The method then downloads the list of recommended upgrade modules from the upgrade management server to the computer system, and selectively installs upgrade modules chosen from the list of recommended upgrade modules on the computer system. The user is then notified of the status of the upgrade maintenance operation.

US Patent:

20030023963, Jan 30, 2003

Filed:

Jul 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/912975

Inventors:

Suellen Birkholz - Rochester MN, US
Carol Egan - Rochester MN, US
Clair Ewert - Rochester MN, US
James Fritsch - Rochester MN, US
John Gressett - Rochester MN, US
Lonny Olson-Williams - Rochester MN, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F009/44

US Classification:

717/172000, 717/168000

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for upgrading a software on a customer system are provided. In one embodiment, a method for upgrading a software on a customer system comprises: receiving, by a supplier system, a software inventory from the customer system; verifying one or more business contracts for the software inventory utilizing one or more databases connected to the supplier system; and determining one or more software upgrade releases for the software inventory utilizing a product topology database connected to the supplier system.

US Patent:

20030084010, May 1, 2003

Filed:

Feb 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/078013

Inventors:

Joseph Bigus - Rochester MN, US
Carol Egan - Rochester MN, US
Earl Emerick - Rochester MN, US
Terry Reed - Rochester MN, US

Assignee:

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06E001/00
G06F015/18
G06F017/00

US Classification:

706/006000, 706/015000, 706/048000

Abstract:

An apparatus, program product, and method utilize distribution control information associated with intelligent agents to manage the distribution of such intelligent agents. Such distribution management may be incorporated into a dynamic, automated, extensible and flexible intelligent agent-based product support “framework” to facilitate the provision of product support services to customers of computer-related products. In such a framework, agent platforms may be utilized on both a customer computer and a product support computer, with different agents configured to execute on one or both of such computers.