Patents Examined by William A. Cuchlinski, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7120529
    Abstract: A vehicle control system (10) including a vehicle motion control subsystem (12) that has an input receiving an intended driving demand (14) and a plurality of coordinator subsystems (16) for coordinating actuators of the vehicle. The vehicle motion control subsystem (12) communicates with the coordinator subsystems (16) to determine whether a single coordinator subsystem (16) can carry out the intended driving demand (14). The vehicle motion control subsystem (12) will distribute demand signals among one or more of the coordinator subsystems (16) to allow the vehicle to implement the intended driving demand (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Coelingh, Jonas Ekmark
  • Patent number: 7107136
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining likelihood of rollover of a vehicle and/or mitigating rollover of the vehicle is responsive to measured vehicle lateral acceleration and a measured one of vehicle roll rate and vehicle suspension displacements to derive estimates of roll angle and roll rate. First, preliminary, estimates of roll angle and roll rate are derived and used as pseudo-measurements in a dynamic, closed loop observer equation which represents a model of the vehicle in a first roll mode for roll angles small compared to a reference value indicating two wheel lift-off and a second roll mode for roll angles at least near a reference value indicating two wheel lift-off. The observer equation has parameters and gains with values for each mode stored as a function of roll angle index derived from measurements and pseudo-measured values. The observer equation produces second, improved values or roll angle and roll rate together indicating the likelihood of vehicle rollover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David John Barta, Aleksander Boguslaw Hac
  • Patent number: 7062362
    Abstract: In a multimedia information and control system for use in an automobile, at least one interface is employed which enables a user to access information concerning the automobile and control vehicle functions in an efficient manner. The user may select one of a plurality of displayed options on a screen of such an interface. Through audio, video and/or text media, the user is provided with information concerning the selected option and the vehicle function corresponding thereto. Having been so informed, the user may activate the selected option to control the corresponding vehicle function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: American Calcar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Obradovich, Michael L. Kent, John G. Dinkel
  • Patent number: 7054909
    Abstract: In a control system for an automatic vending machine with a controlled device, a terminal control unit controls the controlled device in accordance with a control program. A main control unit is connected to the terminal control unit through a transmission path and controls the terminal control unit through communication with the terminal control unit. The main control unit is provided with a transfer arrangement for transferring a new control program to the terminal control unit through the transmission path. The terminal control unit is provided with a memory and a rewriting arrangement connected to the memory. The memory is for memorizing the first-mentioned control program as a memorized control program. The rewriting arrangement is for rewriting the memorized control program into the new control program at need.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Ohkubo, Yoshiaki Inokuma, Akiyoshi Kosano, Naoto Matsumoto, Kazuyasu Ushigome
  • Patent number: 7054727
    Abstract: A method of replicating a real-world vehicle rollover of a vehicle having wheels utilizing a vehicle testing apparatus having a support. The method includes positioning the vehicle on the support. Static properties of the vehicle are then determined. An initial set of forces and moments to be applied to the support are determined based upon at least the static properties. The support is actuated based upon the initial set of forces and moments to replicate the vehicle rollover. An actual response of the vehicle to the initial actuating of the vehicle testing apparatus is measured to determine dynamic properties of the vehicle. So long as all of the wheels remained on the support during the actuating of the vehicle testing apparatus, sets of forces and moments are continuously determined. The vehicle testing apparatus can be repeatedly actuated based upon the sets of forces and moments to further replicate the vehicle rollover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Burke E. Porter Machinery Company
    Inventors: Kevin Kemp, Hamid Alper Oral
  • Patent number: 7051073
    Abstract: A data processing system with efficient facilities for transmitting a serial electronic publication to subscribers includes a push engine and a status manager. The push engine transmits a first issue to a subscriber. The status manager determines whether the first issue has been opened and allows the push engine to transmit a second issue to the subscriber only after determining that the first issue has been opened. In an illustrative embodiment, the push engine transmits a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) cookie to the subscriber with the first issue, and the status manager determines whether the first issue has been opened by reference to a corresponding cookie response from the subscriber indicating that client software has been utilized to open the first issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Rabindranath Dutta
  • Patent number: 7020681
    Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with this invention provide for efficient processing, caching and routing of XML documents through the use of a proxy server. The proxy server is coupled to at least one client computer and a plurality of remote servers on the Internet. The proxy server is adapted in this preferred embodiment to receive a document request in the form of a uniform resource locator (URL) from a client computer and to determine whether the document is an unprocessed XML document. If the document is an unprocessed XML document, the proxy server is further adapted to search a local cache for a processed version of the document, and to transmit the processed document to the requesting client. In the event the document is not found in local storage, the proxy server is adapted to process the XML document, route it to the client and then store the file in local storage in anticipation of subsequent requests for the same document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkata S. Ayyagari, Polina Kuznetsov
  • Patent number: 7016778
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a motor vehicle, in particular a traction-slip control system (TCS), wherein a diagonal axle twist is detected and evaluated as a regulating variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Continental Teves, AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Norbert Ehmer, Georg Roll, Lothar Kienle, Bernd-Uwe Hartmann, Steffen Ritz, Frank Haller
  • Patent number: 7016937
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for reminding a user to include an e-mail attachment file with an e-mail communication. A user is reminded to include an attachment file by being prompted within the e-mail application when the text of the user's e-mail message indicates the user's intent to send an e-mail attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Patent number: 7003386
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and to a method for determining the position for a working part of a tool on a working machine with a position-determining apparatus (2, 4, 5, 6; 2, 4a, 4b, 5, 6?; 31, 33, 49, 50, 51, 1?,53). At least one detector equipment (4, 5, 6; 4a, 4b, 5, 6?; 31, 33; 49, 50, 51, 53) is placed at a defined place on the working machine (3; 52) in order to determine the position of this position in a fixed coordinate system. At least one positional relationship device (11) determines the positional relation of the working part in relation to the detector equipment in a machine-based coordinate system. A calculating device (20) calculates, with signals from the position-determining apparatus and the positional relationship device, the position of the working part in the fixed coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Trimble AB
    Inventors: Lars Ericsson, Mikael Hertzman
  • Patent number: 7000032
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, computer program products, and combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for enabling web content (as well as other objects) to be loaded on mobile devices (as well as other types of devices), and for users of mobile devices to operate with such web content on their mobile devices in an interactive manner while in an off-line mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: iAnywhere Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Kloba, Michael R. Gray, David M. Moore, Thomas E. Whittaker, David J. Williams, Rafael Z. Weinstein, Joshua E. Freeman, Linus M. Upson
  • Patent number: 7000033
    Abstract: A method and system for mapping nodes in an M×N torus interconnection fabric of nodes is provided. The method includes generating an observed mapping of the nodes in the interconnection fabric showing a location of a first node relative to an x-axis of the fabric and relative to a y-axis of the fabric, comparing the observed mapping of the nodes to a set of expected mappings, and identifying the expected mapping which is most similar to the observed mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Whay S. Lee
  • Patent number: 6996469
    Abstract: A method of route calculation in an vehicle navigation device is described, whereby a route from a starting location or a current location to a destination location is calculated, so that in the case of a deficiency in the vehicle or a deficiency impairing the driver of the vehicle, the route to an alternate destination location which has facilities for eliminating the deficiency is calculated instead of the original destination location. In addition, a method of navigation of a driver of a vehicle from a starting location to at least one destination location is also described, a trip route from the starting location or a current location to the at least one destination location being determined, and driving instructions being generated as a function of a current location so that in the case of a deficiency in the vehicle or a deficiency impairing the driver of the vehicle, the trip route to an alternate destination location which has the facilities for eliminating the deficiency is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Lau, Thomas Jung, Heinrich Schmidt, Ralf Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6993423
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a plurality of vehicle cockpit devices via a two-part process that utilizes device position constraints to determine candidate arrangements and then, ultimately, recommended arrangements of the vehicle cockpit devices to determine a desired setting of the various devices. The position constraints are determined using positioning data obtained from an occupant. An exploratory search routine is used to determine the candidate arrangements with the cockpit devices being moved to each candidate arrangement so that the occupant can be queried concerning the desirability of each such arrangement. The occupant's responses are then stored for later retrieval. Thereafter, a plurality of recommended arrangements of the cockpit devices are determined using a meta-heuristic pattern search along with a neural network search accelerator that permits screening of each recommended arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Inman, Robin Stevenson, Clark E McCall
  • Patent number: 6985926
    Abstract: An address consolidating system that has a name and address database where duplicate names and address are consolidated by matching name and address and e-mail address simultaneously. The address consolidating system utilizes a database along with off-the-shelf and custom proprietary software. There are two segments to the database: records with name and address data (which may or may not include e-mail address data), and records with e-mail address data (which may include incomplete portions of associated name and address data). Periodically the database is updated with new or corrected name, address, or e-mail information, or with new records obtained from other database lists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: I-Behavior, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry T. Ferlauto, Stephen H. Yu
  • Patent number: 6981065
    Abstract: A method of provisioning a connection across a SONET/SDU network formed from multiple sub-networks comprises: determining a model of the entire network, the model indicating the connections between all sub-networks, and representing each sub-network as a single unit; calculating a route between the sub-networks containing the first and second nodes using the model; passing the signals along the determined route, and determining the route between nodes within each sub-network locally within the respective sub-network. This method enables a simplified model of the network to be stored in each node of the network, so that a route calculation can take place at the sending node. The specific route through the network is determined as the signal passes through the network, as the specific path through individual sub-networks is determined locally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: Xiang Lu
  • Patent number: 6980899
    Abstract: In a system of accelerating a car using a brake operating mechanism, the driver is required to be ready to step on the brake operating mechanism so as to rapidly decelerate the car in order to avoid danger, if necessary, while he is releasing his foot from the brake operating mechanism, which is a burden for the driver. Therefore, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range are provided to an operating amount or an operating force of a pedal 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Satou, Tokuji Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 6973491
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the configuration and/or status of target devices on a network. The system comprises a monitoring application that can be run on a first network device. The monitoring application is configured to monitor one or more target devices on the network using data collector modules that run on the target devices. The data collector modules are launched on the target devices by the monitoring application and are configured to collect configuration and/or status information about the target devices. After collecting the data, the data collector modules preferably pass the data back to the first network device, where a data upload application receives the data and uploads it to a central site. The data at the central site is placed in a database for access by users or clients. Users can access the data in the database by communicating with the central site, for example, via a dial-up connection or via the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Staveley, Dean Kemp
  • Patent number: 6965916
    Abstract: A system and method for data distribution and recovery, including a server that broadcasts data to a plurality of clients and a means for a client to identify and recover broadcast data that the client missed while it was off line. In a representative embodiment, the system includes a transfer server, a plurality of clients in communication with the transfer server, and an archive in communication with the transfer server and the plurality of clients. The transfer server receives data packets from a data source, uniquely identifies each data packet, and broadcasts the data packets to the plurality of clients and the archive. Each client receives the data broadcast from the transfer server, identifies missing data, and communicates with the archive to recover the missing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corp.
    Inventors: Brian D. Kling, Howard W. Fingerhut, Jeffrey D. Kashinsky
  • Patent number: 6957264
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to quickly change and deliver Internet radio sources. The apparatus can receive multiple Internet radio sources simultaneously, and route each of the multiple Internet radio sources to a stream receiver. The stream receiver is operable to maintain connection with one of a multitude of Internet radio sources. Each of the sources can be buffered by a stream buffer that can receive data from one of each of the stream receivers. A stream selector can select one of the multiple Internet radio sources and deliver the selected one of the multiple Internet radio sources as output to a user. The apparatus can be implemented as part of a multiple function system such as a personal computer or as an Internet radio receiver apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Jacobs