Patents by Inventor Benjamin Foster

Benjamin Foster has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230371092
    Abstract: A public telecommunications device (100, 201, 301, 401, 501, 901) configured to detect a channel connection-initiation signal (403, 503) from a wireless communications device (100, 202, 302, 402, 502, 902) which is paired with the public telecommunications device and render a prompt (408, 410) in response. The public telecommunications device will fully establish a wireless channel connection (306) with the wireless communications device only if the public telecommunications device detects a designated user input in response to the prompt (408, 410). If the public telecommunications device detects that a call (905) of the wireless communications device has ended, the wireless channel connection will be promptly terminated, unless a second designated user input is detected at the public telecommunications device. The risk of accidental or unintended connectivity to the public telecommunications device is thus minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: Plantronics Communications Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ashley Hellmann, Xiaohui Dang, Robert Benjamin Foster, Nhu Quynh Pham Nguyen, Titi Chen
  • Patent number: 11089727
    Abstract: In a harvesting machine having an agricultural header which is adjustable in height, a computer controller includes programming instructions to allow an operator to associate a plurality of different harvester functions with a single programmable input button providing single-touch actuation. The input button is programmable to return the header height to a preset height value in addition to controlling position of one or more additional accessories such as a double windrow attachment, a deck shifting set of drapers of the header, and/or a crop compressor attachment, etc. Programming of the input button uses navigational inputs to select which functions of the machine are associated with the button, followed by a press-and-hold actuation to set the preset value of all associated functions based on the current operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: MacDon Industries
    Inventors: John Baldwin, Younes Rakhshani Fatmehsari, Benjamin Foster, Leonard Bergman
  • Patent number: 10798233
    Abstract: A mobile phone stations is disclosed. In general, in one aspect, the mobile phone station connects to a smartphone for sending and receiving data therebetween. Further, the mobile phone station includes a dial pad for placing outgoing calls via the smartphone and answering incoming calls received at the smartphone. Also, the mobile phone station includes a charging mechanism for charging the smartphone. In use during an active call at the smartphone, the mobile phone station allows a user to seamlessly switch between two or more of a handset, a speakerphone, and a headset without requiring any user interaction with the smartphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Sherburne, John B Ledingham, Jacob T Meyberg Guzman, Brent John Thorington, John Gary Mihelic, Michael David Rhoads, Robert Benjamin Foster, David Andrew Sauerhaft
  • Patent number: 10701863
    Abstract: A controller on a harvester vehicle is arranged to automatically identify a header in electrical communication with the vehicle upon key activation of the harvester vehicle. Programming instructions on the controller can generate notifications to the user based upon a state of activation of the float mechanism and the state of header identity detection. The controller also prompts the user to confirm the identity of the header if the detected identity of the header has changed. The controller also uses header identity to log usage hours of the header on the computer controller in association with the identity of the header such that maintenance schedules for a plurality of different headers interchangeably used on a common harvester vehicle can be tracked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: MacDon Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Benjamin Foster, Michael Flintoft, Sivian Loevsky, John Baldwin, Leonard Bergman
  • Publication number: 20190281147
    Abstract: A mobile phone stations is disclosed. In general, in one aspect, the mobile phone station connects to a smartphone for sending and receiving data therebetween. Further, the mobile phone station includes a dial pad for placing outgoing calls via the smartphone and answering incoming calls received at the smartphone. Also, the mobile phone station includes a charging mechanism for charging the smartphone. In use during an active call at the smartphone, the mobile phone station allows a user to seamlessly switch between two or more of a handset, a speakerphone, and a headset without requiring any user interaction with the smartphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Sherburne, John B. Ledingham, Jacob T. Meyberg Guzman, Brent John Thorington, John Gary Mihelic, Michael David Rhoads, Robert Benjamin Foster, David Andrew Sauerhaft
  • Publication number: 20190261555
    Abstract: In a harvesting machine having an agricultural header which is adjustable in height, a computer controller includes programming instructions to allow an operator to associate a plurality of different harvester functions with a single programmable input button providing single-touch actuation. The input button is programmable to return the header height to a preset height value in addition to controlling position of one or more additional accessories such as a double windrow attachment, a deck shifting set of drapers of the header, and/or a crop compressor attachment, etc. Programming of the input button uses navigational inputs to select which functions of the machine are associated with the button, followed by a press-and-hold actuation to set the preset value of all associated functions based on the current operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: John Baldwin, Younes Rakhshani Fatmehsari, Benjamin Foster, Leonard Bergman
  • Publication number: 20190261554
    Abstract: A controller on a harvester vehicle is arranged to automatically identify a header in electrical communication with the vehicle upon key activation of the harvester vehicle. Programming instructions on the controller can generate notifications to the user based upon a state of activation of the float mechanism and the state of header identity detection. The controller also prompts the user to confirm the identity of the header if the detected identity of the header has changed. The controller also uses header identity to log usage hours of the header on the computer controller in association with the identity of the header such that maintenance schedules for a plurality of different headers interchangeably used on a common harvester vehicle can be tracked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin Foster, Michael Flintoft, Sivian Loevsky, John Baldwin, Leonard Bergman
  • Publication number: 20190183048
    Abstract: A hydraulically driven tractor has a header drive system including a header drive motor and a header drive pump driven by an engine for generating a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure for the header drive motor, and a ground drive system including a wheel drive motor and a wheel drive pump driven by the engine for generating a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure for the wheel drive motor. A controller receives input from sensors so as to monitor: a header drive demand value, a wheel drive demand value, an engine load value, and/or an engine RPM value for comparisons to acceptable threshold range to vary the target throttle value if outside of one of the ranges. The controller can also vary the displacement of the wheel drive pump and/or the wheel drive motor in response to variation of the target throttle value to maintain ground speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Flintoft, Benjamin Foster, Neil Barnett
  • Patent number: 9914262
    Abstract: A print method for printing three dimensional (3D) objects that are difficult to copy by use of a 3D scanner and 3D printer. The printer includes a print head with an extrusion nozzle with a heated portion and a print bed with a surface for receiving material extruded from the extrusion nozzle. The printer includes a print material supply spool loaded with an anti-scanning filament. The method includes operating the print head to draw the anti-scanning filament into the heated portion for heating and to extrude the heated filament from the extrusion nozzle to form a 3D object. The printed 3D object includes one or more scan protected exterior surfaces on at least one element of the 3D object. The scan protected exterior surfaces are either light absorbing or reflect light in unconventional directions. The anti-scanning filament is a plastic mixed with an anti-scanning additive such as a retroreflective material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Voris, David W. Crawford, Jorge Alted, Benjamin Foster Christen
  • Patent number: 9692900
    Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present invention pertains to an apparatus and method that detects a condition of the customer when an incoming call is received from a customer and directs or transfers the customer to an agent to service the customer based on the detected condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: WEST CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sammy Sufian, Kevin Welch, Benjamin Foster Matthews, Steve Hervey, Stephanie Stokes
  • Publication number: 20170151715
    Abstract: A print method for printing three dimensional (3D) objects that are difficult to copy by use of a 3D scanner and 3D printer. The printer includes a print head with an extrusion nozzle with a heated portion and a print bed with a surface for receiving material extruded from the extrusion nozzle. The printer includes a print material supply spool loaded with an anti-scanning filament. The method includes operating the print head to draw the anti-scanning filament into the heated portion for heating and to extrude the heated filament from the extrusion nozzle to form a 3D object. The printed 3D object includes one or more scan protected exterior surfaces on at least one element of the 3D object. The scan protected exterior surfaces are either light absorbing or reflect light in unconventional directions. The anti-scanning filament is a plastic mixed with an anti-scanning additive such as a retroreflective material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: JEFFREY VORIS, DAVID W. CRAWFORD, JORGE ALTED, BENJAMIN FOSTER CHRISTEN
  • Patent number: 9656428
    Abstract: A method for operating a three dimensional (3D) printer to limit unauthorized copying and provide authentication of 3D objects printed from authorized models fabricated on 3D printers. The method includes providing a digital file defining a 3D model of an object to the 3D printer. The 3D model includes a model of an identification (ID) element. The method includes processing the digital file to define print layers of the 3D model, and a number of the print layers include layers of the model of the ID element. The method involves operating the 3D printer to print the layers to form a 3D object with an integrally formed ID element. The ID element is embedded within object elements of the 3D object. The integrally formed ID element may be a radio frequency ID (RFID) tag providing identification data when read by an RFID reader scanning the 3D object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Voris, Benjamin Foster Christen, Jorge Alted, David W. Crawford
  • Publication number: 20160067740
    Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) for printing a 3D object without the need for printing support structure for overhanging or cantilevered portions of the 3D object. The 3D printer includes a print head with a nozzle for extruding print material and a build plate with an upper surface receiving the print material extruded from the nozzle, whereby the 3D object is formed on the upper surface of the build plate. The 3D printer includes a tilt adjustment mechanism tilting the build plate about at least one axis to orient the upper surface and the 3D object relative to the nozzle during the extruding of the print material. The tilting can be performed such that a previously extruded portion of the print material is vertically aligned with the nozzle to receive the print material extruded to form an overhanging element of the 3D object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: JEFFREY VORIS, BENJAMIN FOSTER CHRISTEN, JORGE ALTED, DAVID W. CRAWFORD
  • Publication number: 20160067927
    Abstract: A method for operating a three dimensional (3D) printer to limit unauthorized copying and provide authentication of 3D objects printed from authorized models fabricated on 3D printers. The method includes providing a digital file defining a 3D model of an object to the 3D printer. The 3D model includes a model of an identification (ID) element. The method includes processing the digital file to define print layers of the 3D model, and a number of the print layers include layers of the model of the ID element. The method involves operating the 3D printer to print the layers to form a 3D object with an integrally formed ID element. The ID element is embedded within object elements of the 3D object. The integrally formed ID element may be a radio frequency ID (RFID) tag providing identification data when read by an RFD reader scanning the 3D object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey VORIS, Benjamin Foster CHRISTEN, Jorge ALTED, David W. CRAWFORD
  • Publication number: 20160067922
    Abstract: An apparatus for building a three dimensional (3D) object using volumetric addition. The apparatus includes a print chamber containing a volume of a curable resin. The apparatus includes a first and second curing energy sources outputting first and second beams of energy. The apparatus includes a controller operating targeting mechanisms to align the beams of energy to sequentially intersect at a plurality of curing positions associated with build volumes of a digital model of the 3D object. The energy sources may be lasers generating a desired amount of heat when their beams are crossed. The curable resin may be a heat-curable fluid curing when heated into a curing temperature range, and the amount of heat provided by intersected pairs of the first and second beams heats volumes of the heat-curable fluid, proximate to each of the curing positions only, to a temperature in the curing temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: JEFFREY VORIS, BENJAMIN FOSTER CHRISTEN, JORGE ALTED, DAVID W. CRAWFORD
  • Publication number: 20160016360
    Abstract: A printer adapted for printing three dimensional (3D) objects that are difficult to copy by use of a 3D scanner and 3D printer. The printer includes a print head with an extrusion nozzle with a heated portion and a print bed with a surface for receiving material extruded from the extrusion nozzle. The printer includes a print material supply spool loaded with an anti-scanning filament. The print head is adapted for drawing the anti-scanning filament into the heated portion for heating prior to extrusion from the extrusion nozzle to form a 3D object. Further, the 3D object includes one or more scan protected exterior surfaces on at least one element of the 3D object. The scan protected exterior surfaces are either light absorbing surfaces or reflect light in one or more unconventional directions. The anti-scanning filament may be a plastic mixed with an anti-scanning additive such as a retroreflective material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: JEFFREY VORIS, DAVID W. CRAWFORD, JORGE ALTED, BENJAMIN FOSTER CHRISTEN
  • Publication number: 20150375451
    Abstract: A printer adapted for printing three dimensional (3D) objects with material having two or more colors. The printer includes a print head with an extrusion nozzle having an outlet, a mixing chamber upstream of the outlet, and a heated portion. The printer also includes a print bed with a surface for receiving material extruded from the outlet of the extrusion nozzle and a print material supply that is loaded with a filament of a plastic having a first color. The print head is adapted for drawing the filament into the heated portion to liquefy the plastic upstream of or in the mixing chamber. The printer includes a dye supply assembly fluidically coupled with the mixing chamber supplying dyes, such as inks, of two or more colors to the mixing chamber, whereby the liquefied plastic has its color changed from the first color to a second color prior to being extruded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: JEFFREY VORIS, BENJAMIN FOSTER CHRISTEN, JORGE ALTED, DAVID W. CRAWFORD
  • Publication number: 20080016019
    Abstract: There is provided methods and systems to provide popular query coverage. The system receives a plurality of queries that are used to search a database, the plurality of queries respectively including a string of text that includes at least one keyword. Next, the system determines a subset of most popular queries from the plurality of queries. Next, the system applies a first plurality of rules to a first most popular query in the subset of most popular queries to identify a second plurality of rules that respectively identify at least one matching keyword in the first most popular query. Next, the system counts the first plurality of rules to determine a total quantity of rules and counts the second plurality of rules to determine a second quantity of rules. Next, the system determines a percentage of coverage for the first most popular query, the percentage of coverage based on the total quantity of rules and the second quantity of rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Josh Loftus, Venkat Sundaranatha, Louis Monier, Jean-Michel Leon, Aditya Arora, Benjamin Foster, Seema Shah
  • Publication number: 20070200850
    Abstract: There is provided a method and system to communicate information. The system receives a first query that contains a first constraint and retrieves a first plurality of data items from a database based on the first query. Next, the system generates a first distribution based on the first plurality of data items, the first distribution utilizing a first plurality of domains that are used to identify data items. Next the system generates a second distribution based on a plurality of requests to view a second plurality of data items. Next the system generates a third distribution based on the first distribution and the second distribution. Finally, the system generates distribution data to be included within an interface, the interface to include at least one interface element that is positioned on the interface based on the third distribution, the at least one interface element to respectively represent at least one domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Seema Shah, Adam Nash, Raghav Gupta, Aditya Arora, Benjamin Foster, Srikanth Subramaniam, Suhail Ansari, Xavier Stonestreet, Vijay Raman, Jean-Michel Leon
  • Publication number: 20050038733
    Abstract: A method and a system for merchandising in a network-based marketplace. Sellers enter item information that identifies items to be transacted in a network-based marketplace. Sellers also identify referring items and promoted items and generate associations between them. In response to a buyer's request for the item information on a referring item, the network-based marketplace presents the item information for promoted items in addition to the item information for the referring item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Benjamin Foster, Andrew Sandler, Anne Raimondi, Meredith Mortimer, Tia Yansen, Michael Dearing