Patents by Inventor Chris Higgins

Chris Higgins 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).

  • Patent number: 9270553
    Abstract: A service oriented architecture (SOA) provides on-demand service call debugging and call stack tracing. The service call (e.g., an API) includes a new field and optional signature value. The field is a ‘debug-requested’ field, and the optional field is a unique call-id signature. The service provider can enable debugging in accordance with the debug-requested field for this service call, and tag all debugged data with the unique call-id. If it is necessary to call other services to fulfill the request, then the service can pass the ‘debug-requested’ field and the ‘unique id’ in the call to that service. Using this mechanism, detailed debugging can be supported across an entire stack for only those requests that need it and the performance/latency impact of having debugging enabled only applies to the subset of calls which need debugging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chris Higgins
  • Patent number: 9225777
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an interface and one or more processors. The interface receives a request for a web page from a web browser. The one or more processors select a subset of web servers from a resource pool according to a load balancing determination. The one or more processors send the request to at least two of the web servers of the subset before receiving any response from the other web servers. Upon receiving one or more responses from distinct web servers, the one or more processors selects a response to communicate to the web browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chris Higgins
  • Publication number: 20150337511
    Abstract: Novel streamwater remediation systems and processes are presented. The disclosed systems involve design and placement of geometric volumes of porous media of variable hydraulic conductivity within the streambed to enhance hyporheic exchange (exchange of water from the stream or constructed urban waterway compartment to the porous media, or streambed, compartment). The disclosed systems may help improve water quality in various ways, for example through the removal of contaminants from water as it passes through the streambed. In some embodiments, contaminant removal is achieved by microbes and/or reactive geomedia incorporated into the streambed structures. By pairing hydrologic/flow structures with bacteria or reactive geomedia, diverse contaminants such as metals, nutrients, organics, pathogens, and more can be sorbed, deactivated, assimilated, transformed to harmless chemicals, and otherwise removed from the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: John McCray, Skuyler Herzog, Chris Higgins
  • Publication number: 20150163299
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an interface and one or more processors. The interface receives a request for a web page from a web browser. The one or more processors select a subset of web servers from a resource pool according to a load balancing determination. The one or more processors send the request to at least two of the web servers of the subset before receiving any response from the other web servers. Upon receiving one or more responses from distinct web servers, the one or more processors selects a response to communicate to the web browser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventor: Chris Higgins
  • Patent number: 8998544
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an interface and one or more processors. The interface receives a request for a web page from a web browser. The one or more processors select a subset of web servers from a resource pool according to a load balancing determination. The one or more processors send the request to at least two of the web servers of the subset before receiving any response from the other web servers. Upon receiving one or more responses from distinct web servers, the one or more processors selects a response to communicate to the web browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chris Higgins
  • Patent number: 8949658
    Abstract: In order to protect against various load balancing failures, the host selection algorithm on the load balancer can be modified to take into account data available about the state of the entire service and each host server in the cluster. The state can include a number of metrics, including the sampled response time taken by the selected host service. The load balancer can use the state information in order to detect anomalies among the host services. For example, the load balancer can determine that the sampled response time of one host service has deviated by more than a standard deviation limit (or other predetermined threshold) from the sampled response times of the other host services in the cluster. If such an anomaly is detected, the load balancer can take various remedial actions, such as disabling the routing of incoming requests to the potentially faulty host service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A. Scanlan, Chris Higgins
  • Patent number: 8804538
    Abstract: Ethernet Y-cables are provided that include first, second and third Ethernet cable segments, each of which has a first end and a second end and at least eight insulated conductors. These cables further include a housing that receives the respective first ends of the first, second and third Ethernet cable segments and a switching mechanism that is disposed at least partly in the housing. The switching mechanism is configured to selectively connect the at least eight conductors of the first Ethernet cable segment to respective ones of either the at least eight conductors of the second Ethernet cable segment or the at least eight conductors of the third Ethernet cable segment. Related Ethernet Y-switches and methods of using the Ethernet Y-cables and Y-switches are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Higgins, Edward L. Wallace
  • Publication number: 20140108158
    Abstract: A system for monetization of content includes a storage device for storage and retrieval of data, and a library of content and advertisements stored within the storage device. The library comprises an organizational structure for facilitating the storage and retrieval. The system also includes a monetization engine for identifying within the library a first content item having a first monetizable feature. The system is configured for selecting a second content item from several content items within the library, and associating the second content item to the first content item by using the first monetizable feature for presentation of the second content item in conjunction with the first content item. Further embodiments include various additional systems, methods, and computer readable media for implementation of the foregoing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Athellina Athsani, Chris Higgins, Joseph O'Sullivan, Marc Davis, Ron Martinez
  • Patent number: 8655718
    Abstract: A system for monetization of content includes a storage device for storage and retrieval of data, and a library of content and advertisements stored within the storage device. The library comprises an organizational structure for facilitating the storage and retrieval. The system also includes a monetization engine for identifying within the library a first content item having a first monetizable feature. The system is configured for selecting a second content item from several content items within the library, and associating the second content item to the first content item by using the first monetizable feature for presentation of the second content item in conjunction with the first content item. Further embodiments include various additional systems, methods, and computer readable media for implementation of the foregoing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Athellina Athsani, Chris Higgins, Joseph O'Sullivan, Marc Davis, Ron Martinez
  • Patent number: 8453246
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing risk in an environment where information is received regarding a problem in an environment. A security risk is analyzed associated with the problem. Controls associated with the environment containing the problem are analyzed. A framework is generated defining one or more controls for mitigating the security risk responsive to the analyzed security risk and controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Lang, Chad Renfro, Sean Catlett, Matt Hinman, Chris Higgins
  • Patent number: 8256004
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods, systems and computer program products for a control transparency framework which is, in one embodiment, a transparent (i.e. easy to understand) and actionable risk/reward approach for organizational processes, controls, training and development. The control transparency framework method includes identifying threats to an organization, developing a risk score for each of the threats to develop a threat portfolio, developing a maturity portfolio, developing a control portfolio, determining a gap portfolio, and developing a control transparency portfolio to close gaps. A gap exists between a target state maturity level of each identified threat and a current maturity level of each control assigned to handle each identified threat, such that the gap occurs if the target state maturity level is at a level that is lower than the control maturity level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Marshell L. Hill, Tianay Carroll, Johnna Carter, Chris Higgins, Chad Renfro, Dan Yomine
  • Publication number: 20090260086
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing risk in an environment where information is received regarding a problem in an environment. A security risk is analyzed associated with the problem. Controls associated with the environment containing the problem are analyzed. A framework is generated defining one or more controls for mitigating the security risk responsive to the analyzed security risk and controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Robert A. Lang, Chad Renfro, Sean Catlett, Matt Hinman, Chris Higgins
  • Publication number: 20090157450
    Abstract: A system for monetization of content includes a storage device for storage and retrieval of data, and a library of content and advertisements stored within the storage device. The library comprises an organizational structure for facilitating the storage and retrieval. The system also includes a monetization engine for identifying within the library a first content item having a first monetizable feature. The system is configured for selecting a second content item from several content items within the library, and associating the second content item to the first content item by using the first monetizable feature for presentation of the second content item in conjunction with the first content item. Further embodiments include various additional systems, methods, and computer readable media for implementation of the foregoing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Athellina Athsani, Chris Higgins, Joseph O'Sullivan, Marc Davis, Ron Martinez
  • Publication number: 20090150210
    Abstract: A method for placing advertisements selects a first content from a variety of content, analyzes the first content for the presence of advertiser references, and matches a first advertisement from an advertiser to the first content by using the advertiser references. This method determines a set of presentation preferences for presentation of the first advertisement in conjunction with the first content and includes the set of presentation preferences with the first content. In some cases, the method embeds the presentation preferences as advertising information into the first content. Advantageously, the method presents the first advertisement in conjunction with the first content by using the presentation preferences. Further, the method tracks the presentation of content for monetization events and stores the tracking information in a log. The monetization event includes, for example, an impression, a click, an acquisition, and/or a conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Athellina Athsani, Chris Higgins, Joesph O'Sullivan, Marc Davis, Ron Martinez
  • Patent number: 5354672
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel bacterial cells characterized by hypersecretion of an amino acid, wherein a DNA inversion gene has been incorporated into said bacterial cells. Also disclosed are methods of producing said bacterial cells and methods of producing amino acids from said bacterial cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventors: Ian Fotheringham, Jennifer Ton, Chris Higgins
  • Patent number: 5095398
    Abstract: An equipment protection device for a multi pole circuit breaker includes a trip coil, having a plunger with a tang, in an adapter housing that is attached to the breaker housing for tripping the breaker load contacts by means of the tang. The tang extends through an aperture in the side of the breaker. The trip coil is controlled by a toroid that is in a remote housing, displaced from the breaker housing and which includes a sensing winding on the magnetic core of the toroid. A ground fault carrying conductor is passed through the toroid window and connects the neutral of the breaker panel to an earth ground. A test button on the adapter housing completes a circuit for supplying current to a test winding on the toroid to simulate a ground fault condition. The trip coil has two independent windings that are individually connected to the load contacts of the breaker such that either winding can operate the trip coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: John M. Winter, D. Chris Higgins