Patents by Inventor Christopher John Nicholls

Christopher John Nicholls 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: 10726063
    Abstract: A topic profile may be generated based on several words/phrases. The topic profile may include social media content items such as a social media post from a variety of social media sources. The topic profile may be presented to a user via a user interface that displays the one or more included/excluded words/phrases that may form the basis of a query for the topic profile. The user interface may display one or more representative social media content items and/or a word cloud of words/phrases related to the query. A user may select one or more words/phrases in the word cloud and/or one or more social media content items to be included in and/or excluded from the topic profile. The implementations disclosed herein may allow rapid filtering of a potentially large group of content items from potentially disparate social media sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Nicholls, Christopher Shawn Collings
  • Patent number: 10583589
    Abstract: A method of forming a material includes presenting a formable material to a space between opposing forming surfaces of opposed forming tools from whence said material is carried as said opposing forming surfaces advance in a machine direction. The method includes pressurising, as said opposing forming surfaces advance, said material between said opposing forming surfaces in a reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces defining at least in part a pressure forming zone, said reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces being maintained constant until a form of at least one of said opposing forming surfaces is profiled into said material and is retainable thereon. The method also includes releasing the profiled material from between the said opposing forming surfaces, as the space of the pressure forming zone increases between said opposing forming surfaces as the opposing forming surfaces advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Manufacturing Systems Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Leo Haynes, Christopher John Nicholls, Gabriel Ioan Giurgiu, Samuel Gwynn Buckingham
  • Patent number: 10496751
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for avoiding sentiment model overfitting in a machine language model. A current list of keywords in a current sentiment model can be updated to create a proposed list of keywords in a proposed sentiment model. Machine-generated sentiment results, based on the proposed sentiment model, are presented to identify model overfitting, without revising the current set of keywords. The proposed set of keywords can be edited, and when overfitting is not present, the current list of keywords is replaced by the proposed list of keywords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: SALESFORCE.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Jones, Scott Enman, Collin Chun-Kit Lee, David Campbell, Christopher John Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20190084197
    Abstract: A method of forming a material includes presenting a formable material to a space between opposing forming surfaces of opposed forming tools from whence said material is carried as said opposing forming surfaces advance in a machine direction. The method includes pressurising, as said opposing forming surfaces advance, said material between said opposing forming surfaces in a reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces defining at least in part a pressure forming zone, said reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces being maintained constant until a form of at least one of said opposing forming surfaces is profiled into said material and is retainable thereon. The method also includes releasing the profiled material from between the said opposing forming surfaces, as the space of the pressure forming zone increases between said opposing forming surfaces as the opposing forming surfaces advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Manufacturing Systems Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Leo Haynes, Christopher John Nicholls, Gabriel Ioan Giurgiu, Samuel Gwynn Buckingham
  • Patent number: 9975280
    Abstract: A method of forming a material includes presenting a formable material to a space between opposing forming surfaces of opposed forming tools from when said material is carried as said opposing forming surfaces advance in a machine direction. The method includes pressurizing, as said opposing forming surfaces advance, said material between said opposing forming surfaces in a reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces defining at least in part a pressure forming zone, said reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces being maintained constant until a form of at least one of said opposing forming surfaces is profiled into said material and is retainable thereon. The method also includes releasing the profiled material from between the said opposing forming surfaces, as the space of the pressure forming zone increases between said opposing forming surfaces as the opposing forming surfaces advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Manufacturing Systems Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Leo Haynes, Christopher John Nicholls, Gabriel Ioan Giurgiu, Samuel Gwynn Buckingham
  • Publication number: 20180101521
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for avoiding sentiment model overfitting in a machine language model. A current list of keywords in a current sentiment model can be updated to create a proposed list of keywords in a proposed sentiment model. Machine-generated sentiment results, based on the proposed sentiment model, are presented to identify model overfitting, without revising the current set of keywords. The proposed set of keywords can be edited, and when overfitting is not present, the current list of keywords is replaced by the proposed list of keywords.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Jones, Scott Enman, Collin Chun-Kit Lee, David Campbell, Christopher John Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20180095958
    Abstract: A topic profile may be generated based on several words/phrases. The topic profile may include social media content items such as a social media post from a variety of social media sources. The topic profile may be presented to a user via a user interface that displays the one or more included/excluded words/phrases that may form the basis of a query for the topic profile. The user interface may display one or more representative social media content items and/or a word cloud of words/phrases related to the query. A user may select one or more words/phrases in the word cloud and/or one or more social media content items to be included in and/or excluded from the topic profile. The implementations disclosed herein may allow rapid filtering of a potentially large group of content items from potentially disparate social media sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher John Nicholls, Christopher Shawn Collings
  • Patent number: 9881000
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for avoiding sentiment model overfitting in a machine language model. A current list of keywords in a current sentiment model can be updated to create a proposed list of keywords in a proposed sentiment model. Machine-generated sentiment results, based on the proposed sentiment model, are presented to identify model overfitting, without revising the current set of keywords. The proposed set of keywords can be edited, and when overfitting is not present, the current list of keywords is replaced by the proposed list of keywords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SALESFORCE.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Jones, Scott Enman, Collin Chun-Kit Lee, David Campbell, Christopher John Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20180018321
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for avoiding sentiment model overfitting in a machine language model. A current list of keywords in a current sentiment model can be updated to create a proposed list of keywords in a proposed sentiment model. Machine-generated sentiment results, based on the proposed sentiment model, are presented to identify model overfitting, without revising the current set of keywords. The proposed set of keywords can be edited, and when overfitting is not present, the current list of keywords is replaced by the proposed list of keywords.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Jones, Scott Enman, Collin Chun-kit Lee, David Campbell, Christopher John Nicholls
  • Patent number: 9710468
    Abstract: A topic profile may be generated based on several words/phrases. The topic profile may include social media content items such as a social media post from a variety of social media sources. The topic profile may be presented to a user via a user interface that displays the one or more included/excluded words/phrases that may form the basis of a query for the topic profile. The user interface may display one or more representative social media content items and/or a word cloud of words/phrases related to the query. A user may select one or more words/phrases in the word cloud and/or one or more social media content items to be included in and//or excluded from the topic profile. The implementations disclosed herein may allow rapid filtering of a potentially large group of content items from potentially disparate social media sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SALESFORCE.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher John Nicholls, Christopher Shawn Collings
  • Patent number: 9592627
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods for forming a polymer, including continuously depositing a polymer extrudate that is above its glass transition temperature onto a lower molding surface of a first mold in a manner that reduces shear stress in the polymer extrudate, heating the lower molding surface to maintain the polymer extrudate above the glass transition temperature, applying an upper molding surface of a second mold to at least the exposed upper surface of the polymer, allowing the polymer to transition to below the glass transition temperature while within or between the upper and lower molding surfaces, and providing heat sinks spaced relative to each other through the pressure forming zone, wherein a heat sink more advanced through the pressure forming zone is controlled to a lower temperature to progressively reduce the temperature of the polymer as it advances through the pressure forming zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Manufacturing Systems Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Leo Haynes, Christopher John Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20160185018
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods for forming a polymer, including continuously depositing a polymer extrudate that is above its glass transition temperature onto a lower moulding surface of a first mould in a manner that reduces shear stress in the polymer extrudate, heating the lower moulding surface to maintain the polymer extrudate above the glass transition temperature, applying an upper moulding surface of a second mould to at least the exposed upper surface of the polymer, allowing the polymer to transition to below the glass transition temperature while within or between the upper and lower moulding surfaces, and providing heat sinks spaced relative to each other through the pressure forming zone, wherein a heat sink more advanced through the pressure forming zone is controlled to a lower temperature to progressively reduce the temperature of the polymer as it advances through the pressure forming zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: Manufacturing Systems Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Leo Haynes, Christopher John Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20160070762
    Abstract: A topic profile may be generated based on several words/phrases. The topic profile may include social media content items such as a social media post from a variety of social media sources. The topic profile may be presented to a user via a user interface that displays the one or more included/excluded words/phrases that may form the basis of a query for the topic profile. The user interface may display one or more representative social media content items and/or a word cloud of words/phrases related to the query. A user may select one or more words/phrases in the word cloud and/or one or more social media content items to be included in and/or excluded from the topic profile. The implementations disclosed herein may allow rapid filtering of a potentially large group of content items from potentially disparate social media sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher John Nicholls, Christopher Shawn Collings
  • Publication number: 20150314492
    Abstract: A method of forming a material includes presenting a formable material to a space between opposing forming surfaces of opposed forming tools from whence said material is carried as said opposing forming surfaces advance in a machine direction. The method includes pressurising, as said opposing forming surfaces advance, said material between said opposing forming surfaces in a reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces defining at least in part a pressure forming zone, said reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces being maintained constant until a form of at least one of said opposing forming surfaces is profiled into said material and is retainable thereon. The method also includes releasing the profiled material from between the said opposing forming surfaces, as the space of the pressure forming zone increases between said opposing forming surfaces as the opposing forming surfaces advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Leo Haynes, Christopher John Nicholls, Gabriel Ioan Giurgiu, Samuel Gwynn Buckingham
  • Patent number: 8926883
    Abstract: The present invention relates to method of forming a material, including the steps of, presenting a formable material to a space from where the material can be carried by and/or between opposing surfaces of the space, as the opposing surfaces advance in an advancing direction. Also pressurising, as the opposing surfaces advance, the material between the opposing surfaces in a reduced space between the opposing surfaces defining at least in part a pressure forming zone. The reduced space between the opposing surfaces being maintained at least substantially constant until such time as the form of at least one of the opposing surfaces is profiled into the material and is retainable thereon. Thereafter releasing the now profiled material from between the opposing surfaces, as the space increases between the opposing surfaces as the surfaces advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Manufacturing Systems Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Leo Haynes, Christopher John Nicholls, Gabriel Ioan Giurgiu, Samuel Gwynn Buckingham
  • Patent number: 8876518
    Abstract: A forming apparatus for forming a formable material. Each forming tool of a second forming tool set is adapted to co-act with one or more forming tools of a first forming tool set, or vice versa, to form a co-acting forming tool in a pressure forming zone. There is a first forming tool set guide or guides about which the first forming tool set can be moved about a first circuit. There is also a second forming tool set guide or guides about which the second forming tool set can be moved about a second circuit. A drive drives the tools in a machine direction. At least on part of the circuit, adjacent forming tools of one the forming tool sets are movably supported such that the only relative movement of the adjacent forming tools is towards or away from the forming tools of the other forming tool set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Manufacturing Systems Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Leo Haynes, Christopher John Nicholls, Gabriel Ioan Giurgiu, Samuel Gwynn Buckingham
  • Publication number: 20130320591
    Abstract: The present invention relates to method of forming a material, including the steps of, presenting a formable material to a space from where the material can be carried by and/or between opposing surfaces of the space, as the opposing surfaces advance in an advancing direction. Also pressurising, as the opposing surfaces advance, the material between the opposing surfaces in a reduced space between the opposing surfaces defining at least in part a pressure forming zone. The reduced space between the opposing surfaces being maintained at least substantially constant until such time as the form of at least one of the opposing surfaces is profiled into the material and is retainable thereon. Thereafter releasing the now profiled material from between the opposing surfaces, as the space increases between the opposing surfaces as the surfaces advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Manufacturing Systems Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Leo Haynes, Christopher John Nicholls, Gabriel loan Giurgiu, Samuel Gwynn Buckingham
  • Publication number: 20120100339
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods for forming polymer(s) including heating of a polymer to be formed to a temperature above its glass transition temperature, continuously depositing (preferably by flowing or laying) the polymer onto a moulding surface (herein the “lower moulding surface”) of a first mould, (preferably in a manner that reduces, eliminates or minimises shear stress or other stress in the polymer so deposited), the polymer remaining above the glass transition temperature, applying a moulding surface (herein the “upper surface”) of the polymer while the polymer remains at a temperature above the glass transition temperature, and allowing the polymer to transition to below the glass transition temperature while within or between the upper and lower moulding surfaces, wherein the polymer is removed from the moulding surfaces. Apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Leo Haynes, Christopher John Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20100173036
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a forming apparatus for forming a formable material or materials. The apparatus has a first forming tool set, and a second forming tool set. Each forming tool of the second forming tool set is adapted to co-act with one or more forming tools of the first forming tool set, or vice versa, to form a co-acting forming tool in a pressure forming zone. There is a first forming tool set guide or guides about which the first forming tool set can be moved about a first circuit. There is also a second forming tool set guide or guides about which the second forming tool set can be moved about a second circuit. There is also a drive means to drive the tools in a machine direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: Andrew Leo Haynes, Christopher John Nicholls, Gabriel Joan Giurgiu, Samuel Gwynn Buckingham
  • Publication number: 20090302500
    Abstract: The present invention relates to method of forming a material, including the steps of, presenting a formable material to a space from where the material can be carried by and/or between opposing surfaces of the space, as the opposing surfaces advance in an advancing direction. Also pressurising, as the opposing surfaces advance, the material between the opposing surfaces in a reduced space between the opposing surfaces defining at least in part a pressure forming zone. The reduced space between the opposing surfaces being maintained at least substantially constant until such time as the form of at least one of the opposing surfaces is profiled into the material and is retainable thereon. Thereafter releasing the now profiled material from between the opposing surfaces, as the space increases between the opposing surfaces as the surfaces advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Andrew Leo Haynes, Christopher John Nicholls, Gabriel Ioan Giurgiu, Samuel Gwynn Buckingham