Patents by Inventor Donald L. Ravenscroft

Donald L. Ravenscroft 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: 9513125
    Abstract: This description provides tools and techniques for computing a route or flight plans for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or any vehicle while routing around obstacles having spatial and temporal dimensions. Methods provided by these tools may receive data representing destinations to be visited by the UAVs, and may receive data representing obstacles having spatial and temporal dimensions. These methods may also calculate trajectories spatial and temporal dimensions, by which the UAV may travel from one destination to another, and may at least attempt to compute flight plans for the UAVs that incorporate these trajectories. The methods may also determine whether these trajectories intersect any obstacles, and at least attempt to reroute the trajectories around the obstacles. These tools may also provide systems and computer-readable media containing software for performing any of the foregoing methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Donald L. Ravenscroft
  • Patent number: 8401774
    Abstract: A method for predicting the occurrence of an undesired operating event for a mobile platform operating within a designated area. The method may involve obtaining a plurality of parameters including a position of the mobile platform within the designated area for determining a kinematic motion of the mobile platform while the mobile platform is operating within the designated area. Information may also be obtained that relates to surface geometry of the designated area. The information related to surface geometry may be used to determine physical constraints within the designated area that limit operation of the mobile platform within the designated area. The plurality of parameters may be used to determine a kinematic motion of the mobile platform within the designated area. The kinematic motion of the mobile platform and the physical constraints may be used to predict if motion of the mobile platform will cause it to incur an undesired operating event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Donald L. Ravenscroft, James P. Verbeke, Karl C. Pschierer
  • Patent number: 8285473
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting traffic for analyzing runway incursions. A state for each of a plurality of aircraft is identified to form a plurality of identified states. A set of aircraft is identified from the plurality of aircraft based on the plurality of identified states to form a set of identified aircraft. A number of potential runway incursions is predicted using the set of identified aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Donald L. Ravenscroft
  • Patent number: 8255156
    Abstract: A method is provided for obtaining data about spatial objects. The data is received from a set of adaptable and programmable sensor units associated with a set of spatial objects in real time to form received data, wherein the data is generated in response to a change in a measurement or time of a sensor unit in the set of sensor units. A collection of data for spatial objects is updated with the received data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Donald L. Ravenscroft, Thorsten Wiesemann
  • Publication number: 20120158280
    Abstract: This description provides tools and techniques for computing a route or flight plans for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or any vehicle while routing around obstacles having spatial and temporal dimensions. Methods provided by these tools may receive data representing destinations to be visited by the UAVs, and may receive data representing obstacles having spatial and temporal dimensions. These methods may also calculate trajectories spatial and temporal dimensions, by which the UAV may travel from one destination to another, and may at least attempt to compute flight plans for the UAVs that incorporate these trajectories. The methods may also determine whether these trajectories intersect any obstacles, and at least attempt to reroute the trajectories around the obstacles. These tools may also provide systems and computer-readable media containing software for performing any of the foregoing methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Donald L. Ravenscroft
  • Patent number: 8144937
    Abstract: A method for automatically updating a graphical information system (GIS) type database using aerial imagery. The method may involve processing a new image to identify at least one target region therewithin; analyzing the target region to determine image invariant moments thereof; using feature vector data to generate a template of a target feature from an old image; analyzing the template to generate image invariant moments thereof; and comparing the image invariant moments of the target region with the image invariant moments of the template to identify a feature change between the target region and the template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nico Zimmer, Donald L. Ravenscroft, William G. Lugsch
  • Publication number: 20100191450
    Abstract: A method for predicting the occurrence of an undesired operating event for a mobile platform operating within a designated area. The method may involve obtaining a plurality of parameters including a position of the mobile platform within the designated area for determining a kinematic motion of the mobile platform while the mobile platform is operating within the designated area. Information may also be obtained that relates to surface geometry of the designated area. The information related to surface geometry may be used to determine physical constraints within the designated area that limit operation of the mobile platform within the designated area. The plurality of parameters may be used to determine a kinematic motion of the mobile platform within the designated area. The kinematic motion of the mobile platform and the physical constraints may be used to predict if motion of the mobile platform will cause it to incur an undesired operating event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Donald L. Ravenscroft, James P. Verbeke, Karl Christian Pschierer
  • Publication number: 20100092045
    Abstract: A method for automatically updating a graphical information system (GIS) type database using aerial imagery. The method may involve processing a new image to identify at least one target region therewithin; analyzing the target region to determine image invariant moments thereof; using feature vector data to generate a template of a target feature from an old image; analyzing the template to generate image invariant moments thereof; and comparing the image invariant moments of the target region with the image invariant moments of the template to identify a feature change between the target region and the template.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nico Zimmer, Donald L. Ravenscroft, William G. Lugsch
  • Publication number: 20090285491
    Abstract: A method is provided for obtaining data about spatial objects. The data is received from a set of adaptable and programmable sensor units associated with a set of spatial objects in real time to form received data, wherein the data is generated in response to a change in a measurement or time of a sensor unit in the set of sensor units. A collection of data for spatial objects is updated with the received data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Donald L. Ravenscroft, Thorsten Wiesemann
  • Patent number: 6490350
    Abstract: An automated monitoring system monitors telephone resources in a call center. The call center may include agent stations at which agents are stationed to handle calls. A monitoring server monitors calling activity by the agents to maintain state information about the agents and to gather statistics about the calling activity of the agents. These statistics are forwarded to a client program run on a workstation or other type of computer system. The client program provides a graphical user interface and depicts the state information about the agents as part of the interface. The graphical user interface may also display statistics regarding the calling activity of agents, agent supervisors, business clients of the call center, and the call center in aggregate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Richard McDuff, Wesley Jon Atkinson, Donald L. Ravenscroft, Gopi Shankar, Craig Kaley, Craig Alan Baxter
  • Publication number: 20010012356
    Abstract: An automated monitoring system monitors telephone resources in a call center. The call center may include agent stations at which agents are stationed to handle calls. A monitoring server monitors calling activity by the agents to maintain state information about the agents and to gather statistics about the calling activity of the agents. These statistics are forwarded to a client program run on a workstation or other type of computer system. The client program provides a graphical user interface and depicts the state information about the agents as part of the interface. The graphical user interface may also display statistics regarding the calling activity of agents, agent supervisors, business clients of the call center, and the call center in aggregate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventors: RICHARD MCDUFF, WESLEY JON ATKINSON, DONALD L. RAVENSCROFT, GOPI SHANKAR, CRAIG KALEY, CRAIG ALAN BAXTER