Patents by Inventor Edwin Franklin Smith

Edwin Franklin Smith 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: 7949990
    Abstract: A method to simultaneously allow multiple users to edit in shared areas of a master design includes displaying the master design, allowing a first user to edit in a shared area of the design, while simultaneously allowing a second user to edit in a shared area of the design while preserving the integrity of the design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Pfeil, Edwin Franklin Smith, Vladimir Petunin, Henry Potts, Venkat Natarajan
  • Patent number: 7788622
    Abstract: A server computer maintains a master database for a PCB design, and a copy of the PCB design is provided to multiple client computers. The server assigns each client a different pair of pins for which a connection must be routed. When a client completes an assigned routing task, it requests that the server update the PCB master design with the route found by the client for its assigned pin pair. After forwarding the request, the client does not update its copy of the PCB design to reflect the found route. Instead, the client returns its copy to the state occupied prior to assignment of the pin pair by the server. Upon receiving notification that the server incorporated the found route, the client updates its copy of the design to include that route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Vladimir V. Petunin, Charles L. Pfeil, Alexander N. Starkov, Venkat Natarajan, Edwin Franklin Smith
  • Publication number: 20100199240
    Abstract: A method to simultaneously allow multiple users to edit in shared areas of a master design includes displaying the master design, allowing a first user to edit in a shared area of the design, while simultaneously allowing a second user to edit in a shared area of the design while preserving the integrity of the design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: MENTOR GRAPHICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles Pfeil, Edwin Franklin Smith, Vladimir Petunin, Henry Potts, Venkat Natarajan
  • Patent number: 7305648
    Abstract: A server computer maintains a master database for a PCB design, and a copy of the PCB design is provided to multiple client computers. The server assigns each client a different pair of pins for which a connection must be routed. When a client completes an assigned routing task, it requests that the server update the PCB master design with the route found by the client for its assigned pin pair. After forwarding the request, the client does not update its copy of the PCB design to reflect the found route. Instead, the client returns its copy to the state occupied prior to assignment of the pin pair by the server. Upon receiving notification that the server incorporated the found route, the client updates its copy of the design to include that route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Vladimir V. Petunin, Charles L. Pfeil, Alexander N. Starkov, Venkat Natarajan, Edwin Franklin Smith
  • Publication number: 20040210854
    Abstract: A method to simultaneously allow multiple users to edit in shared areas of a master design includes displaying the master design, allowing a first user to edit in a shared area of the design, while simultaneously allowing a second user to edit in a shared area of the design while preserving the integrity of the design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Pfeil, Edwin Franklin Smith, Vladimir Petunin, Henry Potts, Venkat Natarajan
  • Patent number: 6711718
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for allowing multiple users to simultaneously edit a design while being able to view edits to the entire design. A design (such as for a printed circuit board) having a plurality of exclusive areas is displayed to a plurality of users. A first user checks out a corresponding section of the design, and edits the design. A second user checks out a corresponding section of the design, and edits the design simultaneously with the first user editing the design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventors: Charles Pfeil, Edwin Franklin Smith
  • Patent number: 6708313
    Abstract: A method to simultaneously allow multiple users to edit in shared areas of a master design includes displaying the master design, allowing a first user to edit in a shared area of the design, while simultaneously allowing a second user to edit in a shared area of the design while preserving the integrity of the design
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Inventors: Charles Pfeil, Edwin Franklin Smith, Vladimir Petunin, Henry Potts, Venkat Natarajan
  • Publication number: 20030131326
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for allowing multiple users to simultaneously edit a design while being able to view edits to the entire design. A design (such as for a printed circuit board) having a plurality of exclusive areas is displayed to a plurality of users. A first user checks out a corresponding section of the design, and edits the design. A second user checks out a corresponding section of the design, and edits the design simultaneously with the first user editing the design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Charles Pfeil, Edwin Franklin Smith