Patents by Inventor Frank D. Messina

Frank D. Messina 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: 11698461
    Abstract: A system and method of identifying and responding to a GPS denial of service includes: configuring a mode S transponder for transmitting a GPS time-of-day message as a downlink format message using a BDS register, and configuring an aircraft surveillance system for receiving one or more GPS time-of-day messages transmitted as a downlink format message. The surveillance system compares the received time-of-day message(s) from the aircraft to a comparison time of day, and validates reception of authentic GPS signals by the aircraft when the received time-of-day message is within a threshold amount of the comparison time of day. The comparison time of day may be the GPS time of day of one of a plurality of aircraft in the surveillance volume or may be the GPS time of day determined by the aircraft surveillance system. An indicator on the transponder indicates counterfeit GPS signals, permitting mitigation od induced navigation error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Telephonics Corp.
    Inventors: Frank D. Messina, Michael Stein
  • Patent number: 11320528
    Abstract: A monopulse secondary surveillance radar is configured to integrate replies to active interrogations and passive squitter reception into a single surveillance system, and includes: a three-channel antenna arrangement; a redundant ADS-B antenna arrangement including a first and second omnidirectional ADS-B antenna, each having a low noise amplifier, and each being integrated with a GPS antenna; and a pair of redundant four-channel interrogators. The three-channel antenna arrangement is configured to transmit interrogations, and to receive corresponding replies from an aircraft transponder. The first ADS-B antenna is coupled to a first of the pair of redundant four-channel interrogators, and the second ADS-B antenna is coupled to a second of said pair of redundant four-channel interrogators, for the monopulse secondary surveillance radar to provide real-time passive detection of ADS-B-equipped aircraft and active radar detection of aircraft to each of the pair of redundant four-channel interrogators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Telephonics Corporation
    Inventors: Frank D. Messina, Bhavesh M. Patel
  • Publication number: 20110299930
    Abstract: A method for controlling a subsea leak is provided using a manifold and an enclosing member extending above the manifold. The manifold includes a plurality of outlets directed toward a subsea bottom surface. The manifold and the enclosing member define an interior volume and are positioned so that the subsea leak is situated in the interior volume. The method includes jetting fluid out of the plurality of outlets of the manifold to remove subsea bottom material, and injecting fluidized concrete into the interior volume above the subsea bottom surface after the jetting fluid operation. The method also includes sealing the interior volume at a top of the enclosing member above the subsea leak. A device and system for controlling a subsea leak are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: FRANK D. MESSINA
  • Patent number: 5462389
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a physical design for an ocean floor trenching tool. The tool consists of a replaceable forward-extending plowguard and detachable hardened plow tips. Surfaces forming the tool's mouth around the plowguard cause the tool to penetrate the ocean bed under normal operation. The surfaces are also effective to "spoil" or break up the compacted bed for easier tool advancement. If an unplowable obstacle is encountered, the plowguard prow rides up and over it, clearing the plow tips away from potential damage. Once past the obstacle, the tool again planes down to operating depth. The tool is useful as a plowability assessment device. With addition of a cable-burying rear chute, the tool can also bury repeatered or repeaterless cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: AT&T IPM Corp.
    Inventor: Frank D. Messina
  • Patent number: 5175989
    Abstract: A device is described which prevents, during deployment of an ocean cable system, torque build-up in a heavy armor cable section from being abruptly applied to a next-connected light armor cable section. A set of helically-wound steel armor rods rigidly attached to the heavier cable section form a tube-like extension over the first several feet of the lighter cable. The rods resist rotation because of their frictional contact with the cable engine drum. The enveloped cable within the rod-tube device accordingly rotates only as much as the tube. The torque-induced rotation that does occur is well within that safely permitted per unit cable length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: Frank D. Messina