Patents by Inventor James Robert Mason

James Robert Mason 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).

  • Publication number: 20150371242
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for forecasting future sales of a prime product. The system includes at least one processor configured with instructions to collect historical sales data of the prime product, collect historical telematics data from one or more machines that were sold as the prime product, and collect historical econometric data relevant to the prime product. The at least one processor also generates a group of candidate predictors from the historical telematics data and the historical econometric data, select predictors from the group of candidate predictors, and establish a forecasting model representing a relationship between the selected predictors and the historical sales data of the prime product. The at least one processor forecasts future sales of the prime product by using the established forecasting model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Sridhar RAMASWAMY, Mark Carl RICHARDSON, James Robert MASON, Kenneth Dale GRAY, Bhargvendra TRIPATHI, Sangjeong NAM
  • Patent number: 8977373
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed. The control system may have a physical sensor that may output a physical output value, and a virtual sensor network that may output a virtual output value. The control system may also have an electronic control module that may be configured to receive the physical output value from the physical sensor and receive the virtual output value from the virtual sensor. The electronic control module may be further configured to determine a trust level of the physical sensor based on the physical output value, and determine that the trust level of the physical sensor is below a first threshold trust value. The electronic control module may control a machine based on the virtual output value responsive to determining that the trust level of the physical sensor is below the first threshold trust value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Joe Felty, James Robert Mason, Stuart Paul Smith, Anthony James Grichnik, Gavin Peter Williams
  • Patent number: 8793004
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed. The control system may have a physical sensor configured to measure physical parameter values of a machine. The control system may also have a virtual sensor network system configured to receive the physical parameter values measured by the physical sensor as input parameter values, and generate output parameter values based on the input parameter values. Further, the control system may have an electronic control module configured to store an output parameter value default rate of change and an output parameter value threshold rate of change, compare a rate of change of the output parameter values generated by the virtual sensor network system to the output parameter value threshold rate of change, and control the machine based on the output parameter value default rate of change if the rate of change of the output parameter values exceeds the output parameter value threshold rate of change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony James Grichnik, Timothy Joe Felty, James Robert Mason
  • Patent number: 8534315
    Abstract: Diaphragm assemblies for use with fluid control devices are described. An example diaphragm assembly includes a body defining a plurality of chambers to be fluidly coupled to an outlet pressure of a fluid control device. Each of the chambers is spaced along a stem at least partially disposed in the chambers, and the stem is to move to control a flow of fluid through the fluid control device. Additionally, the example diaphragm assembly includes a first plurality of diaphragms, each of which is disposed in a corresponding one of the chambers, and each of which is coupled to the stem to move the stem in response to the outlet pressure of the fluid control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventor: James Robert Mason
  • Publication number: 20130204659
    Abstract: A characteristic forecasting system is disclosed. The characteristic forecasting system may have a memory module and a processor. The memory module may store instructions, that, when executed, enable the processor to determine a forecast function that includes one or more variables and represents forecasted characteristics of the target item. The processor may also be enabled to implement a genetic algorithm to generate one or more chromosomes having a data value for each of the variables of the forecast function, determine a chromosome value for at least one of the chromosomes that is based on a goal function including one or more measurable business goals. Moreover, the processor may be further enabled to select a chromosome from among the one or more chromosomes based on the chromosome value, and forecast the characteristics of the target item using the selected chromosome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: Anthony James Grichnik, James Robert Mason
  • Publication number: 20130173028
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed. The control system may have a physical sensor that may output a physical output value, and a virtual sensor network that may output a virtual output value. The control system may also have an electronic control module that may be configured to receive the physical output value from the physical sensor and receive the virtual output value from the virtual sensor. The electronic control module may be further configured to determine a trust level of the physical sensor based on the physical output value, and determine that the trust level of the physical sensor is below a first threshold trust value. The electronic control module may control a machine based on the virtual output value responsive to determining that the trust level of the physical sensor is below the first threshold trust value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Timothy Joe Felty, James Robert Mason, Stuart Paul Smith, Anthony James Grichnik, Gavin Peter Williams
  • Publication number: 20120323343
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed. The control system may have a physical sensor configured to measure physical parameter values of a machine. The control system may also have a virtual sensor network system configured to receive the physical parameter values measured by the physical sensor as input parameter values, and generate output parameter values based on the input parameter values. Further, the control system may have an electronic control module configured to store an output parameter value default rate of change and an output parameter value threshold rate of change, compare a rate of change of the output parameter values generated by the virtual sensor network system to the output parameter value threshold rate of change, and control the machine based on the output parameter value default rate of change if the rate of change of the output parameter values exceeds the output parameter value threshold rate of change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Anthony James GRICHNIK, Timothy Joe Felty, James Robert Mason
  • Patent number: 8086640
    Abstract: A method for modifying data coverage in a modeling system is disclosed. The method may include obtaining data records relating to a plurality of input variables and one or more output parameters and selecting a plurality of input parameters from the plurality of input variables. The method may further include evaluating a coverage of the data records in a modeling space and modifying the coverage of the data records, if a data coverage condition is detected. The method may also include generating a computational model indicative of interrelationships between the plurality of input parameters and the one or more output parameters based on the data records.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony James Grichnik, Michael Seskin, James Robert Mason
  • Patent number: 7805421
    Abstract: System and methods are provided for applying a dimensionality reduction process to a data set. The method includes obtaining a data set including a first set of variables and identifying collections of the first set of variables for replacement by a second set of variables. The method also includes replacing the collections of the first set of variables with the second set of variables and eliminating the first set of variables from the data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Michael Lee Taylor, Christos Nikolopoulos, James Robert Mason, Meredith Jaye Cler, Gabriel Carl Hart
  • Publication number: 20090300052
    Abstract: A method for modifying data coverage in a modeling system is disclosed. The method may include obtaining data records relating to a plurality of input variables and one or more output parameters and selecting a plurality of input parameters from the plurality of input variables. The method may further include evaluating a coverage of the data records in a modeling space and modifying the coverage of the data records, if a data coverage condition is detected. The method may also include generating a computational model indicative of interrelationships between the plurality of input parameters and the one or more output parameters based on the data records.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Anthony James Grichnik, Michael Seskin, James Robert Mason
  • Publication number: 20090283152
    Abstract: Diaphragm assemblies for use with fluid control devices are described. An example diaphragm assembly includes a body defining a plurality of chambers to be fluidly coupled to an outlet pressure of a fluid control device. Each of the chambers is spaced along a stem at least partially disposed in the chambers, and the stem is to move to control a flow of fluid through the fluid control device. Additionally, the example diaphragm assembly includes a first plurality of diaphragms, each of which is disposed in a corresponding one of the chambers, and each of which is coupled to the stem to move the stem in response to the outlet pressure of the fluid control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventor: James Robert Mason
  • Publication number: 20090222248
    Abstract: A computer system for determining a combined risk is disclosed. The computer system has a memory, at least one input device, and a central processing unit in communication with the memory and the at least one input device. The central processing unit obtains diagnostic data and identifies a plurality of models for analyzing the diagnostic data. The central processing unit also associates each model with one of a plurality of time periods and calculates, for each time period using the associated model, a predicted risk. Further, the central processing unit determines the combined risk based on the predicted risk for each time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Anthony James Grichnik, Christos Vasilios Nikolopoulos, James Robert Mason, Meredith Jaye Cler, Gabriel Carl Hart
  • Publication number: 20090119323
    Abstract: System and methods are provided for applying a dimensionality reduction process to a data set. The method includes obtaining a data set including a first set of variables and identifying collections of the first set of variables for replacement by a second set of variables. The method also includes replacing the collections of the first set of variables with the second set of variables and eliminating the first set of variables from the data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Anthony J. GRICHNIK, Michael Lee TAYLOR, Christos NIKOLOPOULOS, James Robert MASON, Meredith Jaye CLER, Gabriel Carl HART
  • Publication number: 20090112533
    Abstract: A method for simplifying a mathematical model is disclosed. The method obtains a data set and identifies a plurality of variables within the data set. The method also performs a clustering analysis by dividing the data set into groups, where each group has a cluster center. The method further replaces the plurality of variables with a plurality of cluster distances. The method also uses the plurality of cluster distances as a plurality of independent variables in a model creation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Anthony James Grichnik, Gabriel Carl Hart, Meredith Jaye Cler, James Robert Mason, Christos Nikolopoulos