Patents by Inventor Michael C. Ward

Michael C. Ward 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: 20240132597
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to the use of compositions that include antibodies, e.g., monoclonal, chimeric, affinity-matured or humanized antibodies, antibody fragments, etc., that specifically bind one or more epitopes within a Sortilin protein, e.g., human Sortilin or mammalian Sortilin, and have improved and/or enhanced functional characteristics, in treating and/or delaying progression of a disease or injury in an individual in need thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: Alector LLC
    Inventors: Robert PAUL, Sam JACKSON, Omer Rizwan SIDDIQUI, Michael F. WARD, Felix Leejia YEH, Julie Y. HUANG, Whedy WANG, Yijie LIAO, Brian C. MANGAL
  • Publication number: 20230188918
    Abstract: Audio content coded for a reference speaker configuration is downmixed to downmix audio content coded for a specific speaker configuration. One or more gain adjustments are performed on individual portions of the downmix audio content coded for the specific speaker configuration. Loudness measurements are then performed on the individual portions of the downmix audio content. An audio signal that comprises the audio content coded for the reference speaker configuration and downmix loudness metadata is generated. The downmix loudness metadata is created based at least in part on the loudness measurements on the individual portions of the downmix audio content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicants: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Michael C. Ward, Jeffrey Riedmiller, Scott Gregory Norcross, Alexander Stahlmann
  • Publication number: 20230024873
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for channel-based audio (CBA) (e.g., 22.2-ch audio) to object-based audio (OBA) conversion. The conversion includes converting CBA metadata to object audio metadata (OAMD) and reordering the CBA channels based on channel shuffle information derived in accordance with channel ordering constraints of the OAMD. The OBA with reordered channels is rendered in a playback device using the OAMD or in a source device, such as a set-top box or audio/video recorder. In an embodiment, the CBA metadata includes signaling that indicates a specific OAMD representation to be used in the conversion of the metadata. In an embodiment, pre-computed OAMD is transmitted in a native audio bitstream (e.g., AAC) for transmission (e.g., over HDMI) or for rendering in a source device. In an embodiment, pre-computed OAMD is transmitted in a transport layer bitstream (e.g., ISO BMFF, MPEG4 audio bitstream) to a playback device or source device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicants: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION, DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Michael C. WARD, Freddie SANCHEZ, Christof Joseph FERSCH
  • Patent number: 11533575
    Abstract: Audio content coded for a reference speaker configuration is downmixed to downmix audio content coded for a specific speaker configuration. One or more gain adjustments are performed on individual portions of the downmix audio content coded for the specific speaker configuration. Loudness measurements are then performed on the individual portions of the downmix audio content. An audio signal that comprises the audio content coded for the reference speaker configuration and downmix loudness metadata is generated. The downmix loudness metadata is created based at least in part on the loudness measurements on the individual portions of the downmix audio content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignees: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION, DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Michael C Ward, Jeffrey Riedmiller, Scott Gregory Norcross, Alexander Stahlmann
  • Publication number: 20210321210
    Abstract: Audio content coded for a reference speaker configuration is downmixed to downmix audio content coded for a specific speaker configuration. One or more gain adjustments are performed on individual portions of the downmix audio content coded for the specific speaker configuration. Loudness measurements are then performed on the individual portions of the downmix audio content. An audio signal that comprises the audio content coded for the reference speaker configuration and downmix loudness metadata is generated. The downmix loudness metadata is created based at least in part on the loudness measurements on the individual portions of the downmix audio content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicants: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Michael C. Ward, Jeffrey Riedmiller, Scott Gregory Norcross, Alexander Stahlmann
  • Patent number: 10217109
    Abstract: At least a first cryptogram and a second cryptogram are transmitted from a payment device reader component to a terminal component. A message including at least the first cryptogram and the second cryptogram is transmitted from the terminal component to an issuer of a payment device presented to the reader component, through a payment network. A message is obtained from the issuer, corresponding to authentication, by the issuer, of the payment device (and optionally the owner of the payment device) presented to the reader component, based at least on the first cryptogram and the second cryptogram. The payment network is configured in accordance with at least one of (i) a standard, and (ii) a specification, which normally employs only a single cryptogram for the message and the authentication. Apparatuses and computer program products are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Michael C. Ward, Patrik Smets, Paul Vanneste
  • Publication number: 20150142668
    Abstract: Secure establishment of a key associated with a first facility identifier is facilitated. The key is shared between a device and an operator of a first facility, via a public key management infrastructure of a payment system operating according to the payment standard, during a first transaction, substantially in accordance with the payment standard, between the device and the first facility. Controlling access to a first facility is facilitated, via the device, using the key associated with the first facility identifier, substantially without reference to an issuer of the device and substantially without use of asymmetric keys of the device, during a plurality of subsequent transactions, substantially in accordance with the payment standard, between the device and the first facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: MICHAEL C. WARD, PATRIK SMETS, DAVID A. ROBERTS, DUNCAN GARRETT, JOHN BERIC, STUART MILLER
  • Patent number: 8556714
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include presenting a wagering game on a display device of a wagering game machine. The operations can also include detecting head movements and facial gestures of a player of the wagering game via a video capture device of the wagering game machine, and generating player input data based on the head movements and facial gestures of the player. The operations can further include modifying wagering game content based on the player input data associated with the head movements and facial gestures of the player, and presenting results of the wagering game on the display device of the wagering game machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis L. Bowers, Mark B. Gagner, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Damon E. Gura, Joel R. Jaffe, John F. LaSalvia, James E. Motyl, Victor T. Shi, Jorge L. Shimabukuro, Mark K. Trego, Michael C. Ward, Scott A. Massing
  • Patent number: 8458092
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for transaction adjustment. A payment device, having an offline balance, is presented to an offline terminal in connection with a putative transaction. If an irregularity with the putative transaction is detected, the offline balance is adjusted responsive to the detection. In one aspect of the invention, such adjustment can be carried out, via offline-terminal interaction, substantially without the use of a security module and cryptographic keys in the offline terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated Purchase
    Inventors: Michael C Ward, Alexandru Cunescu, David A Roberts, David Bibby
  • Publication number: 20130023337
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include presenting a wagering game on a display device of a wagering game machine. The operations can also include detecting head movements and facial gestures of a player of the wagering game via a video capture device of the wagering game machine, and generating player input data based on the head movements and facial gestures of the player. The operations can further include modifying wagering game content based on the player input data associated with the head movements and facial gestures of the player, and presenting results of the wagering game on the display device of the wagering game machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis L. Bowers, Mark B. Gagner, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Damon E. Gura, Joel R. Jaffe, John F. LaSalvia, James E. Motyl, Victor T. Shi, Jorge L. Shimabukuro, Mark K. Trego, Michael C. Ward
  • Patent number: 8337300
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include presenting a skill-based wagering game on a wagering game machine. The skill-based wagering game can have a limited winnable award amount for the skill-based wagering game. The operations can also include tracking skilled game goals that a player accomplishes during the skill-based wagering game and awarding the player from the limited winnable award amount. The operations can also include determining a surplus amount that was not earned from the limited winnable award amount, and awarding some, or all, of the surplus amount during subsequent activity. In some embodiments, the operations can also include allocating the surplus amount to wagering game pools, distributing the surplus amount as tokens based on triggered activities, and presenting game modifiers that enable players to enhance performance in a skill-based game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming. Inc.
    Inventors: Travis L. Bowers, Joel R. Jaffe, John F. LaSalvia, Michael W. Mastropietro, Scott H. Schulhof, Richard T. Schwartz, Jorge L. Shimabukuro, Bruce E. Urban, Michael C. Ward
  • Publication number: 20120072344
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for transaction adjustment. A payment device, having an offline balance, is presented to an offline terminal in connection with a putative transaction. If an irregularity with the putative transaction is detected, the offline balance is adjusted responsive to the detection. In one aspect of the invention, such adjustment can be carried out, via offline-terminal interaction, substantially without the use of a security module and cryptographic keys in the offline terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: MasterCard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael C. Ward, Alexandru Cunescu, David A. Roberts, David Bibby
  • Publication number: 20120011070
    Abstract: At least a first cryptogram and a second cryptogram are transmitted from a payment device reader component to a terminal component. A message including at least the first cryptogram and the second cryptogram is transmitted from the terminal component to an issuer of a payment device presented to the reader component, through a payment network. A message is obtained from the issuer, corresponding to authentication, by the issuer, of the payment device (and optionally the owner of the payment device) presented to the reader component, based at least on the first cryptogram and the second cryptogram. The payment network is configured in accordance with at least one of (i) a standard, and (ii) a specification, which normally employs only a single cryptogram for the message and the authentication. Apparatuses and computer program products are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: Master Card International Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael C. Ward, Patrik Smets, Paul Vanneste
  • Patent number: 8090654
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for transaction adjustment. A payment device, having an offline balance, is presented to an offline terminal in connection with a putative transaction. If an irregularity with the putative transaction is detected, the offline balance is adjusted responsive to the detection. In one aspect of the invention, such adjustment can be carried out, via offline-terminal interaction, substantially without the use of a security module and cryptographic keys in the offline terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael C. Ward, Alexandru Cunescu, David A. Roberts, David Bibby
  • Publication number: 20110212766
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include presenting a skill-based wagering game on a wagering game machine. The skill-based wagering game can have a limited winnable award amount for the skill-based wagering game. The operations can also include tracking skilled game goals that a player accomplishes during the skill-based wagering game and awarding the player from the limited winnable award amount. The operations can also include determining a surplus amount that was not earned from the limited winnable award amount, and awarding some, or all, of the surplus amount during subsequent activity. In some embodiments, the operations can also include allocating the surplus amount to wagering game pools, distributing the surplus amount as tokens based on triggered activities, and presenting game modifiers that enable players to enhance performance in a skill-based game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Travis L. Bowers, Joel R Jaffe, John F. LaSalvia, Michael W. Mastropietro, Scott H. Schulhof, Richard T. Schwartz, Jorge L. Shimabukuro, Bruce E. Urban, Michael C. Ward
  • Publication number: 20090103730
    Abstract: Secure establishment of a key associated with a first facility identifier is facilitated. The key is shared between a device and an operator of a first facility, via a public key management infrastructure of a payment system operating according to the payment standard, during a first transaction, substantially in accordance with the payment standard, between the device and the first facility. Controlling access to a first facility is facilitated, via the device, using the key associated with the first facility identifier, substantially without reference to an issuer of the device and substantially without use of asymmetric keys of the device, during a plurality of subsequent transactions, substantially in accordance with the payment standard, between the device and the first facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: MasterCard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael C. Ward, Patrik Smets, David A. Roberts, Duncan Garrett, John Beric, Stuart Miller
  • Publication number: 20070215697
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for transaction adjustment. A payment device, having an offline balance, is presented to an offline terminal in connection with a putative transaction. If an irregularity with the putative transaction is detected, the offline balance is adjusted responsive to the detection. In one aspect of the invention, such adjustment can be carried out, via offline-terminal interaction, substantially without the use of a security module and cryptographic keys in the offline terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: MasterCard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael C. Ward, Alexandru Cunescu, David A. Roberts, David Bibby
  • Patent number: 6446944
    Abstract: A suspension strut having a piston tube containing a floating piston, slidable within a cylinder tube. A collar is fixed to the inner surface of the cylinder tube and contains a tapered wear ring. As the strut expands by extending the piston tube relative to the cylinder tube, the tapered wear band slides over valve orifices in the outer surface of the piston tube, gradually cutting off fluid flow from the annular space between the two tubes into an end cavity of the strut, thus increasing damping and reducing the likelihood of metal to metal contact at full strut extension. This reduces shock loads on the strut for smoother vehicle operation and increased component life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: General Kinetics Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Michael C. Ward
  • Publication number: 20020020594
    Abstract: A suspension strut having a piston tube containing a floating piston, slidable within a cylinder tube. A collar is fixed to the inner surface of the cylinder tube and contains a tapered wear ring. As the strut expands by extending the piston tube relative to the cylinder tube, the tapered wear band slides over valve orifices in the outer surface of the piston tube, gradually cutting off fluid flow from the annular space between the two tubes into an end cavity of the strut, thus increasing damping and reducing the likelihood of metal to metal contact at full strut extension. This reduces shock loads on the strut for smoother vehicle operation and increased component life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventor: Michael C. Ward
  • Patent number: 5194827
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for equalizing high frequency video signals is disclosed. A video signal to be equalized is received at an input terminal of a network and an equalized video signal is provided from an output of an operational amplifier to an output terminal of the network. The equalized video signal is fedback to one input of the operational amplifier. The video signal to be equalized is coupled to another input of the operational amplifier and is also coupled to respective ones of a plurality of alterable circuit elements such as varactor diodes, which function to mitigate distortions to the frequency response characteristic of the video signal to be equalized by cancelling the effect thereon by the video signal to be equalized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Ampex Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Jason A. Kowalik, Michael C. Ward