Patents by Inventor Michael J. McCann
Michael J. McCann 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).
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Patent number: 9663124Abstract: Railcar monitoring utilizes instrumented, flexible pads supported within the truck pedestal jaws on the bearing adapters. The pads contain sensors for monitoring temperature pressure, shifting loads, truck hunting and the like and have circuitry for processing information received from the sensors and for processing and reporting departures of performance variables to a remote source. The system cyclically activates polling each pad on a car and communicates signals of critical departures and car identity to a remote source.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.Inventors: William LeFebvre, Michael J. McCann
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Patent number: 9239838Abstract: A method and system is provided for maintaining customer data in a data store system utilizing a scalable partitioning framework. More specifically, the data store of a customer service system is partitioned (divided) into multiple partitions by a partitionable key of customer data so that each partition owns a subset of the customer data. By maintaining several partitions that store a subset of the customer data exclusive to each other, blackout or brownout problems can be local to one partition and, thus, the availability for the entire system will be increased. Moreover, a set of partitionable keys, a minimal unit to be moved between partitions, is grouped and associated with a partition. By eliminating direct dependencies between the partitions and the partitionable keys, the system can have great flexibility with regard to migrating customer data between partitions and adding a new partition.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2012Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas K. Peddy, Chelsea C. Krueger, Michael J. McCann, Suguna Subramaniam, W. Cary Hall, Sasan Dashtinezhad, Guy Bialostocki
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Patent number: 8973904Abstract: A fence assembly is provided having a plurality of posts, a plurality of elongated rails, with each rail having a hollow interior and a front face including an elongated channel extending into the hollow interior, a plurality of fence slats, and a plurality of brackets, with each bracket formed to retain at least one fence slat. The brackets include engagement ends positioned on an extension member formed on the bracket body. The engagement ends are inserted into the channel and the interior hollow of the rails to secure the brackets to the rails. The brackets are secured to the rail and create a retaining slot for receiving at least one fence slat and to support the fence slat on the rail. The rail is attached to one or more posts to form, along with the plurality of brackets and fence slats, a fencing section.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Inventors: William P McCann, Michael J. McCann
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Patent number: 8898105Abstract: A method and system is provided for maintaining customer data in a data store system utilizing a scalable partitioning framework. More specifically, the data store of a customer service system is partitioned (divided) into multiple partitions by a partitionable key of customer data so that each partition owns a subset of the customer data. By maintaining several partitions that store a subset of the customer data exclusive to each other, blackout or brownout problems can be local to one partition and, thus, the availability for the entire system will be increased. Moreover, a set of partitionable keys, a minimal unit to be moved between partitions, is grouped and associated with a partition. By eliminating direct dependencies between the partitions and the partitionable keys, the system can have great flexibility with regard to migrating customer data between partitions and adding a new partition.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas K. Peddy, Chelsea Krueger, Michael J. McCann, Suguna Subramaniam, W. Cary Hall, Sasan Dashtinezhad, Guy Bialostocki
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Publication number: 20140264219Abstract: A fence assembly is provided having a plurality of posts, a plurality of elongated rails, with each rail having a hollow interior and a front face including an elongated channel extending into the hollow interior, a plurality of fence slats, and a plurality of brackets, with each bracket formed to retain at least one fence slat. The brackets include engagement ends positioned on an extension member formed on the bracket body. The engagement ends are inserted into the channel and the interior hollow of the rails to secure the brackets to the rails. The brackets are secured to the rail and create a retaining slot for receiving at least one fence slat and to support the fence slat on the rail. The rail is attached to one or more posts to form, along with the plurality of brackets and fence slats, a fencing section.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventors: William P. McCann, Michael J. McCann
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Patent number: 8823537Abstract: Railcar monitoring utilizes instrumented, flexible pads supported within the truck pedestal jaws on the bearing adapters. The pads contain sensors for monitoring temperature pressure, shifting loads, truck hunting and the like and have circuitry for processing information received from the sensors and for processing and reporting departures of performance variables to a remote source. The system cyclically activates polling each pad on a car and communicates signals of critical departures and car identity to a remote source.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2012Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.Inventors: William LeFebvre, Michael J. McCann
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Patent number: 8463519Abstract: A brake controller (10) transmits a signal indicative of a braking force to electric brakes (126, 128) of towed equipment, such as a trailer or towed vehicle (120). The brake controller (10) can include at least one characteristic sensor (32), such as an accelerometer, reactive to a braking force applied by the driver of the towing vehicle (110) or to changes in attitude or orientation of the towed equipment. A microprocessor (140) acts upon a signal from the at least one characteristic sensor (32) to determine output settings used to activate the towed equipment braking system for application of sufficient braking force for desired slowing of the towed equipment in concert with the towing vehicle (110). Activation of braking systems of the towed equipment includes the use of wireless signals. Additionally, the use of the right-side brake and the left-side brake for sway control is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2008Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: GRLC LLCInventor: Michael J. McCann
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Publication number: 20130092800Abstract: Railcar monitoring utilizes instrumented, flexible pads supported within the truck pedestal jaws on the bearing adapters. The pads contain sensors for monitoring temperature pressure, shifting loads, truck hunting and the like and have circuitry for processing information received from the sensors and for processing and reporting departures of performance variables to a remote source. The system cyclically activates polling each pad on a car and communicates signals of critical departures and car identity to a remote source.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2012Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: AMSTED RAIL COMPANY, INC.Inventors: William LeFebvre, Michael J. McCann
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Patent number: 8395878Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for communicating wireless signals between components of a blasting apparatus, with the intention of conducting a blasting event. In preferred embodiments, the methods are particularly suited to through -rock transmission of wireless command signals, and optionally wireless calibration or synchronization signals, thereby to achieve timed actuation of explosive charges positioned below ground under the control of one or more blasting machines located at or above a surface of the ground, with a high degree of accuracy. Further disclosed are blasting apparatuses and components thereof suitable for use, for example, in conducting the methods of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2007Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Orica Explosives Technology Pty LtdInventors: Ronald F. Stewart, Michael J. McCann
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Patent number: 8380931Abstract: A data center system includes a memory cache coupled to a data center controller. The memory cache includes volatile memory and stores data that is persisted in a database in a different data center system that is located remotely from the data center system rather than in the first data center system. The data center controller reads data from the memory cache and writes data to the memory cache.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Vikas Rajvanshy, Bradley J. Barrows, Michael J. McCann, Hasrat Godil, Xinguang Chen, Oludare V. Obasanjo, Paul R. C. Ming
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Patent number: 8271468Abstract: A method and system is provided for maintaining customer data in a data store system utilizing a scalable partitioning framework. More specifically, the data store of a customer service system is partitioned (divided) into multiple partitions by a partitionable key of customer data so that each partition owns a subset of the customer data. By maintaining several partitions that store a subset of the customer data exclusive to each other, blackout or brownout problems can be local to one partition and, thus, the availability for the entire system will be increased. Moreover, a set of partitionable keys, a minimal unit to be moved between partitions, is grouped and associated with a partition. By eliminating direct dependencies between the partitions and the partitionable keys, the system can have great flexibility with regard to migrating customer data between partitions and adding a new partition.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2010Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas K. Peddy, Chelsea C. Krueger, Michael J. McCann, Suguna Subramaniam, W. Cary Hall
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Publication number: 20120174809Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for communicating wireless signals between components of a blasting apparatus, with the intention of conducting a blasting event. In preferred embodiments, the methods are particularly suited to through-rock transmission of wireless command signals, and optionally wireless calibration or synchronization signals, thereby to achieve timed actuation of explosive charges positioned below ground under the control of one or more blasting machines located at or above a surface of the ground, with a high degree of accuracy. Further disclosed are blasting apparatuses and components thereof suitable for use, for example, in conducting the methods of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2007Publication date: July 12, 2012Inventors: Ronald F. Stewart, Michael J. McCann
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Patent number: 8212685Abstract: Railcar monitoring utilizes instrumented, flexible pads supported within the truck pedestal jaws on the bearing adapters. The pads contain sensors for monitoring temperature pressure, shifting loads, truck hunting and the like and have circuitry for processing information received from the sensors and for processing and reporting departures of performance variables to a remote source. The system cyclically activates polling each pad on a car and communicates signals of critical departures and car identity to a remote source.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2010Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.Inventors: William LeFebvre, Michael J. McCann
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Patent number: 8150870Abstract: A method and system is provided for maintaining customer data in a data store system utilizing a scalable partitioning framework. More specifically, the data store of a customer service system is partitioned (divided) into multiple partitions by a partitionable key of customer data so that each partition owns a subset of the customer data. By maintaining several partitions that store a subset of the customer data exclusive to each other, blackout or brownout problems can be local to one partition and, thus, the availability for the entire system will be increased. Moreover, a set of partitionable keys, a minimal unit to be moved between partitions, is grouped and associated with a partition. By eliminating direct dependencies between the partitions and the partitionable keys, the system can have great flexibility with regard to migrating customer data between partitions and adding a new partition.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2006Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas K. Peddy, Chelsea C. Krueger, Michael J. McCann, Suguna Subramaniam, W. Cary Hall, Sasan Dashtinezhad, Guy Bialostocki
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Publication number: 20110225367Abstract: A data center system includes a memory cache coupled to a data center controller. The memory cache includes volatile memory and stores data that is persisted in a database in a different data center system that is located remotely from the data center system rather than in the first data center system. The data center controller reads data from the memory cache and writes data to the memory cache.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2010Publication date: September 15, 2011Inventors: Vikas Rajvanshy, Bradley J. Barrows, Michael J. McCann, Hasrat Godil, Xinguang Chen, Oludare V. Obasanjo, Paul R. C. Ming
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Publication number: 20100288157Abstract: A sensor interface is disclosed including a flexible substrate in which are embedded sensors for measuring physical parameters such as temperature, displacement, velocity, acceleration, stress, strain, pressure and force present between objects such as a railcar bearing and a truck side frame. The substrate is positioned between the objects of interest Electronic components such as a data processing unit, a data storage device, a communication device and a power source may also be embedded within the substrate. The electronic devices communicate with one another and the sensors to process signals generated by the sensors indicative of the parameters being measured.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2010Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicant: AMSTED RAIL COMPANY, INC.Inventors: William LeFebvre, Michael J. McCann, Frank Backo, III, Andrew H. Martin
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Patent number: 7778006Abstract: Disclosed herein are boosters that include components sufficient for wireless communications with an associated blasting machine. In selected aspects, there are disclosed wireless electronic boosters that are self-contained and robust. Such boosters are especially suited for underground mining operations, optionally employing automated placement of boosters at a blast site.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Orica Explosives Technology Pty Ltd.Inventors: Ronald F. Stewart, David Geoffrey Anderson, Michael J. McCann
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Patent number: 7774329Abstract: A method and system is provided for maintaining customer data in a data store system utilizing a scalable partitioning framework. More specifically, the data store of a customer service system is partitioned (divided) into multiple partitions by a partitionable key of customer data so that each partition owns a subset of the customer data. By maintaining several partitions that store a subset of the customer data exclusive to each other, blackout or brownout problems can be local to one partition and, thus, the availability for the entire system will be increased. Moreover, a set of partitionable keys, a minimal unit to be moved between partitions, is grouped and associated with a partition. By eliminating direct dependencies between the partitions and the partitionable keys, the system can have great flexibility with regard to migrating customer data between partitions and adding a new partition.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2006Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas K. Peddy, Chelsea C. Krueger, Michael J. McCann, Suguna Subramaniam, W. Cary Hall
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Publication number: 20100174428Abstract: Railcar monitoring utilizes instrumented, flexible pads supported within the truck pedestal jaws on the bearing adapters. The pads contain sensors for monitoring temperature pressure, shifting loads, truck hunting and the like and have circuitry for processing information received from the sensors and for processing and reporting departures of performance variables to a remote source. The system cyclically activates polling each pad on a car and communicates signals of critical departures and car identity to a remote source.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2010Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: AMSTED RAIL COMPANY, INC.Inventors: William LeFebvre, Michael J. McCann
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Publication number: 20100152920Abstract: A brake controller (10) transmits a signal indicative of a braking force to electric brakes (126, 128) of towed equipment, such as a trailer or towed vehicle (120). The brake controller (10) can include at least one characteristic sensor (32), such as an accelerometer, reactive to a braking force applied by the driver of the towing vehicle (110) or to changes in attitude or orientation of the towed equipment. A microprocessor (140) acts upon a signal from the at least one characteristic sensor (32) to determine output settings used to activate the towed equipment braking system for application of sufficient braking force for desired slowing of the towed equipment in concert with the towing vehicle (110). Activation of braking systems of the towed equipment includes the use of wireless signals. Additionally, the use of the right-side brake and the left-side brake for sway control is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2008Publication date: June 17, 2010Inventor: Michael J. McCann