Patents by Inventor Michael P. Owen

Michael P. Owen 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: 11805096
    Abstract: A system that communicates information is described. This system includes: a network interface, a proxy device coupled to the network interface, and an interface node coupled to the proxy device and configured to couple to a channel. Note that the network interface is configured to transmit outbound messages from the system to a location and to receive inbound messages to the system from the location, and the channel is configured to convey the outbound messages and the inbound messages. Moreover, the proxy device is configured to inspect a given message inbound or outbound based on a pre-determined profile of the location and pre-defined communication rules. Then, the proxy device is configured to restrict the given message based on a result of the inspection, where the restriction occurs after the system begins a communication session with the location and is performed for the duration of the communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: INTUIT, INC.
    Inventors: Rodney A. Robinson, Joann Ferguson, Thomas J. Holodnik, Thomas E. Dockman, Spencer W. Fong, Michael P. Owen
  • Publication number: 20200286078
    Abstract: A system that communicates information is described. This system includes: a network interface, a proxy device coupled to the network interface, and an interface node coupled to the proxy device and configured to couple to a channel. Note that the network interface is configured to transmit outbound messages from the system to a location and to receive inbound messages to the system from the location, and the channel is configured to convey the outbound messages and the inbound messages. Moreover, the proxy device is configured to inspect a given message inbound or outbound based on a pre-determined profile of the location and pre-defined communication rules. Then, the proxy device is configured to restrict the given message based on a result of the inspection, where the restriction occurs after the system begins a communication session with the location and is performed for the duration of the communication session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Rodney A. Robinson, Joann Ferguson, Thomas J. Holodnik, Thomas E. Dockman, Spencer W. Fong, Michael P. Owen
  • Patent number: 10540651
    Abstract: A system that communicates information is described. This system includes: a network interface, a proxy device coupled to the network interface, and an interface node coupled to the proxy device and configured to couple to a channel. Note that the network interface is configured to transmit outbound messages from the system to a location and to receive inbound messages to the system from the location, and the channel is configured to convey the outbound messages and the inbound messages. Moreover, the proxy device is configured to inspect a given message inbound or outbound based on a pre-determined profile of the location and pre-defined communication rules. Then, the proxy device is configured to restrict the given message based on a result of the inspection, where the restriction occurs after the system begins a communication session with the location and is performed for the duration of the communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: INTUIT INC.
    Inventors: Rodney A. Robinson, Joann Ferguson, Thomas J. Holodnik, Thomas E. Dockman, Spencer W. Fong, Michael P. Owen
  • Patent number: 9934496
    Abstract: Embodiments of a proxy device, a system that includes the proxy device, a process, and a computer-program product (i.e., software) for use with the proxy device are described. This proxy device may be used to restrict access to account information during communication between a financial institution and a software engineer, such as a third-party software developer. In particular, the proxy device, which is an intermediary between the financial institution and the software engineer, may replace actual account information with dummy or encoded account information during communication from the financial institution to the software engineer. Similarly, the proxy device may replace the dummy or encoded account information with the actual account information during communication from the software engineer to the financial institution. In this way, the proxy device may facilitate software development while maintaining security of the actual account information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: INTUIT INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Hanscom, Michael P. Owen
  • Patent number: 6246764
    Abstract: A portable telephone shoulder rest comprising a base member formed of a flexible pouch filled with a weighted material, and a sleeve attached to the upper side of the flexible pouch. The sleeve is formed of elastic side panels interconnected by a flexible transparent perforated top panel. The lower portion of a portable telephone handset is received in the top end of the sleeve and extends through the open bottom end of the sleeve where the end of the handset rests in a depression formed in the flexible pouch. When inserted into the sleeve, the keypad of the handset underlies the flexible transparent top panel so that it may be viewed and actuated through the top panel. A non-slip surface may be applied to the upper side of the pouch to assist in securely retaining the handset within the sleeve. Also, a non-slip surface may be applied to the bottom surface of the pouch so that it securely rests on the shoulder of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventors: Michael P. Owen, Julie A. Owen, Margaret A. Owen