Patents by Inventor Robert Nicholson
Robert Nicholson 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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Publication number: 20120324514Abstract: A demonstration arrangement for controlling a plurality of television sets or other controllable electronic devices has one or more programmed processors. A control interface is adapted to receive user commands. The processors are programmed to, upon receipt of user commands: select one or more television sets or groups of television sets while leaving others of the television sets unselected; select one of the content sources; and send signals that cause the selected content sources to be displayed by the selected one or more television sets or groups of television sets without affecting operation of unselected television sets or groups of television sets. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2011Publication date: December 20, 2012Inventors: Leonid Dashevskiy, Trevor Davies, Robert Nicholson
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Publication number: 20120316672Abstract: A vending machine retrofitted with digital signage has a door with a window in the door, where the door closes to form an interior compartment and where the vending machine has a top surface. A display panel is affixed to the window by double stick tape from the interior compartment so that images displayed on the display panel are visible through the window. A media player is coupled to the display panel to play video content on the display panel. A cellular wide area network (WAN) radio coupled to the media player to receive video content via the cellular WAN. A cellular antenna is coupled to the cellular WAN radio and affixed to the top surface of the vending machine. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2012Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventor: Robert Nicholson
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Patent number: 8032894Abstract: In embodiments, an implementation of a service oriented architecture is provided including an application service bus capable of approximating point-to-point performance by reducing the format transformation of application messages by way of relaying them in a native format when the message format of a consumer application and/or service provider application is supported by the service bus. Preferably, the service bus is capable of supporting multiple message formats and transport protocols and comprises a plurality of components including a Service Initiator module, a Service Terminus module, a Service Locator module, and a Transport module. The service bus provides logical isolation between a consumer application and a provider application by exposing a set of interfaces for relaying service request and service response messages between the applications.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2007Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Aetna Inc.Inventors: Bruce Ian Lazaroff, Youyi Mao, Sean James Hickman, Peter Robert Nicholson
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Patent number: 7686467Abstract: An illuminating device is described. The illuminating device may include a head, a neck and a body. The illuminating device may be manipulated into numerous positions including extended and nested positions so that the light source may be positioned inside the securing structure in the nested position and outside the securing structure in the extended position. Such an illuminating device may be desirable for use, for example, as a portable illuminator, book light, and travel light.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2008Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Sol-Light LLC.Inventors: David Nelson, John Smith, Chase Thompson, Dana Robert Nicholson
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Publication number: 20090172695Abstract: In embodiments, an implementation of a service oriented architecture is provided including an application service bus capable of approximating point-to-point performance by reducing the format transformation of application messages by way of relaying them in a native format when the message format of a consumer application and/or service provider application is supported by the service bus. Preferably, the service bus is capable of supporting multiple message formats and transport protocols and comprises a plurality of components including a Service Initiator module, a Service Terminus module, a Service Locator module, and a Transport module. The service bus provides logical isolation between a consumer application and a provider application by exposing a set of interfaces for relaying service request and service response messages between the applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2007Publication date: July 2, 2009Applicant: Aetna Inc.Inventors: Bruce Ian Lazaroff, Youyi Mao, Sean James Hickman, Peter Robert Nicholson
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Publication number: 20080232098Abstract: An illuminating device is described. The illuminating device may include a head, a neck and a body. The illuminating device may be manipulated into numerous positions including extended and nested positions so that the light source may be positioned inside the securing structure in the nested position and outside the securing structure in the extended position. Such an illuminating device may be desirable for use, for example, as a portable illuminator, book light, and travel light.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2008Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: Sol-Light, LLCInventors: David Nelson, John Smith, Chase Thompson, Dana Robert Nicholson
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Patent number: 7390105Abstract: An illuminating device is described. The illuminating device may include a head, a neck and a body. The illuminating device may be manipulated into numerous positions including extended and nested positions so that the light source may be positioned inside the securing structure in the nested position and outside the securing structure in the extended position. Such an illuminating device may be desirable for use, for example, as a portable illuminator, book light, and travel light.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2005Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Sol-Light, LLCInventors: David Nelson, John Smith, Chase Thompson, Dana Robert Nicholson
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Publication number: 20080025126Abstract: A storage adapter for use in a data storage subsystem includes a controlling processor, a volatile memory, and a nonvolatile memory “dump device.” The storage adapter also includes a battery that can be used to provide sufficient power to the storage adapter to allow data from the volatile memory to be written to the nonvolatile memory of the storage adapter under the control of the processor in the event of an interruption or failure in the main power supply to the storage adapter, i.e. to preserve data stored in the volatile memory in that event. The processor uses the current state of charge of the battery to determine the amount of data that can be “dumped” to the nonvolatile dump device before the battery is depleted.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2007Publication date: January 31, 2008Inventors: Colin Jewell, Robert Nicholson, Huw Francis, David Lee
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Patent number: 7302982Abstract: A label applicator including a support surface having a central area and curving downwardly from the central area. A post assembly extends up from the central area such that a label having a label through-hole can be positioned in a support position generally on the support surface with the post assembly extending up through the label through-hole and an adhesive face of the label facing up. Thereby an article having an article through-hole can be positioned over the post assembly so that a flat surface of the article can be pressed and guided against the adhesive face of the positioned label. The curved surface flattens out as the article is pressed down, allowing the label to be smoothly applied to the article. Pins extending up adjacent to the support surface engage in notches on the label and help hold the label in place.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2003Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Assignee: Avery Dennison CorporationInventors: Thomas Wien, James R. Yurchenco, Joseph Li-Hsing Hei, Christopher M. Flink, Kocheng Michael Wu, Anthony Piazza, IV, Chase Tyler Thompson, Donald E. Banks, Charles Richard Lewis, Jr., Dana Robert Nicholson, Jerry G. Hodsdon
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Publication number: 20070277062Abstract: According to a first general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a logic arrangement for reducing incidence of errors in connections between a power consumer apparatus and a power supply apparatus, the logic arrangement comprising: a pattern-generating component for generating an identifiable pattern in a load to be drawn from a power supply connection to a power supply apparatus; and a testing component for monitoring across a signal connection to the power supply apparatus, the testing component monitoring for a change in the load corresponding to the pattern. A positive result of the testing by the testing component indicates a correct configuration. Additional embodiments are also presented.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2007Publication date: November 29, 2007Inventors: Steven Hyatt, Ian Judd, Robert Nicholson, Paul Ouelch, Stephen Randle, William Scales
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Publication number: 20070183316Abstract: A method and apparatus for detection of a port name in a loop network is provided, particularly a loop network in the form of a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL). The loop network (100) has a plurality of devices (120) each device (120) having at least one port (211, 212) on the loop network (100). The method includes determining which ports (211, 212) are populated with devices (120) for which the unique port name (WWPN) is not known. The populated ports are then all bypassed and a mode is entered on the loop network (100) in which idle frames are transmitted around the loop network (100). One port is un-bypassed at a time and the port name from the un-bypassed port is received and recorded. The port name is received from the un-bypassed port in a Loop Initialisation Select Master (LISM) frame transmitted by the un-bypassed port.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2007Publication date: August 9, 2007Inventors: Reginald Beer, Paul Cashman, Paul Hooton, Neil Morris, Robert Maddock, Robert Nicholson
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Publication number: 20070053285Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovery from faults in a loop network (500) is provided. The loop network (500) has a plurality of ports (520, 530, 532, 534) serially connected with means for bypassing the ports (520, 530, 532, 534) from the loop network (500). A control device (522, 524) is provided with bypass control over at least one of the ports (530, 532, 534). A host means (502) sends a command to the control device (522, 524) at regular intervals and the control device (522, 524) has a counter which restarts a time period at the receipt of each command. If the time period expires, the control device (522, 524) activates the means for bypassing all the ports (530, 532, 534) under its control. The loop network (500) may have two loops (516, 518) with at least some of the ports (520, 530, 532, 534) common to both loops (516, 518).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2006Publication date: March 8, 2007Inventors: Reginald Beer, Paul Cashman, Paul Hooton, Ian Judd, Robert Maddock, Robert Nicholson, Barry Whyte
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Publication number: 20070050541Abstract: An arrangement and method for update of configuration cache data in a disk storage subsystem in which a cache memory (110) is updated using two-phase (220, 250) commit technique. This provides the advantage that known changes to the subsystem do not require an invalidate/rebuild style operation on the cache. This is especially important where a change will invalidate the entire cache.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2006Publication date: March 1, 2007Inventors: David Carr, Michael Jones, Andrew Key, Robert Nicholson, William Scales, Barry Whyte
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Publication number: 20070016745Abstract: A method for migrating data between heterogeneous data storage devices within a storage area network is disclosed. A first virtualizer presents stored data as a first virtual disk, and then communicates a managed disk representation of the first virtual disk to a second virtualizer. After receiving the managed disk representation, the second virtualizer virtualizes the stored data from the managed disk representation as a second virtual disk. At such point, the stored data can be progressively migrated from the first virtualizer to the second virtualizer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2006Publication date: January 18, 2007Inventors: Gregory Dalton, Geoff Lane, Stephen Legg, Robert Nicholson, William Scales, Barry Whyte
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Publication number: 20060184930Abstract: A method for software upgrade in a first node operable in a distributed computing system is disclosed. The method comprises receiving, by a receiving component, a new version of application software and a new version of infrastructure software and installing, by an installation component, the new version of application software and the new version of infrastructure software. A first startup component starts the new version of infrastructure software. A second startup component starts an old version of application software to run with the new version of the infrastructure software. Responsive to an indication from a second node that the new version of application software and the new version of infrastructure software have been installed at the second node, the old version of application software is quiesced by a transition component. The old version is unloaded the new version of application software is loaded.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2006Publication date: August 17, 2006Inventors: Carlos Fuente, Robert Nicholson, William Scales
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Patent number: 7089710Abstract: A piping clamp for holding a pipe to a concrete form. The piping clamp includes a base having a vertical standoff and a spring clamp extending horizontally from the base. The vertical standoff prevents the spring clamp from contacting the top surface of a poured concrete structure, thus allowing workers to trowel the concrete's surface without interfering with the clamp. In addition, a web portion of the spring clamp acts as a horizontal standoff and precludes a clamped piping run from coming into contact with the concrete form. The base may include a plurality of staggered fastener openings facilitating adjustment of the piping clamp during installation. In use, the spring clamp removably secures a piping run to a concrete form until the concrete form is removed. During removal, the spring clamp allows the piping run and the concrete form to be easily separated without disturbing the piping run.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2003Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Inventor: Robert Nicholson
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Publication number: 20060069703Abstract: A storage control apparatus, in communication with a cluster of storage devices in a storage network having plural administrator systems, comprises a cluster lock requester component, a cluster lock receiver component and a configuration component, wherein, responsive to receipt of a cluster lock by said cluster lock receiver component, the configuration component is operable to configure a logical resource object within said cluster. The apparatus may also include a cluster lock granter component operable to grant a cluster lock to the cluster lock receiver component responsive to said cluster lock requester component. A method of operating a storage control apparatus includes method steps corresponding to functional components of an apparatus and may be embodied in computer program codes.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2005Publication date: March 30, 2006Inventors: David Carr, Michael Jones, Robert Nicholson, William Scales, Barry Whyte
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Publication number: 20060053251Abstract: A storage network control apparatus is operable to present virtualized storage to a host system and includes a monitoring component, an analysis component, a detection component, and a migration component. The monitoring component is for monitoring input/output (I/O) activity for virtual storage logical units over time. The analysis component is for identifying a repeating instance of peak I/O activity for a virtual storage logical unit over time and for generating a predictive signature therefrom. The detecting component is for identifying an instance of such a predictive signature. The migration component is responsive to the detecting component, and is for migrating data mapped by the virtual storage logical unit across additional real storage units to improve the I/O performance of the virtual storage logical unit prior to a recurrence of the repeating instance of peak I/O activity. A corresponding logic arrangement may be incorporated in hardware, software or a combination thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2005Publication date: March 9, 2006Inventors: Robert Nicholson, Carlos Fuente, Stephen Legg
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Publication number: 20050278575Abstract: A large population of mass-produced devices (80) such as a particular model of computer hard disk drive, are distributed around the world. Each device (80) includes an arrangement for collecting failure analysis data of the device (50). Each device (80) is arranged to transmit this data to the device manufacturers server (10) via the internet (20). The server (10) analyses the data in order to determine trends in failure performance of the population of devices in order to improve future designs and to provide updated software for distribution to the devices (80) via the internet (20).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2003Publication date: December 15, 2005Inventors: Robert Nicholson, Barry Whyte
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Publication number: 20050132150Abstract: A data storage subsystem includes a volatile memory in which stored data can be denoted as being data that should be preserved in the event of an interruption in the power supply to the volatile memory. The available capacity for such data storage is dynamically allocated between multiple firmware client components of the storage subsystem, such that each client component has its own (varying) allocation of the available capacity. A higher priority for the storage of such data is given to client components on which other client components depend, such as lower layers of the software stack, thereby allowing them to get a larger share of the available capacity for such data storage when needed and complete their input/output requests faster.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2004Publication date: June 16, 2005Applicant: International Business Machines Corp.Inventors: Colin Jewell, Robert Nicholson, Francis Huw