Patents by Inventor Walton Sumner

Walton Sumner 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: 8689490
    Abstract: A four component roofing system uses three reflective subsystems and one radiant subsystem to provide passive temperature control of a building comprising: (1) Shingles that reflect high angle summer sun light back to the sky, but absorb low angle winter sunlight; (2) A temperature sensitive attic insulator placed under a sunlit roof that reflects radiation and blocks convection from the roof to the attic at hot temperatures, permits radiation and convection at warm temperatures, and blocks radiation and convection from the attic at cold temperatures; (3) A temperature sensitive attic insulator placed under a shaded roof that permits radiation and convection at warm or hot temperatures, and blocks radiation and convection from the attic at cold temperatures; (4) Non-reflective shingles on a shaded roof that emit radiation continuously, but that are heated by air and radiation from the attic only when the second temperature sensitive attic insulator permits convection, so that radiant heat loss is reduced at c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventor: Walton Sumner
  • Patent number: 8096811
    Abstract: The present invention is generally related to a computer architecture and process for evaluating and reporting on a user's competence in managing a simulation of a complex system modeled in a computer based testing and training system. The simulation may be called a “virtual system.” The method generates evaluation criteria responsive to a user profile, user choices in managing the virtual system, and events that occur during a simulation, in addition to the original state of the system. The method produces summary evaluations responsive to a plurality of characteristics of the simulated system. The implementation may be advantageously employed to evaluate a medical clinician's management of computer-simulated human patients, hereinafter called “virtual patients”. The present invention is also suitable for evaluation of user management of a plurality of complex systems including but not limited to animals, plants, cells, machines, and populations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: American Board of Family Medicine, Inc.
    Inventors: Walton Sumner, II, Jinzhong Xu, Guy H. Roussel, Richard J. Rovinelli, Michael D. Hagen
  • Publication number: 20110167735
    Abstract: A four component roofing system uses three reflective subsystems and one radiant subsystem to provide passive temperature control of a building comprising: (1) Shingles that reflect high angle summer sun light back to the sky, but absorb low angle winter sunlight; (2) A temperature sensitive attic insulator placed under a sunlit roof that reflects radiation and blocks convection from the roof to the attic at hot temperatures, permits radiation and convection at warm temperatures, and blocks radiation and convection from the attic at cold temperatures; (3) A temperature sensitive attic insulator placed under a shaded roof that permits radiation and convection at warm or hot temperatures, and blocks radiation and convection from the attic at cold temperatures; (4) Non-reflective shingles on a shaded roof that emit radiation continuously, but that are heated by air and radiation from the attic only when the second temperature sensitive attic insulator permits convection, so that radiant heat loss is reduced at c
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Walton Sumner
  • Patent number: 7725328
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer implemented system and method for generating and interacting with a multi-factoral patient simulation responsive to user queries and interventions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: American Board of Family Practice, Inc.
    Inventors: Walton Sumner, II, Jin Zhong Xu, Guy H. Roussel, Michael D. Hagen
  • Patent number: 7653556
    Abstract: A computer implemented simulation and evaluation method simulates interventions to a patient by a user, and evaluates the interventions responsive to predetermined criteria and the interventions. The method includes defining a test area to evaluate the user to at least one of predetermined criteria and a user profile, selecting genetic information of the patient responsive to the test area, and generating a patient history responsive to the test area and the genetic information. The method also includes receiving at least one intervention input by the user, and evaluating the user responsive to the intervention and predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: American Board of Family Medicine, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Rovinelli, Walton Sumner, II, Victor W. Marek, Miroslav Truszczynski
  • Patent number: 7277874
    Abstract: A method and system for patient generation and evolution for a computer-based testing system and/or expert system. One or more belief networks, which describe parallel health state networks are accessed by a user or a computer. A knowledge base, at least in part, is scripted from the one or more belief networks by the computer. A model patient at least in part, is instantiated by the computer from the scripted knowledge base. Optionally, the model patient is evolved by the computer in accordance with the parallel health state networks and responsive to a received course of action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: American Board of Family Medicine, Inc.
    Inventors: Walton Sumner, II, Michael D. Hagen
  • Patent number: 7107253
    Abstract: A method and system for patient generation and evolution for a computer-based testing system and/or expert system. One or more belief networks, which describe parallel health state networks are accessed by a user or a computer. A knowledge base, at least in part, is scripted from the one or more belief networks by the computer. A model patient at least in part, is instantiated by the computer from the scripted knowledge base. Optionally, the model patient is evolved by the computer in accordance with the parallel health state networks and responsive to a received course of action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: American Board of Family Practice, Inc.
    Inventors: Walton Sumner, II, Michael D. Hagen
  • Patent number: 7024399
    Abstract: A method and system for patient generation and evolution for a computer-based testing system and/or expert system. One or more belief networks, which describe parallel health state networks are accessed by a user or a computer. A knowledge base, at least in part, is scripted from the one or more belief networks by the computer. A model patient at least in part, is instantiated by the computer from the scripted knowledge base. Optionally, the model patient is evolved by the computer in accordance with the parallel health state networks and responsive to a received course of action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: American Board of Family Practice, Inc.
    Inventors: Walton Sumner, II, Michael D. Hagen
  • Publication number: 20060004608
    Abstract: A computer implemented simulation and evaluation method simulates interventions to a patient by a user, and evaluates the interventions responsive to predetermined criteria and the interventions. The method includes defining a test area to evaluate the user to at least one of predetermined criteria and a user profile, selecting genetic information of the patient responsive to the test area, and generating a patient history responsive to the test area and the genetic information. The method also includes receiving at least one intervention input by the user, and evaluating the user responsive to the intervention and predetermined criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Applicant: American Board of Family Practice, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Rovinelli, Walton Sumner, Victor Marek, Miroslav Truszczynski
  • Publication number: 20050289092
    Abstract: A method and system for patient generation and evolution for a computer-based testing system and/or expert system. One or more belief networks, which describe parallel health state networks are accessed by a user or a computer. A knowledge base, at least in part, is scripted from the one or more belief networks by the computer. A model patient at least in part, is instantiated by the computer from the scripted knowledge base. Optionally, the model patient is evolved by the computer in accordance with the parallel health state networks and responsive to a received course of action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: American Board of Family Practice, Inc.
    Inventors: Walton Sumner, Michael Hagen
  • Patent number: 6978244
    Abstract: A computer implemented simulation and evaluation method simulates interventions to a patient by a user, and evaluates the interventions responsive to predetermined criteria and the interventions. The method includes defining a test area to evaluate the user to at least one of predetermined criteria and a user profile, selecting genetic information of the patient responsive to the test area, and generating a patient history responsive to the test area and the genetic information. The method also includes receiving at least one intervention input by the user, and evaluating the user responsive to the intervention and predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: American Board of Family Practice, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Rovinelli, Walton Sumner, II, Victor W. Marek, Miroslaw Truszczynski
  • Publication number: 20050118557
    Abstract: The present invention is generally related to a computer architecture and process for evaluating and reporting on a user's competence in managing a simulation of a complex system modeled in a computer based testing and training system. The simulation may be called a “virtual system.” The method generates evaluation criteria responsive to a user profile, user choices in managing the virtual system, and events that occur during a simulation, in addition to the original state of the system. The method produces summary evaluations responsive to a plurality of characteristics of the simulated system. The implementation may be advantageously employed to evaluate a medical clinician's management of computer-simulated human patients, hereinafter called “virtual patients”. The present invention is also suitable for evaluation of user management of a plurality of complex systems including but not limited to animals, plants, cells, machines, and populations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Inventors: Walton Sumner, Jinzhong Xu, Guy Roussel, Richard Rovinelli, Michael Hagen
  • Publication number: 20030130973
    Abstract: A method and system for patient generation and evolution for a computer-based testing system and/or expert system. One or more belief networks, which describe parallel health state networks are accessed by a user or a computer. A knowledge base, at least in part, is scripted from the one or more belief networks by the computer. A model patient at least in part, is instantiated by the computer from the scripted knowledge base. Optionally, the model patient is evolved by the computer in accordance with the parallel health state networks and responsive to a received course of action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: American Board of Family Practice, Inc.
    Inventors: Walton Sumner,, Michael D. Hagen
  • Patent number: 6246975
    Abstract: A computer implemented simulation and evaluation method simulates interventions to a patient by a user, and evaluates the interventions responsive to predetermined criteria and the interventions. The method includes defining a test area to evaluate the user to at least one of predetermined criteria and a user profile, selecting genetic information of the patient responsive to the test area, and generating a patient history responsive to the test area and the genetic information. The method also includes receiving at least one intervention input by the user, and evaluating the user responsive to the intervention and predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: American Board of Family Practice, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Rivonelli, Walton Sumner, II, Victor W. Marek, Miroslaw Truszczynski
  • Publication number: 20010001852
    Abstract: A computer implemented simulation and evaluation method simulates interventions to a patient by a user, and evaluates the interventions responsive to predetermined criteria and the interventions. The method includes defining a test area to evaluate the user to at least one of predetermined criteria and a user profile, selecting genetic information of the patient responsive to the test area, and generating a patient history responsive to the test area and the genetic information. The method also includes receiving at least one intervention input by the user, and evaluating the user responsive to the intervention and predetermined criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: May 24, 2001
    Inventors: Richard J. Rovinelli, Walton Sumner, Victor W. Marek, Miroslaw Truszczynski