Patents Represented by Attorney Brooks, Cameron & Huebsch, PLLC
  • Patent number: 8264879
    Abstract: Methods, devices, modules, and systems for operating memory cells are taught. A method for operating memory cells includes programming at least one of the memory cells to one of a number of states. Operating memory cells also includes programming at least another one of the memory cells, which is adjacent to the programmed at least one of the memory cells, to one of a different number of states. Operating memory cells also includes sensing non-erased states of the memory cells using at least one common voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc
    Inventor: Seiichi Aritome
  • Patent number: 8266258
    Abstract: Techniques for enhancing a throttle management system are disclosed. A throttle management system can be configured to scale down a number of permits available for connections to a data source. The throttle configuration parameters can be viewed by an administrator and modified during the runtime operation of the computer system effecting the throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Miguel A. Cortes, Jr., Craig M. Bush, Sudarshan Rangarajan
  • Patent number: 8264885
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices, modules, and systems for operating memory cells. One method includes: performing an erase operation on a selected group of memory cells, the selected group including a number of reference cells and a number of data cells; performing a programming monitor operation on the number of reference cells as part of the erase operation; and determining a number of particular operating parameters associated with operating the number of data cells at least partially based on the programming monitor operation performed on the number of reference cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Goda, Andrei Mihnea
  • Patent number: 8266501
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and devices for stripe-based memory operation. One method embodiment includes writing data in a first stripe across a storage volume of a plurality of memory devices. A portion of the first stripe is updated by writing updated data in a portion of a second stripe across the storage volume of the plurality of memory devices. The portion of the first stripe is invalidated. The invalid portion of the first stripe and a remainder of the first stripe are maintained until the first stripe is reclaimed. Other methods and devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph M. Jeddeloh
  • Patent number: 8260822
    Abstract: A system and method for processing both Type 1 and Type 2 effective dated slowly changing dimension (SCD) date attributes. Two sets of date fields may be provided, an effective from/effective to set for dimensions with effective date logic; and an effective start date/effective end date for all dimensions. A current indicator is used to indicate a currently valid dimension. By processing and setting the date fields, both Type 1 and Type 2 dimensions can be processed and queried similarly. This enables generating an accurate and consistent report of information representing information in a data warehouse as it is now, or as it was at any point in time. The methods also enable for reporting and analysis of historical and trends, as well as future forecasting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: Chris Michael Braden
  • Patent number: 8257558
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide processes, columns, and systems for removing acetaldehyde from alkylene oxide in a feed stream and for providing an alkylene oxide-water stream that can be directly transferred to a glycol reaction process. The alkylene oxide purification column includes a first section to convert a feed stream into a gas phase portion and a liquid phase portion and a second section located in the column above the first section to separate alkylene oxide from the acetaldehyde, water, and other impurities that enter the second section from the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Dow Technology Investments LLC
    Inventors: John F. Szul, James H. Mccain, Floyd L. Pfeffer, Harvey E. Andresen, Phillip R. Fairchild, Kent E. Newman
  • Patent number: 8260973
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and devices for a memory controller. In one or more embodiments, a memory controller includes a plurality of back end channels, and a command queue communicatively coupled to the plurality of back end channels. The command queue is configured to hold host commands received from a host. Circuitry is configured to generate a number of back end commands at least in response to a number of the host commands in the command queue, and distribute the number of back end commands to a number of the plurality of back end channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehdi Asnaashari, Yu-Song Liao, Jui-Yao Yang, Siamack Nemazie
  • Patent number: 8260591
    Abstract: Systems and methods to provide a UI includes providing a program with a dynamic content to specify a view; and rendering the view based on the dynamic content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel J. Kass, Bradley A. Davis, Anil Kumar V. Chillarige, Malia Smith
  • Patent number: 8258969
    Abstract: An extended smoke alarm system and related methods are disclosed. In particular, embodiments of an extended smoke alarm system having wireless-signal-send-and-receive functionalities wherein the system includes one or more flashlights having at least wireless-signal-receiving functionality are detailed. Related methods for system use are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: Bradly J. Billman
  • Patent number: 8261067
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes devices, methods, and systems for creating a case study file that includes an image file from an imaging modality, executing a hash algorithm on the case study file to produce a hash key, compressing the case study file, bundling the hash key with the compressed file, encrypting the bundled file, and moving the encrypted bundled file through an Internet connection to a storage computing system, among other embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Asteris, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Otis, Jeffrey P. Brokalis
  • Patent number: 8260720
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-usable medium are disclosed for identifying transactions resulting from the access of a financial account while a user is under duress. A user provides a duress shared secret. Instructions associated with the duress shared secret are processed and available financial account operations, along with associated financial account information, are displayed according to the associated instructions. The cash or electronic funds proceeds of a financial transaction operation are tagged with electronic fraud identification data. Tagged funds received by a financial institution are processed to extract their associated fraud identification data, which is then used to generate fraud trail data. If the tagged funds are used to originate follow-on financial transactions, they are likewise tagged with fraud identification data, which is likewise used to generate fraud trail data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
    Inventors: David Patrick Dixon, Gary Scott Harris
  • Patent number: 8255335
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for establishing a personal identification number (PIN). The systems and methods provide techniques to begin a remote session with a customer, prompt the customer to select a PIN to associate with a financial account card during the remote session, and receive the PIN from the customer during the remote session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Ryan Ray Barth, Felicia Tavares
  • Patent number: 8253396
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes circuits, systems and methods for regulating voltage. One voltage regulator system embodiment includes a voltage regulator having an output and a number of stages coupled in parallel to the output of the voltage regulator. Each stage includes a source follower circuit, and a sample and hold circuit coupled in series between the output of the voltage regulator and an input of the source follower circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Toru Tanzawa
  • Patent number: 8255329
    Abstract: A debit-card withdrawal-fee payment method includes receiving selection of a first account to which withdrawal-fee payments are to be directed, receiving notification of a debit-card transaction withdrawal-fee amount associated with a second account, and making a withdrawal-fee payment to the first account in the withdrawal-fee amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Ryan Ray Barth, Ryan Todd Everett
  • Patent number: 8254894
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for displaying messages, such as advertisements, consumer promotions, and customer service announcements, on digital wireless communication devices, such as digital cellular telephones. One method includes downloading wirelessly a single database containing a plurality of graphical interactive advertising contents. The plurality of graphical interactive advertising contents are stored to a mobile wireless communications device. At least one graphical interactive advertising content is displayed a particular time period the display of the mobile wireless communication device. The mobile wireless communication device is connected to a mobile communications medium upon user activation of the at least one graphic interactive advertising content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: XcellaSave, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark L. Cortegiano, Sean J. Grygiel
  • Patent number: 8255504
    Abstract: Systems and methods for data source management using custom data sources are described. The system includes a custom data source created in response to a data source request, and a number of configuration modules to handle obtaining a connection with a data source. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: United States Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Shannon Thornton, Anantrachai Kaewlium, James Lutz
  • Patent number: 8248868
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods, and circuits, for operating a memory device. One method embodiment for operating a memory device includes controlling data transfer through a memory interface in an asynchronous mode by writing data to the memory device at least partially in response to a write enable signal on a first interface contact, and reading data from the memory device at least partially in response to a read enable signal on a second interface contact. The method further includes controlling data transfer in a synchronous mode by transferring data at least partially in response to a clock signal on the first interface contact, and providing a bidirectional data strobe signal on an interface contact not utilized in the asynchronous mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean K. Nobunaga, June Lee, Chih Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 8245024
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for booting in systems having devices coupled in a chained configuration. One or more embodiments include a host and a number of devices coupled to the host in a chained configuration, wherein at least one of the number of devices is a bootable device and the at least one bootable device is not directly coupled to the host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Radke, Victor Y. Tsai, Peter Feeley, Neal A. Galbo, Robert N. Leibowitz
  • Patent number: 8243521
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns memory kink compensation. One method embodiment includes applying a number of sequentially incrementing programming pulses to a memory cell, with the sequential programming pulses incrementing by a first programming pulse step voltage magnitude. A seeding voltage is applied after applying the number of sequentially incrementing programming pulses. A next programming pulse is applied after applying the seeding voltage, with the next programming pulse being adjusted relative to a preceding one of the sequentially incrementing programming pulses by a second programming pulse step voltage magnitude. The second programming pulse step voltage magnitude can be less than the first programming pulse step voltage magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Violante Moschiano, Frankie Roohparvar, Giovanni Santin, Vishal Sarin, Allahyar Vahidimowlavi, Tommaso Vali
  • Patent number: 8244761
    Abstract: A user interface receives a request from an external entity to display a particular subset of internal data of an organization relating to a particular member thereof, determines from a located file corresponding to the external entity that a member ID of the particular member is listed therein, and thereafter retrieves the internal data of the member from a database. The user interface then culls the particular subset of the internal data to be displayed from the retrieved internal data, applies located rules corresponding to the external entity to the display of such particular subset of the internal data to result in any modifications necessary in view of such located rules, and displays such particular subset of the internal data as modified to the external entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Charles Julian Dickens, Francisco Jimenez Lugo, Donna Marie Antopia