Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Snell & Wilmer
-
Patent number: 8313063Abstract: A parachute release system is configured to releasably couple a parachute to a payload. A parachute release mechanism is coupled to a suspension strap routed through a strap sleeve. The parachute release mechanism is configured to provide near-simultaneous separation of the suspension straps from the payload via operation of a rotatable hinge pin. The strap sleeve reduces the possibility of the suspension strap becoming entangled with the payload. With this system and method, larger payloads may be supported and/or the mass of the parachute release system may be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2011Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Inventor: Roy L. Fox, Jr.
-
Patent number: 8311936Abstract: Share of Wallet (“SOW”) is a modeling approach that utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a consumers spending capability, tradeline history including balance transfers, and balance information. These outputs can be appended to data profiles of customers and prospects and can be utilized to support decisions involving prospecting, new applicant evaluation, and customer management across the lifecycle. The outputs can be used as attributes to consider in developing a credit bureau scorecard.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2011Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Inventors: Kathleen Haggerty, Chao M. Yuan, Benedict O. Okoh, Peter L. Williamson
-
Patent number: 8308920Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides an electrolytic cell contact bar having a first pole and a pair of second poles. The second poles are opposite in charge to the first pole and each of the pair of second poles are adjacent to and parallel to the first pole. In various embodiments, the contact bar may include an electrode holder capable of holding at least one electrode.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2011Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Freeport-McMoran CorporationInventors: Bret Ashford, William A Ebert, Fernando D Mollo Vega, Samuel Rasmussen, Timothy G Robinson, Scot P Sandoval
-
Patent number: 8305259Abstract: The radar includes a PCB having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a processor mounted on the bottom surface of the PCB. The radar includes a second liquid crystal polymer layer formed on the top surface of the printed circuit board, a second microstrip array printed on the second liquid crystal polymer layer, the second microstrip array having a patch, a first liquid crystal polymer layer formed on the second liquid crystal polymer layer, a first microstrip array printed on the first liquid crystal polymer layer, the first microstrip array having a perforated patch, an antenna positioned underneath the patch and connected to the second microstrip array, and a transmit/receive module connected to a bottom surface of the second liquid crystal polymer layer and configured to transmit a first frequency signal to the first microstrip array and a second frequency signal to the second microstrip array.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2011Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Alexandros Margomenos
-
Patent number: 8307291Abstract: A security application for granting different access rights to web pages and objects on each web page is disclosed. A data table assigns one or more function identifiers (FIDs) to users. A second data table assigns a different object identifier (OID) to each web page, and to assign a different OID for each object on each web page. A third data table assigns an FID to each OID. When a user attempts to access a web page or an object on the web page, a web server compares each of the user's FIDs to the FID assigned to the web page or object. The web server grants access to the web page or object if one of the user's FIDs matches the FID assigned to the web page or object, the user is granted access to the web page or object according to the function of the matched FID.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2005Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Inventors: Srinivas V Dasari, Kevin Harvey, Cathy Sockrider
-
Patent number: 8302231Abstract: An attachment system and method for attaching a medical unit to a transport using connection brackets. The medical unit attaches to the connection brackets and restricts the movement of the medical unit during transportation. Use of the connection brackets enables quick and efficient attachment and removal of the medical unit from the transport. A connection bracket may be placed at one end of the transport and the medical unit may be attached to the connection bracket. Once the medical unit is placed on the transport, another connection bracket may be attached to the medical unit and connected to the transport. After the second connection bracket is connected, the medical unit can be transported to another location.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2009Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Gold Cross Services, Inc.Inventors: Michael S Moffitt, Andrew J Moffitt, Michael J Reynolds
-
Patent number: 8306885Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for facilitating financial advising and planning for a user. The system includes a portfolio integration module that integrates goals, assets, savings, and risk tolerance to develop a customized strategy for financial portfolio planning. A portfolio reconciler module facilitates comparison of the customized strategy to other strategies and projected user financial decisions in order to further facilitate the financial portfolio planning. A stochastic modeling module uses data from the portfolio integration module and the portfolio reconciler module in a stochastic modeling analysis using a synchronous stationary bootstrap sampling method to construct a proposed situation portfolio. A simulator module forecasts the effects of the proposed situation portfolio on the user's portfolio, and monitoring, simulating, designing, and testing the portfolio integration module, the portfolio reconciler module, and the stochastic modeling module.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2004Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Ameriprise Financial, Inc.Inventors: Gabriela Brose, Jodi Jenson, Patricia Scarlato, Beth M. Vanney
-
Patent number: 8305255Abstract: The radar includes a PCB having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a processor mounted on the bottom surface of the PCB. The radar includes a second liquid crystal polymer layer formed on the top surface of the printed circuit board, a second microstrip array printed on the second liquid crystal polymer layer, the second microstrip array having a patch, a first liquid crystal polymer layer formed on the second liquid crystal polymer layer, a first microstrip array printed on the first liquid crystal polymer layer, the first microstrip array having a perforated patch, an antenna positioned underneath the patch and connected to the second microstrip array, and a transmit/receive module connected to a bottom surface of the second liquid crystal polymer layer and configured to transmit a first frequency signal to the first microstrip array and a second frequency signal to the second microstrip array.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2011Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Alexandros Margomenos
-
Patent number: 8306914Abstract: Offsite financial account onboarding is provided which creates a more streamlined process for a customer. The customer accesses a money services businesss business electronic system to request financial account setup. The onboarding system establishes account access to a pooled custodial account managed by the money services businesss business based on preliminary identification (ID) data from the customer. With only preliminary ID data, account access limits are assigned which reduces the risk of fraud or criminal activity with the customer's account access. Because account access is established with just the preliminary ID data, the customer may fully obtain account access directly from a mobile device. The money services businesss business provides additional graduated access levels depending on additional ID data provided by the customer. Thus, depending on the type of ID data provided by the customer, the customer's account access will have corresponding access level rights to the custodial account.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2011Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas P. Johns, Jason J. Hogg, Cory Moreira
-
Patent number: 8306361Abstract: A singular value decomposition method according to the present invention is a method for performing a singular value decomposition on an arbitrary matrix A using a computer, the method including the steps of: performing an upper bidiagonalization on the matrix A so as to obtain an upper bidiagonal matrix B of the matrix A; obtaining at least one singular value ? of the matrix B as singular values of the matrix A; and obtaining a singular vector of the matrix A for the ?. The step of obtaining a singular vector of the matrix A includes a step of performing a Twisted decomposition on a matrix BTB??2I (where I is a unit matrix) by using a Miura inverse transformation, an sdLVvs transformation, an rdLVvs transformation and a Miura transformation so as to diagonalize a matrix BTB.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2005Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Japan Science and Technology AgencyInventors: Yoshimasa Nakamura, Masashi Iwasaki, Shinya Sakano
-
Patent number: 8306986Abstract: In a business where a database tracks customers and manages customer accounts, a method and system correctly link accounts with customers. The method entails reading customer information for a first customer and for a second customer, and then utilizing personal identification information obtained from other sources to determine if the first customer is the same as the second customer. If the first customer and the second customer are the same person, the first customer and the second customer are identified as being the same unique person. Accounts associated with the two customers are identified as belonging to the same unique person. Viewed another way, the method and system of the present invention takes an existing database of personal identification information, and cross-references that database against other sources of personal identification information to identify persons who appear to be separate persons, but who are actually one and the same individual.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas K. Routson, Mary E. Weissman, Ann Shelley Mata
-
Patent number: 8306890Abstract: Commercial size of spending wallet (“SoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“SoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. Commercial SoW is a modeling approach that utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. These outputs can be appended to data profiles of customers and prospects and can be utilized to support decisions involving prospecting, new account evaluation, and customer management across the lifecycle. Company financial statements are utilized to identify and calculate total business spend of a company that could be transacted using a commercial credit card. A spend-like regression model may then be developed to estimate annual commercial SoSW value for customers and prospects within a credit network.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2012Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Inventors: Kathleen Haggerty, Charles Christopher Lyon, Robert E. Phelan, Jon Kevin Ruterman, Geraldine A. Turner, Chao M. Yuan, Arnab Biswas
-
Patent number: 8306866Abstract: A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Inventor: Tracey R. Thomas
-
Patent number: 8297548Abstract: A surface covering installation tool and method of use to provide improved safety and efficiency for surface covering installation. The surface covering installation tool is a tool that includes a handle, a mandrel, and a support member. A user inserts the mandrel into rolled surface covering and then pulls the rolled surfaced covering using the handle causing the surface covering to unroll.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2010Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: GES Exposition Services, Inc.Inventors: Martin Laurel, Leonard Izzo
-
Patent number: 8301554Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for managing meetings and allocating and reconciling expenditures. Scheduling information for a plurality of meetings is stored in a database. A plurality of budgets is stored in the database, each of the budgets being associated with and defining budget items for one of the plurality of meetings. Transaction data are received describing a plurality of expenditures made using at least one transaction account, wherein the transaction data comprise an amount expended for each of the plurality of expenditures. A selection of an expenditure, from the plurality of expenditures, and a selection of a meeting related to the selected expenditure from the plurality of meetings are accepted from a user. An allocation of at least a portion of the amount of the selected expenditure to a budget item for the selected meeting is accepted.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2005Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Inventors: Clarke Moir Simpson, Olivier B. Sauser
-
Patent number: 8301485Abstract: Tracking and management data for a survey distribution and response lifecycle is disclosed. The system generates and links tracking data for both the distribution and the response, generates indicators that include the tracking data, and encodes the indicators so that the indicators are detectable as the indicators traverse various events and locations throughout the lifecycle. A detailed audit trail of each event in the distribution and response lifecycle is constructed using data matching methods and various statistics regarding the lifecycle, such that the response habits of customers are formulated enabling an operation to more efficiently forecast, plan and conduct operations.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2009Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Inventors: Brian William Ford, Dean Victor Vocaturo
-
Patent number: 8301566Abstract: Authorization limits on the use of a financial transaction instrument, such as a credit card and the like, may be set by an owner of a financial account corresponding to the financial transaction instrument. The owner provides information identifying the owner, the financial account, and the financial transaction instrument corresponding to the financial account to a computer, and also provides an owner-defined authorization limit on use of the financial transaction instrument to the computer. The authorization limit is stored in a database, which is accessed when there is a request to authorize a purchase to be made with the financial transaction instrument. The owner may communicate with the computer via a Web site, an automated call program, a kiosk, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2005Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Inventor: Stuart Andrew Mears
-
Patent number: 8298951Abstract: A method of forming side spacers upwardly extending from a substrate, includes: providing a template constituted by a photoresist formed on and in contact with an etch-selective layer laminated on a substrate; anisotropically etching the template in a thickness direction with an oxygen-containing plasma to remove a footing of the photoresist and an exposed portion of the underlying layer; depositing a spacer film on the template by atomic layer deposition (ALD); and forming side spacers using the spacer film by etching. The etch-selective layer has a substantially lower etch rate than that of the photoresist.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2011Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: ASM Japan K.K.Inventor: Ryu Nakano
-
Patent number: 8296916Abstract: A method for enabling removal and replacement of a failed actuator module of a brake assembly that includes multiple actuators (27) for compressing a brake disk stack (12), wherein the failed actuator has failed in an extended position applying compressive force to the brake disk stack and at least one of the other actuators remains operative. The method comprises the steps of causing one or more of the operative actuators to apply to the brake disk stack a compressive force greater than the compressive force exerted by the failed actuator whereby the reactionary force acting on the failed actuator will be reduced, and removing the failed actuator after the reactionary load on the failed actuator has been reduced.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2008Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Goodrich CorporationInventors: Richard Arthur Kipp, Steven Campbell, Timothy Mark Himes
-
Patent number: D670275Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2011Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Superior Communications, Inc.Inventors: Pip Tompkin, Shannon Hematian, Dayne Tanner, Denny Liao, Jessica Lambert