Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Stephen M. De Klerk
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Patent number: 8343028Abstract: A device and method for creating a connection with the left ventricle of a heart are provided. A seal member capable of moving between a folded position and an open position is attached to the end of a conduit. An introducer capable of moving between a first and second position allows for the expansion of the seal member into an open position. A clamp component is positioned outside of the heart to provide an axial clamping force with the wall of the heart so that a seal is created between the seal member and the wall of the heart.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2006Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Igor Gregoric, Branislav Radovancevic, Alex Y. Hsia
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Patent number: 8322123Abstract: A method and apparatus (100) for stripping irregular material (2) from a line (1) during relative movement between the apparatus (100) and line (1). The apparatus (100) includes a line guide (200), material guide (210) and stripping mechanism (101). The line (1) passes through the line guide (200). The material guide (210) is configured to guide, constrict, compact and/or re-orientate the irregular material (2) into engagement with the stripping mechanism (101). The stripping mechanism (101) has stripping elements (102) movable with respect to the line guide (200) and line (1) to strip the material (2) from the line (1). The method includes stripping material (2) from a line (1) extending between two end supports (4) and being releasably attached to intermediate supports (3). The material (2) is stripped by causing relative movement between a guide (100) and the line (1) after the line (1) is detached and moved away from the intermediate supports (3).Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2008Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Honeypot Holdings LimitedInventors: Nigel Hamish George, Marcus James Wickham, Garry Trevor Love, Albert Arnold Love
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Patent number: 8326261Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to facilitate customer to supplier funds transfer via premium messages. In one aspect, an apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier, includes: a server component connected to a network; and a database coupled to the server component. The server component is configured to: transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the first mobile cellular telephone to effect a transfer of funds from the customer for reception by the supplier, after the customer has placed an order with the supplier; and transmit a notification message to a second mobile cellular telephone having a second telephone number to confirm that the transfer of funds has taken place.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2009Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Boku, Inc.Inventor: Glyn Barry Smith
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Patent number: 8316960Abstract: The present invention relates to a drop hammer assembly including a drop hammer configured with at least two end conditions, characterized in that the position of the end conditions can be reversed when required. Also claimed is a method of reversing the drop hammer with respect to the drop hammer housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2003Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Terminator IP II SAInventor: Angus Peter Robson
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Patent number: 8271682Abstract: The present invention creates an electronic marketplace where owners of Internet domain names can have multiple parties compete for the right to lease their domain names. A marketplace provider supplies a technology for redirecting Internet traffic from leased domain names to domain names specified by parties that win the right to lease domain names.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2009Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Sendori, Inc.Inventors: Ofer Ronen, Ross David Weldon
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Patent number: 8228085Abstract: A cartridge, including a cartridge frame, formations on the cartridge frame for mounting the cartridge frame in a fixed position to an apparatus frame, a contactor support structure, a contactor interface on the contactor support structure, a plurality of terminals, held by the contactor support structure, for contacting contacts on a device, and a plurality of conductors, held by the contactor support structure, connecting the interface to the terminals.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2010Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Aehr Test SystemsInventors: Scott E. Lindsey, Jovan Jovanovic, David S. Hendrickson, Donald P. Richmond, II
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Patent number: 8224727Abstract: Systems and methods to authenticate and process requests received via social networking websites. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store data associating a first phone number of a user with an identification of the user in a social networking website; and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers of mobile communications. The converters communicate with the controllers in different formats and with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor receives a request including the identification of the user, identifies the first phone number of the user based on the data stored on the data storage facility, and uses the converters to communicate with a mobile phone at the first phone number to confirm the request.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2009Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Boku, Inc.Inventors: Ron Hirson, Nicholas Reidy
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Patent number: 8224709Abstract: A system is described to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications, including a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers in different formats for delivery of premium messages, and a common format processor coupled with the plurality of converters in a common format to send the premium messages. The common format processor receives a web request from a mobile phone, in response to a user selection within a mobile application executed separately from a browser application on the mobile phone, provides a web page in response to confirm a pre-defined purchase, transmits at least one premium message to the mobile phone using a first converter to obtain funds for the pre-defined purchase, and communicates with the merchant to make the pre-defined purchase on behalf of the user.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2009Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Boku, Inc.Inventor: Ron Hirson
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Patent number: 8219542Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to allow parental control via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store data associating a phone number with information indicative of an age of a user of the phone number; and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and to communicate with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor is to use one converter of the converters to communicate with a telephonic apparatus at the phone number to obtain parental consent, in response to a request from a third party website, such as a social networking website.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2010Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Boku, Inc.Inventor: Martine Niejadlik
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Patent number: 8198909Abstract: The invention relates to a tester apparatus of the kind including a portable supporting structure for removably holding and testing a substrate carrying a microelectronic circuit. An interface on the stationary structure is connected to the first interface when the portable structure is held by the stationary structure and is disconnected from the first interface when the portable supporting structure is removed from the stationary structure. An electrical tester is connected through the interfaces so that signals may be transmitted between the electrical tester and the microelectronic circuit to test the microelectronic circuit.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2011Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: AEHR Test SystemsInventors: Steven C. Steps, Scott E. Lindsey, Kenneth W. Deboe, Donald P. Richmond, II, Alberto Calderon
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Patent number: 8181716Abstract: A breaking apparatus (1) which includes; a housing (3); a striker pin (4) having a driven end and an impact end, locatable in said housing (3) in at least one retaining location to protrude said impact end through the housing (3); a moveable mass (2) for impacting on the driven end of the striker pin (4), and a shock-absorber (7a, b) coupled to the retaining locations. The shock-absorber (1) also includes at least two elastic (12) and at least one inelastic (13) layer in a first shock-absorbing assembly (7a) located internally within the housing about the striker pin (2) between the retaining location and the striker pin impact end. The shock-absorbing assembly (7a) is configured to allow movement of the shock absorber parallel to, or co-axial with the striker pin longitudinal axis during use.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2007Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Terminator IP SAInventor: Angus Peter Robson
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Patent number: 8180771Abstract: A system and method of data processing receives a query at a server computer system. The system and method utilizes the query to extract a search result from a data source. The system and method receives at least one search activity record and a user preference from a client computer system over a network at a server computer system. The server computer system stores at least one search activity record on the server computer system and deletes the at least one search activity record on the server computer system based on the user preference.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2008Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: IAC Search & Media, Inc.Inventors: Douglas D. Leeds, Erik T. Collier
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Patent number: 8160943Abstract: Systems and methods to verify and process requests received via social networking websites. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store data associated with a first phone number; and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers of mobile communications. The converters communicate with the controllers in different formats and with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor receives a request from a first user via a social networking website, identifies a first phone number of the first user and a second phone number of a second user, based on the social networking website, and uses the converters to communicate with at least one of the mobile phones at the first and second phone numbers to confirm and/or approve the request.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2009Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Boku, Inc.Inventors: Glyn Barry Smith, Ron Hirson, Nicholas Reidy
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Patent number: 8145703Abstract: The invention provides a user interface including a first view transmitted from a server computer system to a client computer system, the first view including a search identifier, interaction with the search identifier causing of a search request from the client computer system to the server computer system, the search request being utilized at the server computer system to extract at least an initial search result from a search data source, the initial search result including information relating to a geographic location to the client computer system for display at the client computer system, and a second view transmitted from the server computer system in response to the user interacting with the search identifier, the second view including the initial search result and the plurality of related search suggestions.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2007Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: IAC Search & Media, Inc.Inventors: Michiel Frishert, Anton V. Jouline, William Ryan Massie, William Edward Reed, Jr.
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Patent number: 8131258Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate on-site processing of transaction requests. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store an account identifier of a user and a phone number of the user and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and to communicate with the common format processor in a common format to transmit a message to a telephone at the telephone number of the user to prompt the user to confirm a request and to receive a confirmation of the request via the telephone. The request is received via a user interface embedded in a web page of a first website without reloading or refreshing the web page.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2009Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Boku, Inc.Inventors: Glyn Barry Smith, Jonathan Michael Kingston
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Patent number: 8122042Abstract: In a method for a direct answer for search, a search query is received over a network, one or more answer entities are determined from one or more answer candidate snippets, with an answer candidate snippet having at least a portion of content available over the network for an answer candidate, a content identifier is determined for an answer candidate, a title is tokenized for the content identifier, a comparison is performed between a vector of tokens for the title and a vector of the one or more answer entities, an indicator of the relevance is adjusted for the content identifier in accordance with the comparison, and at least one answer candidate snippet is sent for a response to the search query.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2009Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: IAC Search & Media, Inc.Inventors: Yufei Pan, Jiankuan Ye, Ming Li, Alessio Signorini, Apostolos Gerasoulis, Tomasz Imielinski
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Patent number: 8118618Abstract: An apparatus is described for burn-in and/or functional testing of microelectronic circuits of unsingulated wafers. A large number of power, ground, and signal connections can be made to a large number of contacts on a wafer. The apparatus has a cartridge that allows for fanning-in of electric paths. A distribution board has a plurality of interfaces that are strategically positioned to provide a dense configuration. The interfaces are connected through flexible attachments to an array of first connector modules. Each one of the first connector modules can be independently connected to a respective one of a plurality of second connector modules, thereby reducing stresses on a frame of the apparatus. Further features include for example a piston that allows for tight control of forces exerted by terminals onto contacts of a wafer.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2010Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Aehr Test SystemsInventors: Donald P. Richmond, II, Kenneth W. Deboe, Frank O. Uher, Jovan Jovanovic, Scott E. Lindsey, Thomas T. Maenner, Patrick M. Shepherd, Jeffrey L. Tyson, Mark C. Carbone, Paul W. Burke, Doan D. Cao, James F. Tomic, Long V. Vu
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Patent number: 8116747Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to facilitate customer to supplier funds transfer via premium messages. In one aspect, an apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier includes: a server component connected to a network; and a database coupled to the server component. The server component is configured to: transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone of the customer; populate the database with an identification of the telephone number of the customer; receive classifications of offers sold by a plurality of suppliers; populate the database with a table associating the suppliers with classifications of the offers sold by the suppliers, the database including an identification of classifications for the telephone number of the customer; and determine whether to allow or prohibit transmission of text messages to effect payment based upon the identification of the classifications for the telephone number of the customer.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Vidicom LimitedInventor: Glyn Barry Smith
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Patent number: 8116730Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to control online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store data associating a first telephone number with a second telephone number; and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and to communicate with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor is to receive a payment request including the first telephone number, identify the second telephone number based on the data, and communicate with a mobile phone at the second telephone number for approval of the payment request.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Vidicom LimitedInventor: Glyn Barry Smith
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Patent number: 8117124Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to transfer funds electronically via premium messages. In one aspect, an apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier includes: a server component connected to a network; and a database component coupled to the server component. The server is configured to transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone to effect a payment from the customer to the supplier after the customer has placed an order with the supplier. The server component is configured to populate the database component with an identification of the customer telephone number. The server component is configured to prompt the customer to supply additional personal data. In response to the additional personal data, the server component populates the database component with the additional personal data.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Vidicom LimitedInventor: Glyn Barry Smith