Patents Examined by Andrew Hill
  • Patent number: 5689243
    Abstract: A system and method that provides an electronic indication that unauthorized access has been gained to a system. The mechanisms used by the present invention cannot be forged, bypassed, or subverted. In fact, even persons authorized to access the environment cannot do so without leaving evidence. When an intrusion is detected, a random number is generated. This random number, referred to as an audit count, is then encrypted and stored, and a sequence number is incremented. To recover this information at a later time, a trusted individual inserts an external device containing a decryption key. The decryption key is extracted, and the encrypted audit count and sequence number are decrypted and displayed. Periodic verification that the audit count and sequence number have not changed provides assurance that access has not been gained to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Mark E. Bianco
  • Patent number: 5689253
    Abstract: A keyboard for use with a standard personal computer includes an alphanumeric key array having a plurality of alphanumeric keys arranged in a generally orthogonal, concave array. A home row of keys defines a reference position for the fingers of the operator. A liner array of function keys is provided and positioned above the reference position and tilted toward the operator. A generally orthogonal array of auxiliary keys is also positioned above the reference position. The array of auxiliary keys is rotated with respect to the reference position to accommodate the natural angle of the thumb of the operator to the index finger. A palm rest is provided for receiving the palm of the operator while the operator is manipulating the plurality of alphanumeric keys. The palm rest is positioned above the reference position defined by the home row so that during operation of the alphanumeric keys, the fingers of the operator extend downward from the palm rest in a natural curved manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Kinesis Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Hargreaves, Shirley A. Lunde
  • Patent number: 5687384
    Abstract: A subject-of-analysis input section inputs an input sentence or phrase to be analyzed. A dictionary unit holds dictionary data for dictionary consultation for a language of the input sentence. A morphemic analyzer consults the dictionary for the input sentence and recognizes breaks between every input word. A grammatical rule unit holds grammatical rules for parsing in the form of a general context-free grammar. A parsing unit applies the grammatical rules to the input sentence for parsing of the sentence. An analysis table unit stores the analysis intermediate results by the parsing unit in predetermined storage locations and holds an analysis table for storing the storage locations for the intermediate analysis results and/or pointers to the storage locations. The intermediate analysis result information in the analysis table unit includes syntactic category information and at least one of syntactic, semantic and control attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Tomoki Nagase
  • Patent number: 5685000
    Abstract: Desired tasks are modeled as a plurality of database slots. Each of the slots is opportunistically fillable by a predetermined set of values in accordance with a predetermined set of user utterance recognition rules. The user utterance recognition rules include a first layer which recognizes questions and commands based upon co-occurrences of key words in a sentence, removes corresponding database slot values and generates a supplemental utterance. A second layer recognizes database word values irrespective of sentence context and fills the slot appropriately. Responsive utterances are generated in accordance with a predetermined set of condition-action rules. The condition-action rules are based on logical combinations of filled slot values and, in operation, provide a user with the desired perception of a linguistically competent dialog while at the same time eliciting further information to complete a desired task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: U S West Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis Anthony Cox, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5684470
    Abstract: Control systems including control circuitry and optional communications systems for operating a sliding power-operated member of an automotive vehicle. A powered sliding door in an automotive vehicle, such as a van, moves along a predetermined path of travel between a closed position and a fully open position relative to the body of the vehicle. Such a sliding door may be provided with one or more electrically-operated actuators for performing functions associated with the door, such as power opening and closing the door, power unlatching the door, power locking and unlocking the door, and power clamping and unclamping the door in a soft or low-momentum manner. The invention is directed toward improved control systems and circuitry for operating such power-sliding door systems. One such control system employs a wireless communications link between the door and body, which is preferably implemented using radio frequency communication signals containing digitally encoded control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Masco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. DeLand, Paul Heimnick, Curtis T. Moy, Lawrence H. Zuckerman, David G. Grossman, Kurt P. Schuler
  • Patent number: 5684477
    Abstract: An arrangement for use in the control of electronic systems and/or equipment by an operator which enables the operator to use tactile touch and audio information to control or select facilities of the electronic systems and/or equipment under the control of the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Smith Myers Communications Limited
    Inventors: Peter James Myers, Anthony John Smith
  • Patent number: 5682149
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device for the wire-free measurement of temperatures, in particular for the measurement of the body temperature of animals. A transponder is injected as a probe in each animal with the aid of a hollow needle, which is supplied wire-free by a transmitter/receiver and which modulates the interrogation field with two or more abruptly changing tones in a cyclic sequence.The time duration of the tones as well as the frequency of the tones contain the desired information in coded form.By monitoring individually and continuously the body temperature of useful and/or breeding animals in the animal shed or on the pasture, it is possible to detect in time completely automatically the symptoms of an animal becoming ill and appropriate measures can be taken in order to keep the costs as low as possible in the animal husbandry business.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Idento Electronics B.V.
    Inventor: Hendrik Hofman
  • Patent number: 5682148
    Abstract: A paging system repeatedly broadcast each message and associates a sequential message number with each paging message. The message number in each message serves two functions. First, the message number is used to determine if the same message was previously received and second, when a subscriber reviews the messages, missing messages can be readily detected by skipped message numbers. All messages that are transmitted are also stored at a clearinghouse and a subscriber can telephone the clearinghouse facility and request that particular missed messages be retransmitted or given by voice response over the telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignees: Seiko Corporation, Seiko Epson Corp.
    Inventors: Garold B. Gaskill, Daniel J. Park
  • Patent number: 5680126
    Abstract: A modular computer has a framework with module bays for receiving CPU modules, power modules, and peripheral function modules such as floppy and hard disk drives. The framework has a built-in compressed bus and a variety of function modules which can be plugged into any one of the module bays. Function modules include, but are not limited to, CPU, power, floppy disk, hard disk, RAM memory, LAN communication, modem, FAX communication, and data acquisition. In some embodiments function modules are provided for communicating with separate input means, such as voice, keyboards, and pen-pads. In one aspect the module bays and the function modules are configured according to dimensional and connective standards of the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. In another aspect a modular portable computer has a flexible, rollable, keyboard with a system for transmitting keystroke signals by magnetic induction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Elonex I.P. Holdings, Ltd.
    Inventor: Dan Kikinis
  • Patent number: 5678053
    Abstract: A convenient interface for a grammar checking system in which improper utilization of words in a sentence is detected and in which corrected words are suggested for insertion in the sentence including means for underlining incorrectly used words and means for providing a caret or inverted V type indicia for words which are to be inserted, with the caret indicating a missing word in the sentence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Information Technology Center America, Inc.
    Inventor: David B. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5673040
    Abstract: A keyboard for use with a standard personal computer includes an alphanumeric key array having a plurality of alphanumeric keys arranged in a generally orthogonal, concave array. A home row of keys defines a reference position for the fingers of the operator. A linear array of function keys is provided and positioned above the reference position and tilted toward the operator. A generally orthogonal array of auxiliary keys is also positioned above the reference position. The array of auxiliary keys is rotated with respect to the reference position to accommodate the natural angle of the thumb of the operator to the index finger. A palm rest is provided for receiving the palm of the operator while the operator is manipulating the plurality of alphanumeric keys. The palm rest is positioned above the reference position defined by the home row so that during operation of the alphanumeric keys, the fingers of the operator extend downward from the palm rest in a natural curved manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Kinesis Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Hargreaves, Shirley A. Lunde, William P. Farrand
  • Patent number: 5673031
    Abstract: A redundant network and communication protocol is disclosed having host computers, RF base stations and roaming terminals. In one embodiment, this network utilizes a polling communication protocol which, under heavy loaded conditions, requires that a roaming terminal wishing to initiate communication must first determine that the channel is truly clear by listing for an entire interpoll gap time. Thus, when a "hidden" terminal is communicating, the roaming terminal can conclude that such communication is taking place upon receiving a polling frame directed to that "hidden" terminal from the normally silent base station. In a further embodiment, a criterion used by the roaming terminals for attaching to a given base station reduces conflicts in the overlapping RF regions of adjacent base stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Norand Corporation
    Inventor: Robert C. Meier
  • Patent number: 5673038
    Abstract: This invention relates to the field of process variable measuring and display devices and portable power supplies for process variable display devices. This invention can be used to measure and display any process variable, including pressure, temperature, volume, and flow rate. Specifically, this invention relates to an electronic process variable measuring device electronically coupled to a battery powered process variable display device which displays both a bar graph trend indication of the process variable and a digital display of the process variable. In a preferred embodiment, the process variable display device is totally self-contained, including the battery operated power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Houston Digital Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Colgate McLatchy, Jon Douglas de Silva
  • Patent number: 5670958
    Abstract: The present infra-red remote control transmitter understands external formats, and those with toggle-bits and different carrier frequency ranges, and transmits signals in these data formats to the appropriate devices, with or without a toggle-bit. The remote control receives and transmits infra-red formats and comprises an infra-red receiver with a microprocessor and/or with two carrier frequency oscillators to generate two modulation frequencies, in which case it is provided with two infra-red receivers. An externally formatted data word with toggle-bits is subjected, after being read at least twice, to a comparison inside the microprocessor, from which the presence of toggle-bits, their number, position and the carrier frequency of the data word are found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Eberhard Hauser, Norbert Eigeldinger
  • Patent number: 5668538
    Abstract: An electricity meter includes input terminals to which, in use, a main electricity supply is connected, output terminals via which, in use, electricity is fed to a consumer, a switch via which electricity is fed from the input terminals to the output terminals and an indicating device operative to provide an indication of the quantity of electricity fed via the switch to the consumer. The meter is adapted to receive a unit arranged in operative association with the switch so as to effect operation of a switch actuator to open the switch for the purpose of interrupting the supply of electricity to the consumer consequent upon receipt by the unit of a predetermined actuation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Siemens Measurements Limited
    Inventor: Ronald Warwick
  • Patent number: 5666108
    Abstract: A telemetry data selection method is used with a preprocessor which receives data arranged in a predetermined format corresponding to predetermined parameters of subjects to be tested and which successively outputs data words each accompanied by a tag word. The data words have values for predetermined sets of the parameters, and the preprocessor generates the tag words with predetermined tags identifying the sets. The data and tag words are provided to a plurality of word selector and processor devices each associated with several digital-to-analog converters (DAC's). Each DAC is arbitrarily assignable to any one of the parameter sets, and data for each DAC may be arbitrarily unpacked and scaled. The DAC assignments, unpacking, and scaling may be conveniently changed during a test in which data is being telemetered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Harold A. Duffy
  • Patent number: 5661476
    Abstract: A method for selecting a symbol using an M-key keyboard in a personal information device (PID) divides the M keys into a first key group and a second key group. Each symbol to be recognized from the input key-strokes on the keyboard is assigned a unique two-keystroke sequence in which the first key and the second key of that two-keystroke sequence are selected from different key groups. When receiving keystrokes from the keyboard, two-keystroke sequences received from the keyboard are matched to the symbol assignments to derive which symbol is selected. This method is applicable not only for selecting letters from a European alphabet, such as the English or the Cyrillic alphabets, this method is applicable to selecting from a phonetic alphabet, such as the Pin-Yin system for Chinese characters and other phonetic systems in the Korean and Japanese languages as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: General Wireless Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Weijia Wang, Chuan David Ai, Michael M. Y. Tsai
  • Patent number: 5659301
    Abstract: In a method for bidirectional serial data transmission between an integrated memory circuit and a reading/writing circuit which are separated from each other, an integrated memory circuit having two electrical contact points and a reading/writing circuit with a connecting element having two contacts are provided. Data transmission is enabled by connecting the two-contact connecting element to the two electrical contact points of the integrated memory circuit. Data are transmitted from the reading/writing circuit to the integrated memory circuit by superimposing voltage pulses on the voltage supplied to the integrated memory circuit. Data are transmitted from the integrated memory circuit to the reading/writing circuit by modulating supply current consumed by the integrated memory circuit. The integrated memory circuit is driven with an internal clock output and signals corresponding with data to be transmitted to the reading/writing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Gay Freres Vente et Exportation S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Berney
  • Patent number: 5659765
    Abstract: A machine translation system includes a database for storing various information, database management section for performing database management, a bilingual correspondence data record subsystem for performing recording/learning processing of translation examples, a translation subsystem for performing translation processing, and dictionary management utilities for performing dictionary management and database transmission/reception processing. The bilingual correspondence data recording section records English and Japanese bilingual correspondences by using English and Japanese sentences stored in the same file or different files. The recorded bilingual correspondences are linked in units of parts by a bilingual correspondence learning section. In performing translation, an English-to-Japanese translation section and the like generate a translation of an original sentence as a translation target by using parts and the like which have undergone learning/recording processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Nii
  • Patent number: 5659302
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the monitoring of items of equipment by a user, of the type comprising the operations consisting of sensing stresses undergone by the items of equipment, recording signals corresponding to these stresses, then reading out these signals after possible processing. The device is of the type comprising at least one sensor connected to a recorder assembly equipped with a microprocessor, memories, a time stamp, device for programming the microprocessor and device for reading out stored data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Inventor: Renaud Ernest Cordier