Patents by Inventor Andrew Birrell

Andrew Birrell 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).

  • Publication number: 20150240242
    Abstract: The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of the IKK-B gene, comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-25 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of the IKK-B gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by the expression or activation of the IKK-B gene using the pharmaceutical composition; and methods for inhibiting the expression of the IKK-B gene in a cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Antonin de Fougerolles, Andrew Sprague, Jens Harborth, Maria Gabriela Belvisi, Mark Andrew Birrell, Elizabeth Louise Hardaker, Matthew Copeland Catley
  • Patent number: 9000143
    Abstract: The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of the IKK-B gene, comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-25 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of the IKK-B gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by the expression or activation of the IKK-B gene using the pharmaceutical composition; and methods for inhibiting the expression of the IKK-B gene in a cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonin de Fougerolles, Andrew Sprague, Jens Harborth, Maria Gabriela Belvisi, Mark Andrew Birrell, Elizabeth Louise Hardaker, Matthew Copeland Catley
  • Patent number: 8239954
    Abstract: A pattern matching access control system determines whether a principal should be granted access to use a resource based on properties of applications comprised by the principal. The principal name may be created when an application is loaded, invokes other applications (or programs) and/or assumes a new role context. Access is provided based on whether, for each application, the publisher is authorized by system policy to grant privilege as requested by the application. When a resource which requires the privilege is requested by a principal, an access control list (ACL) for the resource is expanded with a list of applications that have been authorized through their publisher to assert the privilege. The expanded ACL is compared to the principal name to determine resource access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Edward P. Wobber, Andrew Birrell, Martin Abadi
  • Publication number: 20110112178
    Abstract: The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of the IKK-B gene, comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-25 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of the IKK-B gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by the expression or activation of the IKK-B gene using the pharmaceutical composition; and methods for inhibiting the expression of the IKK-B gene in a cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: ALNYLAM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Antonin de Fougerolles, Andrew Sprague, Jens Harborth, Maria Gabriela Belvisi, Mark Andrew Birrell, Elizabeth Ouise Hardaker, Matthew Copeland Catley
  • Patent number: 7888498
    Abstract: The invention relates to a doable-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of the IKK-B gene, comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-25 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of the IKK-B gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases, caused by the expression or activation of the IKK-B gene using the pharmaceutical composition; and methods for inhibiting the expression of the IKK-B gene in a cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignees: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
    Inventors: Antonin De Fougerolles, Andrew Sprague, Jens Harborth, Maria Gabriela Belvisi, Mark Andrew Birrell, Elizabeth Louise Hardaker, Matthew Copeland Catley
  • Patent number: 7480761
    Abstract: A system is provided for reading and writing sectors which may be realized as either a disk device to the local operating system, or as a virtual disk device to a virtual machine. A user's computing environment is stored in the network in the form of a disk image, which may be a virtual disk image, for example. The virtual disk is realized on host computers through host-resident virtual machine monitors such as MICROSOFT VIRTUAL PC®. Portable memory devices, such as flash devices, buffer virtual disk writes and cache reads, greatly reducing the performance degradation associated with remote disk access. The cache is mobile so that it can be travel with the user. The flash device remembers commonly used virtual disk content fingerprints so that the host machine's local disk can be used to satisfy many common disk reads when ubiquitous static content is involved. Standard, frequently used software images might be distributed in advance to host machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Birrell, Edward P. Wobber, Muthukaruppan Annamalai, Ulfar Erlingsson
  • Publication number: 20080282354
    Abstract: A pattern matching access control system determines whether a principal should be granted access to use a resource based on properties of applications comprised by the principal. The principal name may be created when an application is loaded, invokes other applications (or programs) and/or assumes a new role context. Access is provided based on whether, for each application, the publisher is authorized by system policy to grant privilege as requested by the application. When a resource which requires the privilege is requested by a principal, an access control list (ACL) for the resource is expanded with a list of applications that have been authorized through their publisher to assert the privilege. The expanded ACL is compared to the principal name to determine resource access.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward P. Wobber, Andrew Birrell, Martin Abadi
  • Patent number: 7398349
    Abstract: A lifting and shaping system for a bra is disclosed. The system uses lift platforms shaped to fit into the cups of the bra and formed from thin material such as plastic. The lift platforms are attached to the bra toward the center of the bra. Connectors having one end attached to the lift platform and the other end attached to a slide on the shoulder strap adjust the lift of the lift platform when the slide is moved. Flexible shaping members distribute the lift of the lift platforms and maintain the natural shape of the breasts as they are lifted. Smoothing shields ease the movement of the lift platforms and connectors within the cloth confines of the breast cups. The flexible shaping members may also perform some of the functions of a smoothing shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Birrell, Edward P. Wobber, Muthukaruppan Annamalai, Ulfar Erlingsson
  • Patent number: 7380051
    Abstract: A system is provided for reading and writing sectors which may be realized as either a disk device to the local operating system, or as a virtual disk device to a virtual machine. A user's computing environment is stored in the network in the form of a disk image, which may be a virtual disk image, for example. The virtual disk is realized on host computers through host-resident virtual machine monitors such as MICROSOFT VIRTUAL PC®. Portable memory devices, such as flash devices, buffer virtual disk writes and cache reads, greatly reducing the performance degradation associated with remote disk access. The cache is mobile so that it can be travel with the user. The flash device remembers commonly used virtual disk content fingerprints so that the host machine's local disk can be used to satisfy many common disk reads when ubiquitous static content is involved. Standard, frequently used software images might be distributed in advance to host machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Birrell, Edward P. Wobber, Muthukaruppan Annamalai, Ulfar Erlingsson
  • Publication number: 20070226500
    Abstract: A subscription-based computing device has hardware and a subscription enforcer implemented in the hardware. The enforcer has an accumulator that accumulates a usage value as the computing device is being used and an expiration value register that stores an expiration value. The enforcer allows the computing device to operate in a subscription mode without hindrance and with full use when the usage value is less than the stored expiration value, and allows the computing device to operate in an expiration mode with hindrance and without full use when the usage value reaches the stored expiration value to signal that the subscription for the computing device has expired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Birrell, Charles Thacker, Michael Isard
  • Patent number: 7273345
    Abstract: Means for driving a flow are arranged in cavities which are formed, in particular, in multishell casings of turbo engines. In one embodiment, within the cavity, ejectors are arranged which are supplied via suitable means with a propellant flow which, in turn, activates the flow, for preference a circumferential flow. Preferably, during the operation of the turbo engine a propelling fluid which is colder than the fluid content of the cavity is injected via the ejectors. In this way, at the same time, the cavity is cooled and an equalization of the temperature of the fluid content of the cavity is brought about.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Andrew Birrell, Armin Busekrose, Olatunde Omisore
  • Publication number: 20070083697
    Abstract: Flash memory is managed utilizing memory management data structures residing in volatile memory of a flash memory device. The memory management data structures are created and updated each time power is supplied to the memory device. During write operations to the flash memory, specific locations in the flash memory are updated to reflect the current status of the flash memory. When power is interrupted, the memory management data structures are recreated upon reapplication of power. The flash memory is scanned and the information obtained from the specific locations in the flash memory is utilized to construct the memory management data structures. No bad block tables are required. Flash memory is managed to provide relatively good random write performance and to accommodate power interruptions. Applications include the use of flash memory for general purpose computing and devices in which power can fail at any time (due to being unplugged for example).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Birrell, Charles Thacker, Edward Wobber, Michael Isard
  • Publication number: 20070065274
    Abstract: Means for driving a flow are arranged in cavities which are formed, in particular, in multishell casings of turbo engines. In one embodiment, within the cavity, ejectors are arranged which are supplied via suitable means with a propellant flow which, in turn, activates the flow, for preference a circumferential flow. Preferably, during the operation of the turbo engine a propelling fluid which is colder than the fluid content of the cavity is injected via the ejectors. In this way, at the same time, the cavity is cooled and an equalization of the temperature of the fluid content of the cavity is brought about.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Birrell, Armin Busekrose, Olatunde Omisore
  • Publication number: 20060265754
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for resource access control in computer systems. Our approach includes new techniques for composing and authenticating principals in an access control system. Our principals may comprise information that identifies the role of the user of a computer system, the mechanism by which the user was authenticated, and program execution history. Thus, when a principal makes a request, access control determinations can be made based on the principal's identity. Access control lists may provide patterns that are used to recognize principals, thereby ensuring a level of security without enumerating precise identifiers for all of the possible principles that may request a particular resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Birrell, Edward Wobber, Martin Abadi
  • Publication number: 20060265759
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for resource access control in computer systems. Our approach includes new techniques for composing and authenticating principals in an access control system. Our principals may comprise information that identifies the role of the user of a computer system, the mechanism by which the user was authenticated, and program execution history. Thus, when a principal makes a request, access control determinations can be made based on the principal's identity. Access control lists may provide patterns that are used to recognize principals, thereby ensuring a level of security without enumerating precise identifiers for all of the possible principles that may request a particular resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Birrell, Edward Wobber, Martin Abadi
  • Publication number: 20060233367
    Abstract: A system is provided for reading and writing sectors which may be realized as either a disk device to the local operating system, or as a virtual disk device to a virtual machine. A user's computing environment is stored in the network in the form of a disk image, which may be a virtual disk image, for example. The virtual disk is realized on host computers through host-resident virtual machine monitors such as MICROSOFT VIRTUAL PC®. Portable memory devices, such as flash devices, buffer virtual disk writes and cache reads, greatly reducing the performance degradation associated with remote disk access. The cache is mobile so that it can be travel with the user. The flash device remembers commonly used virtual disk content fingerprints so that the host machine's local disk can be used to satisfy many common disk reads when ubiquitous static content is involved. Standard, frequently used software images might be distributed in advance to host machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Birrell, Edward Wobber, Muthukaruppan Annamalai, Ulfar Erlingsson
  • Publication number: 20060155930
    Abstract: A lifting and shaping system for a bra is disclosed. The system uses lift platforms shaped to fit into the cups of the bra and formed from thin material such as plastic. The lift platforms are attached to the bra toward the center of the bra. Connectors having one end attached to the lift platform and the other end attached to a slide on the shoulder strap adjust the lift of the lift platform when the slide is moved. Flexible shaping members distribute the lift of the lift platforms and maintain the natural shape of the breasts as they are lifted. Smoothing shields ease the movement of the lift platforms and connectors within the cloth confines of the breast cups. The flexible shaping members may also perform some of the functions of a smoothing shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Birrell, Edward Wobber, Muthukaruppan Annamalai, Ulfar Erlingsson
  • Publication number: 20060155931
    Abstract: A system is provided for reading and writing sectors which may be realized as either a disk device to the local operating system, or as a virtual disk device to a virtual machine. A user's computing environment is stored in the network in the form of a disk image, which may be a virtual disk image, for example. The virtual disk is realized on host computers through host-resident virtual machine monitors such as MICROSOFT VIRTUAL PC®. Portable memory devices, such as flash devices, buffer virtual disk writes and cache reads, greatly reducing the performance degradation associated with remote disk access. The cache is mobile so that it can be travel with the user. The flash device remembers commonly used virtual disk content fingerprints so that the host machine's local disk can be used to satisfy many common disk reads when ubiquitous static content is involved. Standard, frequently used software images might be distributed in advance to host machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Birrell, Edward Wobber, Muthukaruppan Annamalai, Ulfar Erlingsson
  • Publication number: 20050210258
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a cancellation server maintaining a database of identifiers of cryptographic puzzles. A cryptographic puzzle is created from a unique identifier and a timestamp, and is attached to an electronic mail message, along with the puzzle's solution. The recipient verifies that the solution is correct and that the timestamp is current, and further queries the cancellation server with the puzzle identifier. If the identifier does not exist in the database, then the recipient knows the received message is legitimate. If the identifier already appears in the database, the received message can be automatically removed from the recipient's computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Birrell, Michael Burrows, Edward Wobber
  • Patent number: 6332175
    Abstract: A portable audio player stores a large amount of compressed audio data on an internal disk drive, and loads a portion of this into an internal random access memory (RAM) which requires less power and less time to access. The audio player plays the data stored in RAM and monitors the amount of unplayed data. When the amount of unplayed data falls below a threshold, additional data is copied from the disk drive into RAM. Because the time necessary to copy a block of data from the disk drive to RAM is much less than the amount of time it takes to play the same block of audio data from RAM, this approach minimizes the amount of time that the disk drive must be operated, and thus minimizes the amount of power consumed by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Birrell, William Laing, Puneet Kumar