Patents by Inventor Branden Clark Bickley

Branden Clark Bickley 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).

  • Patent number: 7054704
    Abstract: A method and system provide for the control of resource allocation within a build-to-order manufacturing environment. One example embodiment of a method according to the present disclosure includes an operation for monitoring a work-in-process (WIP) profile that represents dynamic attributes of an area in a manufacturing facility. A user interface in a control center for the manufacturing facility may be automatically updated to depict one or more of the dynamic attributes in substantially real time, based on one or more of the WIP profiles. After the user interface is updated, user input that specifies a desired reallocation of resources for the manufacturing facility may be received. The user input may trigger communications with one or more areas in the manufacturing facility to implement the desired reallocation of resources. Alternative embodiments may include additional or alternative features, such as features for error detection and recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Branden Clark Bickley, Mark Allen Pape, Richard M. Williams, Nicholas J. Widis, Brian J. Hunt
  • Patent number: 6950714
    Abstract: A method and system provide for the control of resource allocation within a build-to-order manufacturing environment by monitoring a work-in-process (WIP) profile that represents dynamic attributes of an area in a manufacturing facility. A user interface in a control center for the manufacturing facility is automatically updated to depict one or more of the dynamic attributes in substantially real time, based on one or more of the WIP profiles. After the user interface is updated, user input that specifies a desired reallocation of resources for the manufacturing facility is received. The user input may then trigger communications with one or more areas in the manufacturing facility to implement the desired reallocation of resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Branden Clark Bickley, Mark Allen Pape, Richard M. Williams, Nicholas J. Widis, Brian J. Hunt
  • Patent number: 6816746
    Abstract: A method, system and logic are described for monitoring resources within a manufacturing environment. A system for monitoring resources within a manufacturing facility includes a remote monitoring system coupled to one or more pieces of equipment within the manufacturing facility. The remote monitoring system may be communicatively coupled to a control center operable to display status information associated with using the one or more pieces of equipment, and a simulator communicatively coupled to the remote monitoring system is operable to dynamically simulate resource re-allocation based on the inoperability of the one or more pieces of equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Branden Clark Bickley, Ashish Goel
  • Publication number: 20040010334
    Abstract: A method and system provide for the control of resource allocation within a build-to-order manufacturing environment. One example embodiment of a method according to the present disclosure includes an operation for monitoring a work-in-process (WIP) profile that represents dynamic attributes of an area in a manufacturing facility. A user interface in a control center for the manufacturing facility may be automatically updated to depict one or more of the dynamic attributes in substantially real time, based on one or more of the WIP profiles. After the user interface is updated, user input that specifies a desired reallocation of resources for the manufacturing facility may be received. The user input may trigger communications with one or more areas in the manufacturing facility to implement the desired reallocation of resources. Alternative embodiments may include additional or alternative features, such as features for error detection and recovery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Branden Clark Bickley, Mark Allen Pape, Richard M. Williams, Nicholas J. Widis, Brian J. Hunt
  • Patent number: 6615092
    Abstract: A method, a system and a facility provide for the control of resource allocation within a build to order manufacturing environment. A system for providing a control center for a manufacturing facility is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of information sources operably associated with manufacturing products within the manufacturing facility. A user interface of the system displays selective information associated with portions of the manufacturing facility within a control center operable to manage production within the manufacturing facility. The system further includes a resource allocator operably coupled to the control center and the plurality of information sources and the resource allocator is operable to monitor work in process within the manufacturing facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Branden Clark Bickley, Mark Allen Pape, Richard M. Williams, Nicholas J. Widis, Brian J. Hunt
  • Patent number: 6611727
    Abstract: A method, a system, and logic for simulating production within a build to order manufacturing environment are described. According to one aspect, a system for allocating resources within the manufacturing environment is disclosed. The system includes a control center operably coupled to one or more databases having associated work in process profile information for selective portions of a manufacturing facility. A simulator may be communicatively coupled to the control center to simulate allocation of resources based on real-time acquisition of information associated with the WIP information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Branden Clark Bickley, Ashish Goel
  • Patent number: 6560509
    Abstract: A method for managing a distribution facility may include a step of receiving descriptions of multiple orders from an order-management subsystem. A determination may be made that a particular order among the multiple orders is currently fillable, based the descriptions from the order-management subsystem. In response, shipping rate information may be obtained by automatically communicating with a rate subsystem. The particular order may be automatically assigned to a carrier, based on the information from the rate subsystem. In response, a transportation subsystem may automatically be caused to transport items for the particular order to one or more distribution stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Richard M. Williams, Craig A. Morris, Branden Clark Bickley, Robert T. Mason, Mark A. Pape, Mariely Franzetti, William B. Muir, Meyyappan Arunachalam
  • Patent number: 6529797
    Abstract: A method for shipping items from a distribution facility according to customer orders may include a step of determining that the distribution facility contains all items requested in a customer order. The method may also include a step of determining that the requested items are a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) shipment. In response to determining that the distribution facility contains the requested items, a determination may be made as to whether sufficient pallet-build squares are available in the distribution facility to accommodate the requested items. In response to determining that sufficient pallet-build squares are available, the requested items may be automatically transported to an LTL dock in the distribution facility via one or more of the available pallet-build squares.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Richard M. Williams, Mark A. Pape, Branden Clark Bickley, Brian J. Hunt, William B. Muir, Larry L. Roder, Mariely Franzetti
  • Patent number: 6505094
    Abstract: A method for preparing items for shipment in a distribution facility with multiple pallet-build squares may include a step of identifying an available pallet-build square among the multiple pallet-build squares. An item may then be transported to an operator for the available pallet-build square. Item data from a scan of a barcode on the item may then be received, and in response, a display may be automatically updated to identify the available pallet for the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Mark A. Pape, Branden Clark Bickley, Robert T. Mason, Robert F. Martin, William B. Muir, Richard M. Williams, Gustavo Blum, Stefanie A. Vandorpe, James E. Pike, Sergio Botero, Gregory V. Johnson, Tracy A. Masson, Michael R. Rogers, Timothy J. Boswell, Melissa S. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20020161593
    Abstract: A method for managing a distribution facility may include a step of receiving descriptions of multiple orders from an order-management subsystem. A determination may be made that a particular order among the multiple orders is currently fillable, based the descriptions from the order-management subsystem. In response, shipping rate information may be obtained by automatically communicating with a rate subsystem. The particular order may be automatically assigned to a carrier, based on the information from the rate subsystem. In response, a transportation subsystem may automatically be caused to transport items for the particular order to one or more distribution stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Richard M. Williams, Craig A. Morris, Branden Clark Bickley, Robert T. Mason, Mark A. Pape, Mariely Franzetti, William B. Muir, Meyyappan Arunachalam
  • Publication number: 20020123944
    Abstract: A method for shipping items from a distribution facility according to customer orders may include a step of determining that the distribution facility contains all items requested in a customer order. The method may also include a step of determining that the requested items are a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) shipment. In response to determining that the distribution facility contains the requested items, a determination may be made as to whether sufficient pallet-build squares are available in the distribution facility to accommodate the requested items. In response to determining that sufficient pallet-build squares are available, the requested items may be automatically transported to an LTL dock in the distribution facility via one or more of the available pallet-build squares.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Richard M. Williams, Mark A. Pape, Branden Clark Bickley, Brian J. Hunt, William B. Muir, Larry L. Roder, Mariely Franzetti
  • Publication number: 20020122715
    Abstract: A method for preparing items for shipment in a distribution facility with multiple pallet-build squares may include a step of identifying an available pallet-build square among the multiple pallet-build squares. An item may then be transported to an operator for the available pallet-build square. Item data from a scan of a barcode on the item may then be received, and in response, a display may be automatically updated to identify the available pallet for the operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Mark A. Pape, Branden Clark Bickley, Robert T. Mason, Robert F. Martin, William B. Muir, Richard M. Williams, Stefanie A. Vandorpe, Gustavo Blum, James E. Pike, Gregory V. Johnson, Tracy A. Masson, Melissa S. Snyder, Sergio Botero, Timothy J. Boswell, Michael R. Rogers