Patents by Inventor C. Thomas

C. Thomas 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: 20080270797
    Abstract: A system is provided, the system having a first storage device and a second storage device. A symbiotic relationship is established between the first and second storage devices to selectively store backup digital content for each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Fred C. Thomas, Anthony J. Hernandez, John M. Agosta
  • Publication number: 20080263586
    Abstract: Steps employed in editing content in moving media are used to enable virtual product placement in existing moving content, which may comprise either recorded or rendered moving images. Further, by such steps media may be created that contain virtually placed products. In addition, business methods for commercial placement of product in media may be employed that are based upon metrics parameterized according to distribution by time slot, geographic area, or distribution channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Keith C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080232561
    Abstract: Techniques for using advertising to fund the use of client-side or network-side data access services by a user of a personal electronic device are discussed. Digital advertising content is associated with data items accessible via a particular data access service at a variety of processing locations, using a variety of techniques. An account having an account balance is used to record exchanges of consideration between the user and the data access service. When the user uses the personal electronic device to access data items via the data access service, the account balance is adjusted to reflect a consideration provided by the data access service. When the user consumes digital advertising content, the account balance is adjusted to reflect consideration provided by the user. In this manner, the account serves as a medium for the advertising source to fund the use of the data access service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Hildreth, Darren R. Davis, Myron C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080185600
    Abstract: A light emitting semiconductor device including a light emitting diode having a cascading phosphor is improved by the particles of phosphor being coated with a moisture barrier layer and a buffer layer. Either the buffer layer overlies the moisture barrier layer or the moisture barrier layer overlies the buffer layer. In the latter case, the particles can further include a buffer layer over the moisture barrier layer. Preferred materials for the buffer layer are silica or alumina, which can include other oxides in the layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: World Properties, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080183836
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system comprises a network attached storage (NAS) server not having a general-purpose user input device. The NAS server comprises local data storage and a plurality of automated media portals each operable for receiving a direct communicative coupling of a portable storage media and reading data from the received portable storage media for storage to the local data storage. According to another embodiment, a method comprises receiving a direct communicative coupling of a portable storage media to any of a plurality of different automated media portals of a NAS server, wherein the NAS server comprises local data storage and wherein the NAS server does not include a general-purpose user input device. The NAS server reads data from the received portable storage media, and the NAS server stores the data to the local data storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Michael J. Barber, William G. McCollom, Fred C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080184282
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for an optical storage medium comprises a first portion that is installed on the optical storage medium and a second portion that is lockable to the first portion. When the first and second portions are locked together, the optical storage medium is unusable to access data stored thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Fred C. Thomas, Philip M. Walker, Mark T. Maguire, Kerwyn L. Ballinger, Makarand P. Gore
  • Publication number: 20080181433
    Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of storage drives coupled to logic. The logic implements a noise-reducing feature selected from a group consisting of a first feature that limits system performance based on a level of ambient noise, a second feature that staggers access transactions among said storage drives, a third feature that staggers spin up among the storage drives, a fourth feature that at least partially cancels noise generated by the system, a fifth feature that limits fan speed, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Fred C. Thomas, Paul Boerger
  • Publication number: 20080177907
    Abstract: A method and system of a peripheral port of a server system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are a server system comprising a processor, a non-volatile storage device coupled to the processor, a peripheral port coupled to the processor, and an indicator coupled to the processor (and the indicator associated with the peripheral port). The server system does not support a directly coupled display device, the processor determines whether a device coupled to the peripheral port is supported by the server system, and the processor drives the indicator to indicate whether the device is supported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Boerger, Fred C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080168816
    Abstract: A rivet monitoring system is provided which has a micro-strain or micro fluid pressure sensor that measures strains or pressures within a tool component. These measured signals are compared to a number of tolerance bands formed about median strain or pressure versus time curve. Various techniques are provided to analyze the measured data with respect to the tolerance bands to determine if a particular rivet set is acceptable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Eymard J. Chitty, Brian M. Taylor, Peter C. Thomas, Daniel P. Vigliotti, Geoffrey Weeks
  • Publication number: 20080138851
    Abstract: Most microalgae are obligate photoautotrophs and their growth is strictly dependent on the generation of photosynthetically-derived energy. In this study it is shown that the microalga Phaeodaclylurn tricornutum can be engineered to import glucose and grow in the dark through the introduction of genes encoding glucose transporters. Both the human and Chlorella kessleri glucose transporters facilitated the uptake of glucose by P. tricornutum, allowing the cells to metabolize exogenous organic carbon and thrive, independent of light. This is the first successful trophic conversion of an obligate photoautotroph through metabolic engineering, and it demonstrates that methods of cell nourishment can be fundamentally altered with the introduction of a single gene. Since strains transformed with the glucose transport genes are able to grow non-photosynthetically, they can be exploited for the analysis of photosynthetic processes through mutant generation and characterization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Martek Biosciences Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk Emil Apt, F.C. Thomas Allnutt, David J. Kyle, James Casey Lippmeier
  • Publication number: 20080121899
    Abstract: An array of light emitting diodes coupled between a substrate and a transparent electrode include a pair of equipotential bus bars supplying electrical current simultaneously to at least two light emitting diodes, each located in its own area of transparent conductive material. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a linear array of light emitting diodes has an electrode that includes a conductive island for each light emitting diode and a bus bar interconnecting and surrounding the conductive islands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: World Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Pires, Alan C. Thomas, Walter J. Paciorek, Ilona Budinavicius
  • Publication number: 20080099942
    Abstract: An automatic computer operated ramping method and system for extrusion coating wire by an extrusion coating system has an extruder that is driven by an extruder motor and a capstan that draws a wire through the extruder and that is driven by a capstan motor. The automatic ramping method and system determines the speed of the capstan motor while monitoring the extruder head pressure of the extruder with a pressure gage, accelerates the speed of the capstan motor and the speed of the extruder motor while continuously monitoring the extruder head pressure so long as the extruder head pressure is below a predetermined limit, and stops the acceleration of the speed of the capstan motor and the speed of the extruder motor when the extruder head pressure exceeds the predetermined pressure limit, and resumes the acceleration when the extruder head pressure is below the predetermined pressure limit until a desired production speed is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Yvette M. Shipman, James C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080092247
    Abstract: A storage device protection system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising a processor, a storage device electrically coupled to the processor, and a protection system. The protection system comprises an enclosure within which the storage device is positioned, and a foam system coupled to the enclosure. The foam system selectively releases foam that substantially encases the storage device, where the foam released in the presence of a predetermined temperature or contact of the computer system with water. Other embodiments are directed to systems having a mounting system that repositions the storage device away from walls of the enclosure in the presence of a predetermined temperature or contact of the computer system with water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Philip M. Walker, Fred C. Thomas, Bryce C. Wemple, Kirk N. Ray
  • Publication number: 20080080546
    Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Jin Kim, C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080079966
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for generating and applying composite color transforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventor: John C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080075105
    Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Jin Kim, C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080071702
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an asset classification system based on investment strategy. The investment strategies include capitalization strategy, competitive position strategy, economic conditions strategy, future growth investment strategy, market condition strategy, opportunity strategy, profitability strategy, risk strategy, social considerations strategy, and valuation strategy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: ATHENAINVEST, INC.
    Inventors: C. Thomas Howard, Andrew Howard, Craig Callahan, M. Wesley Schrader
  • Patent number: 7331205
    Abstract: A rivet monitoring system is provided which has a micro-strain or micro fluid pressure sensor that measures strains or pressures within a tool component. These measured signals are compared to a number of tolerance bands formed about median strain or pressure versus time curve. Various techniques are provided to analyze the measured data with respect to the tolerance bands to determine if a particular rivet set is acceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Eymard J Chitty, Brian M Taylor, Peter C Thomas, Daniel P Vigliotti, Geoffrey Weeks
  • Publication number: 20080038063
    Abstract: An automatic trip gate for installation in a gate support structure at a bank of an impounded body of water. The automatic trip gate controls a release of an overflow of water through the gate support structure upon the occurrence of an overflow event. The automatic trip gate includes a plate supported by a hinge assembly that attaches to the support structure. A trough attached to the plate catches and retains overflow water. When the level of overflow water in the trough reaches a tipping level, the plate pivots from a substantially vertical orientation wherein the impounded body of water is maintained behind the plate, to a tipped position wherein the impounded body of water is released o through the gate support. A plunge pool is located below the automatic trip gate that absorbs the energy imparted by the plate when tripped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: C. Thomas McCreedy, Dennis Daugherty
  • Publication number: 20080025902
    Abstract: A simple, inexpensive method of producing in bulk a doped metal nitride powder that exhibits a high luminescent efficiency, by first forming a metal-dopant alloy and then reacting the alloy with high purity ammonia under controlled conditions in a reactor. The resulting doped metal nitride powders will exhibit a luminescent efficiency that greatly exceeds that seen in pure undoped GaN powders, doped GaN thin films, and ZnS powders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Fernando A. Ponce, Rafael Garcia, Alan C. Thomas, Abigail Bell