Patents by Inventor Colin Watts

Colin Watts 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: 11990032
    Abstract: An approach is provided for verifying reported ramp closures. The approach involves, for example, processing a ramp closure report to determine reported ramp link(s) associated with the ramp closure report. The approach also involves constructing a ramp network comprising the reported ramp link(s) and other ramp link(s) connected to the reported ramp link(s). The approach further involves collecting probe data collected from one or more sensors of one or more vehicles traveling within the ramp network. The approach further involves identifying one or more driving patterns based on one or more vehicle paths determined from the probe data. The approach further involves performing a verification of a closure status of the reported ramp link(s) based on the one or more driving patterns. The approach further involves providing the verification of the closure status as an output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Omer Mubarek, Colin Watts-Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 11663912
    Abstract: An approach is provided for automatic road closure detection. The approach, for example, involves designating a dynamic time window comprising one or more time epochs ending before a current time epoch. The approach also involves retrieving a first set of probe data collected from a road link during the dynamic time window. The approach further involves adjusting a size of the dynamic time window by adding or removing another time epoch ending before the current time epoch until at least one criterion related to the probe data, the dynamic time window, or a combination thereof is met. The approach further involves extracting a plurality of features from the first set of probe data, from a second set of probe data collected from the road link during the current time epoch, or a combination thereof. The approach then involves detecting a closure status of the road link based on the plurality of features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Omer Mubarek, Colin Watts-Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 11566906
    Abstract: An approach is provided for generating/breaking vehicle paths on a limited graph area. The approach, for example, determining an expected frequency of location data collected from a sensor of a vehicle traveling on a roadway, wherein the location data include a plurality of probe points that are time-sequenced. The approach also involves detecting an exit or an entry of the vehicle on the roadway based on comparing the expected frequency to an observed frequency of the location data on at least one portion of the roadway. The approach further involves initiating an identification, a creation, a breaking, or a combination thereof of a path constructed from the location data based on the detecting of the exit or the entry of the vehicle. The approach further involves providing the path as an output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Ă–mer Mubarek, Colin Watts-Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 11348452
    Abstract: An approach is provided for automatically verifying a road closure using multiple possible vehicle paths between two probe points. The approach involves, for example, processing probe data to determine a possible path of a vehicle over a road graph, wherein the road graph represents a road link and one or more other road links entering or exiting the road link. The approach also involves calculating a path probability for the possible path, wherein the path probability indicates a likelihood that the possible path is a true path of the vehicle over the road graph. The approach further involves assigning a weighted vehicle count to the road link and/or one or more other road links contained in the possible path, wherein the weighted vehicle count is based on the path probability. The approach further involves detecting a traffic anomaly occurring on the road link based on the weighted vehicle count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Omer Mubarek, Colin Watts-Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 11222531
    Abstract: An approach is provided for verification of a road closure. The approach, for example, involves generating a road graph comprising a road links associated with a road closure detected by a road closure detection system. The road closure detection system stores probe data for the road links collected over respective detection dynamic time windows. The approach also involves extracting respective verification dynamic time windows for the road links that are used by a road closure verification system to verify the road closure. The approach further involves filling the respective verification dynamic time windows using the probe data stored by the road closure detection system. The approach further involves initiating a verification of the road closure based on the filled respective verification dynamic time windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Omer Mubarek, Colin Watts-Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 10847029
    Abstract: An approach is provided for automatic road closure detection. The approach, for example, involves designating a dynamic time window comprising one or more time epochs ending before a current time epoch. The approach also involves retrieving a first set of probe data collected from a road link during the dynamic time window. The approach further involves adjusting a size of the dynamic time window by adding or removing another time epoch ending before the current time epoch until at least one criterion related to the probe data, the dynamic time window, or a combination thereof is met. The approach further involves extracting a plurality of features from the first set of probe data, from a second set of probe data collected from the road link during the current time epoch, or a combination thereof. The approach then involves detecting a closure status of the road link based on the plurality of features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Omer Mubarek, Colin Watts-Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 10713943
    Abstract: An approach is provided for automatic detection of vehicle parking, stopping, and/or standing locations (e.g., parking lots, alleys, loading zones, standing zones, etc.). The approach, for example, involves collecting probe data transmitted from a plurality of vehicles traveling on a road segment. The approach also involves processing the probe data to determine a vehicle behavior indicating a vehicle parking location, a vehicle stopping location, a vehicle standing location, or a combination thereof. The approach further involves flagging the road segment as being associated with the vehicle parking location, the vehicle stopping location, the vehicle standing location, or a combination thereof based on the vehicle behavior to update a geographic database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Omer Mubarek, Colin Watts-Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 10460599
    Abstract: An approach is provided for determining one or more real-time traffic data series associated with one or more road segments over one or more time intervals. The approach involves causing, at least in part, a determination of one or more differences of the real-time data series with one or more historical models. The approach also involves determining whether the one or more real-time difference exceeds a threshold difference. The approach involves causing, at least in part, a selection of one or more other historical models for the one or more road segments over the one or more time intervals based, at least in part, on a determination that the real-time difference exceeds the threshold difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Colin Watts-Fitzgerald, Michael Weinberger, Shu Xie
  • Patent number: 9761132
    Abstract: An approach is provided for determining one or more varying decay rates associated with one or more road segments. The approach involves causing, at least in part, a decaying of real-time traffic data to historical traffic data associated with the one or more road segments based, at least in part, on the one or more varying decay rates. The approach also involves determining one or more traffic predictions for the one or more road segments based, at least in part, on the decaying of the real-time traffic data to the historical traffic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Colin Watts-Fitzgerald, Michael Weinberger, Shu Xie
  • Patent number: 9050374
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-functional protease inhibitor, which may be conjugated to various molecules. The present invention also relates to uses of the protease inhibitor and conjugates thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE
    Inventors: Colin Watts, Sander Van Kasteren
  • Publication number: 20140308318
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-functional protease inhibitor, which may be conjugated to various molecules. The present invention also relates to uses of the protease inhibitor and conjugates thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Colin Watts, Sander Van Kasteren
  • Patent number: 7928831
    Abstract: In railroad uses or the like, a transponder having a single key for transactions is accessible through a reader/programmer to multiple users or owners. The reader/programmer receives a transaction request and determines whether the user or owner is authorized for that transaction. If so, the reader/programmer generates the key on the fly and performs the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: TC License Ltd.
    Inventors: Charles A. Johnson, Colin Watt
  • Publication number: 20080017361
    Abstract: A coil on tube heat exchanger is provided that uses multiple parallel helical coil tubes to limit liquid pressure losses while providing similar performance and production times to previous coil and tube designs. Two or more coil tubes are wrapped together around a center tube in a helical fashion, permitting the heat exchanger to be used in a counter-flow, or contra-flow, implementation. Use of the heat exchanger includes flowing a first liquid, such as waste water, through the center tube and flowing a second liquid through the plurality of channels. Embodiments of the present invention provide reduced pressure loss, higher performance and are generally faster to manufacture than prior heat exchangers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Gerald Van Decker, Colin Watts
  • Publication number: 20060147922
    Abstract: This invention provides novel methods of detecting or treating aberrant cell cycle regulation associated with expression of a nuclear protein encoded by a gene that is linked to map position 8q22.3 of the human genome, and to novel reagents that are useful therefor. More particularly, the invention provides novel nucleic acid and proteinaceous probes, for detecting a gene that is linked to map position 8q22.3 of the human genome or the expression products thereof, wherein expression or elevated expression of said gene is associated with the appearance or occurrence of tumors associated with cancer, DNA damage and progesterone-receptor-mediated effects on cells. The invention also provides reagents and methods for detecting or modulating the expression products of the gene, such as, for example, in the diagnosis or treatment of cancer, cellular proliferation, DNA damage or progesterone receptor-mediated effects on cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Colin Watts, Darren Saunders, Michelle Henderson, Jennifer Clancy, Susan Henshall, Robert Sutherland, Philippa O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20050189094
    Abstract: A coil on tube heat exchanger is provided that uses multiple parallel helical coil tubes to limit liquid pressure losses while providing similar performance and production times to previous coil and tube designs. Two or more coil tubes are wrapped together around a tube in a helical fashion, permitting the heat exchanger to be used in a counter-flow, or contra-flow, implementation. The system preferably includes a header, or manifold, to connect two or more of the coil tubes together at the beginning and/or end of the tube. However, each individual coil may be connected to a separate load and kept independent. Embodiments of the present invention provide reduced pressure loss, higher performance and are generally faster to manufacture than prior heat exchangers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Gerald Van Decker, Colin Watts
  • Patent number: 6792695
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for treating fabrics in a tumble dryer comprising: a reservoir for storing a fabric treatment composition and transfer means to expose fabric treatment composition from the reservoir to airflow generated inside the tumble drier and/or to directly contact fabrics in the dryer, thereby transferring a portion of the fabric treatment composition into contact with fabrics in the tumble dryer during a tumble drying cycle; characterised in that the transfer means comprises at least an inner flow control member and an outer flow control member arranged in series, wherein the flow control characteristic of the inner flow control member is greater than that of the outer flow control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, divison of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan John Fry, Uwe Hagemann, Steven Hayes Hayes, Colin Watt Kerr
  • Publication number: 20040064970
    Abstract: A device 1 for treating fabrics in a tumble dryer during multiple tumble drying cycles, the device comprising a support member 2 and a reservoir 6 for storing fabric treatment composition attachable to said support member 2, the support member including one or more suction cups for attachment of the support member 2 to the tumble dryer interior, and preferably the door, wherein the suction cup/s 8 have one or more respective suction cup actuators 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Uwe Hagemann, Raymond Honey, David Jones, Colin Watt Kerr, Jonathan Edward Tew
  • Publication number: 20030213145
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for treatment fabrics in a tumble dryer during multiple tumble drying cycles. The device comprises: a reservoir for storing a fabric treatment composition, means to expose fabric treatment composition from the reservoir to airflow generated inside the tumble drier and/or to directly contact fabrics in the dryer, thereby transferring a portion of the fabric treatment composition into contact with fabrics in the tumble dryer during a tumble drying cycle; means for attaching the device to the inside of the tumble dryer door preferably a hook and sucker; and optionally means for indicating to a user when the fabric treatment composition is used up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Uwe Hagemann, Steven Hayes, Raymond Honey, Colin Watt Kerr
  • Publication number: 20030200674
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for treating fabrics in a tumble dryer comprising: a reservoir for storing a fabric treatment composition and transfer means to expose fabric treatment composition from the reservoir to airflow generated inside the tumble drier and/or to directly contact fabrics in the dryer, thereby transferring a portion of the fabric treatment composition into contact with fabrics in the tumble dryer during a tumble drying cycle; characterised in that the transfer means comprises at least an inner flow control member and an outer flow control member arranged in series, wherein the flow control characteristic of the inner flow control member is greater than that of the outer flow control member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan John Fry, Uwe Hagemann, Steven Hayes Hayes, Colin Watt Kerr
  • Publication number: 20030196348
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for freshening fabrics in a tumble dryer during multiple tumble drying cycles. The device comprises: a reservoir for storing a fabric freshening composition, means to expose fabric freshening composition from the reservoir to airflow generated inside the tumble drier thereby transferring a portion of the fabric freshening component into contact the fabric freshening composition and transfer a portion thereof into contact with fabrics in the tumble dryer during a tumble drying cycle; means for attaching the device to the inside of the tumble dryer door; and optionally means for indicating to a user when the fabric freshening composition is used up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Uwe Hagemann, Steven Hayes, Raymond Honey, Colin Watt Kerr