Patents by Inventor Colin Wilson

Colin Wilson 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: 8559267
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for borehole seismic survey are disclosed comprising a first seismic source under water at a first location and a second seismic source at a second, deeper location. Seismic signals from the seismic sources are recorded with synchronized sensors located in a borehole and source signature data are obtained by combining the recorded seismic signals such that low and high frequency content of the combined source signature data is extended relative to the source signature of the first seismic source and the second seismic source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: John Richard Tulett, James Edward Martin, Emmanuel Coste, Colin Wilson
  • Publication number: 20130070235
    Abstract: A multiple sensor fiber optic sensing system includes an optical fiber having at least first fiber optic sensors and second fiber optic sensors deployed along its length. In response to an interrogating pulse, the first fiber optic sensors generate responses in a first optical spectrum window, and the second fiber optic sensors generate responses in a second, different optical spectrum window. The responses in the first optical spectrum window are measured in a first optical spectrum channel, and the responses in the second optical spectrum window are measure in a second, different optical spectrum channel and provide simultaneous indications of one or more parameters, such as temperature and pressure, in the environment in which the sensors are deployed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Yuehua Chen, Colin Wilson
  • Patent number: 8266706
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to cryptographically controlling access to documents. In aspects, documents are encrypted to protect them from unauthorized access. A security principal seeking to access a document first obtains the document. The document includes an identifier that identifies security data associated with the document. The security data includes an encrypted portion that includes authorizations for security principals that have access to the document. A security principal having the appropriate key can decrypt its authorization in the security data to obtain one or more other keys that may be used to access the document. These other keys correspond to access rights that the security principal has with respect to the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Colin Wilson Reid
  • Patent number: 8121980
    Abstract: Transactional record management methods and systems enabling multiple independent servers (such as database servers) using shared storage to initiate transactions in parallel without inter server communication and without locking the records used by the transaction. The in-flight transactions can be included in a shared transaction log without a final determination of whether the transaction committed. The log updates can be broadcast to each of the servers, which each parse the log, using the same rules of analysis, and therefore each compute server can independently and asynchronously come to the same conclusion as to which transactions aborted and which transactions committed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Colin Wilson Reid, Philip A. Bernstein
  • Publication number: 20120020184
    Abstract: A distributed optical acoustic sensor is provided along a structure in a body of water. The distributed optical acoustic sensor is used to detect acoustic waves generated by at least one acoustic source for positioning of at least one object in relation to the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Colin Wilson, Johan O. A. Robertsson, Julian Edward (Ed) Kragh, Everhard Muyzert, Kenneth E. Welker, Douglas Miller
  • Publication number: 20110295969
    Abstract: Computers are provided with a totally ordered, durable shared log. Shared storage is used and can be directly accessed by the computers over a network. Append-log operations are made atomic in the face of failures by committing provisional append ordering information onto a log. The log may comprise multiple flash packages or non-volatile memory devices, referred to as segments, although any shared storage device(s) may be used. Each log record is a multi-page stripe, where each page of a stripe is written to a different segment. Fault-tolerant protocol variants append stripes to the log, such that stripes are totally ordered in the log and each stripe is written atomically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip A. Bernstein, Dahlia Malkhi, Colin Wilson Reid, Mahesh Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 7999232
    Abstract: A gas detector (10) that is arranged to sense the concentration levels of target gases oxygen, methane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulphide, within a gas sample from an environment surrounding the detector. The gas detector (10) comprises laser sources (12a-12d) that are arranged to transmit radiation through the gas sample at four target wavelengths that correspond approximately to the optimum absorption wavelengths of each of the target gases and an optical detector (16) that is arranged to sense the intensity of the radiation transmitted through the gas sample at each of the target wavelengths. A control system (22) generates representative concentration level information for the target gases based on the level of absorption of the radiation transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Photonic Innovations Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Colin Wilson, Sri Kumar Sandeep, Reece Wim Geursen
  • Publication number: 20110133067
    Abstract: A system for use in a well includes an optical cable for positioning in the well. An optical sensor is optically coupled to the optical cable, where the optical sensor has a capillary tube and an optical fiber in the capillary tube. The capillary tube also includes a first sealed region containing a metallic material that is in liquid form at a downhole temperature in the well. A joint mechanism may attach the optical sensor to the optical cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sugiyama, James McInnes, Colin Wilson
  • Patent number: 7929812
    Abstract: Single fiber optical telemetry systems and methods are disclosed. The methods and systems facilitate input and output via a single fiber optic interface. The optical telemetry systems and methods also facilitate faster data transmission rates between surface and downhole equipment in oilfield applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Stephane Vannuffelen, Tsutomu Yamate, Bruno Gayral, Soon Seong Chee, Colin Wilson
  • Patent number: 7813220
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for deploying seismic detectors and monitoring seismic activity associated with a production well from a down hole location within a well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Kanaya, Emmanuel Coste, Colin Wilson, Rachel Agnes Lavaure
  • Publication number: 20100211554
    Abstract: Transactional record management methods and systems enabling multiple independent servers (such as database servers) using shared storage to initiate transactions in parallel without inter server communication and without locking the records used by the transaction. The in-flight transactions can be included in a shared transaction log without a final determination of whether the transaction committed. The log updates can be broadcast to each of the servers, which each parse the log, using the same rules of analysis, and therefore each compute server can independently and asynchronously come to the same conclusion as to which transactions aborted and which transactions committed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Colin Wilson Reid, Philip A. Berstein
  • Publication number: 20100140478
    Abstract: A gas detector (10) that is arranged to sense the concentration levels of target gases oxygen, methane, carbon monox-ide, and hydrogen sulphide, within a gas sample from an environment surrounding the detector. The gas detector (10) comprises laser sources (12a-12d) that are arranged to transmit radiation through the gas sample at four target wavelengths that correspond approximately to the optimum absorption wavelengths of each of the target gases and an optical detector (16) that is arranged to sense the intensity of the radiation transmitted through the gas sample at each of the target wavelengths. A control system (22) generates representative concentration level information for the target gases based on the level of absorption of the radiation transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: PHOTONIC INNOVATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Colin Wilson, Sri Kumar Sandeep, Reece Wim Geursen
  • Patent number: 7703514
    Abstract: A system and method for optically determining the rate and/or direction of fluid flow in a conduit within wellholes, using the diffraction effect of Faraday crystals through which continuous light is transmitted within optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Soon Seong Chee, Colin Wilson
  • Patent number: 7694735
    Abstract: A sonde and an apparatus for the deployment thereof against a well casing is described, the sonde comprising a resilient C-shaped member and at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Inventors: Svein Haheim, Robert Hughes Jones, Paul Steven Jaques, Will Wason, Tsutomu Yamate, Tatsuki Endo, James Edward Martin, Colin Wilson
  • Patent number: 7696901
    Abstract: Subterranean oilfield sensor systems and methods are provided. The subterranean oilfield sensor systems and methods facilitate downhole monitoring and high data transmission rates with power provided to at least one downhole device by a light source at the surface. In one embodiment, a system includes uphole light source, a downhole sensor, a photonic power converter at the downhole sensor, an optical fiber extending between the uphole light source and the photonic power converter, and downhole sensor electronics powered by the photonic power converter. The photonic power converter is contained in a high temperature resistant package. For example, the high temperature resistant package and photonic power converter may operate at temperatures of greater than approximately 100° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Colin Wilson, Soon Seong Chee, Les Nutt, Tsutomu Yamate, Masahiro Kamata
  • Patent number: 7688674
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for creating a velocity profile of a formation surrounding a borehole by checkshot measurements while moving the tool along the borehole. A conveyance and a sensor section are configured to move the sensor section in the borehole. At least one receiver is configured to detect signals generated at or near the surface while the sensor section is moving in the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: William Underhill, Masahiro Kamata, Jiro Takeda, Colin Wilson
  • Patent number: 7639566
    Abstract: A seismic sensor comprising a coil assembly suspended in a magnet field produced by a magnet assembly, and a locking mechanism for preventing the coil assembly from moving freely until a seismic event is initiated at the surface or within an earth formation to collect seismic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kamata, Colin Wilson
  • Publication number: 20090238043
    Abstract: A seismic sensor comprising a coil assembly suspended in a magnet field produced by a magnet assembly, and a locking mechanism for preventing the coil assembly from moving freely until a seismic event is initiated at the surface or within an earth formation to collect seismic data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: MASAHIRO KAMATA, COLIN WILSON
  • Publication number: 20090224936
    Abstract: Single fiber optical telemetry systems and methods are disclosed. The methods and systems facilitate input and output via a single fiber optic interface. The optical telemetry systems and methods also facilitate faster data transmission rates between surface and downhole equipment in oilfield applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: STEPHANE VANNUFFELEN, TSUTOMU YAMATE, BRUNO GAYRAL, SOON SEONG CHEE, COLIN WILSON
  • Publication number: 20090167297
    Abstract: A system and method for optically determining the rate and/or direction of fluid flow in a conduit within wellholes, using the diffraction effect of Faraday crystals through which continuous light is transmitted within optical fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: SOON SEONG CHEE, COLIN WILSON