Patents by Inventor David Nichols

David Nichols 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: 20130107665
    Abstract: Computing systems and methods for improving imaging of collected data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first wavefield is propagated to obtain a first wavefield history; the first wavefield is again propagated to obtain a second wavefield history, wherein the propagation includes integration of one or more Q-effects; a first attenuated traveltime history is estimated based at least in part on the first and second wavefield histories; a first Q-model filter is calculated based at least in part on the first estimated attenuated traveltime; and a first adjusted wavefield is generated based at least in part on application of the first Q-model filter to the first wavefield. In some embodiments, an image is generated based at least on a first adjusted wavefield and a second wavefield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: ROBIN FLETCHER, David Nichols, Maud Cavalca
  • Patent number: 8417497
    Abstract: To update a model of a subterranean structure, a partial decomposition is computed of an operator that is used to compute a parameterization representing the update of the model. The partial decomposition of the operator is selected from among a partial eigendecomposition of a Fisher information operator, and a singular value decomposition of the operator. A term based on additional information is combined with the partial decomposition of the operator to derive an update of the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Konstantin S. Osypov, David Nichols, Can Evren Yarman
  • Publication number: 20130064336
    Abstract: Techniques for data synchronization policies are described. In one or more implementations, techniques may be employed to set data synchronization (“sync”) policies for devices in a data sync environment. The sync policies specify parameters for sync operations in the sync environment, such as how frequently data sync operations are performed, what types of data are synced to particular devices, how frequently particular types of data are synced, and so on. In implementations, the sync policies consider the number of devices that are participating in a sync environment and attributes of the devices in specifying parameters for sync operations. Data can be synchronized among devices in the sync environment based on the sync policies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Gyorgy K. Schadt, John E. Brezak, David A. Nichols, Oded Y. Shekel, Albert Hwang, Patrick R. Jakubowski, Ronakkumar N. Desai
  • Publication number: 20120329133
    Abstract: A process for preparing and purifying heparan-N-sulfatase is disclosed involving chromatographic steps for producing or purifying heparan-N-sulfatase under conditions that yield highly pure heparan-N-sulfatase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventor: David Nichols
  • Patent number: 8341145
    Abstract: Faces may be indexed and identified using visual and social criteria. In one example, the visual features of a face are quantified, and the quantification of the features is represented in a vector. Aspects of the vector are then represented in the form of text strings. Social context surrounding the face is also represented in the form of text strings. The text strings—both the visual-based strings and/or the social-based strings—are associated with the face, and are stored in an index. The association of these strings with the face then may make the face text-searchable on both its visual and social features. Searches on these visual and/or social features may be used to help to assist in identifying new images of faces, or to propose tags for users to apply to photos.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley Dodson, David Nichols, Chung Webster, Joel Scaria
  • Publication number: 20120300987
    Abstract: Computing systems and methods for improving processing of collected data are disclosed. In one embodiment, while ray-tracing through a sub-surface region, a frequency-dependent outgoing ray direction is computed from a point on an interface disposed in the sub-surface region when the ray tracing is at the interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: MAXIM PROTASOV, KONSTANTIN S. OSYPOV, DAVID NICHOLS, CAN EVREN YARMAN
  • Patent number: 8318938
    Abstract: Optionally substituted chromenoisoquinolines and analogs and derivatives thereof are described herein. In addition, syntheses of these compounds are described herein. In addition, uses of these compounds as dopamine receptor binding compounds are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: David Nichols, Val J. Watts
  • Patent number: 8313510
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for securing a spinal rod to the spine which includes a head portion configured to receive a spinal rod, a locking cap configured to engage the head portion and the spinal rod upon rotation of the locking cap relative to the head portion to secure the position of the head portion relative to the spinal rod, and a fastener portion depending from the head portion and configured to engage the spine. The locking cap has discontinuous opposed engagement flanges that are received within opposed engagement slots of the head portion when the locking cap is rotated into a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp.
    Inventors: Hansen Yuan, David Nichols, Eric Finley
  • Publication number: 20120278370
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying and stashing all or portions of application data to a network accessible storage device or location. Identifying and stashing are accomplished in a fashion that is transparent to a user such that a user is not burdened by the process of managing and stashing a full or partial set of application data. The system, the application, or a combination of system components and the application persist and manage data locally and stash portions of the local data to one or more network accessible storage devices or locations. One or more links are provided in place of the stashed portions of data. The application uses the links in a same or similar fashion as handling local data while providing little to no loss of functionality due to all or portions of the local data being stashed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David A. Nichols, Catherine C. Marshall, John D. Mehr, Elissa E.S. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8296356
    Abstract: People often trust ratings provided by those with whom they have an existing relationship more than they would trust ratings provided by strangers. A system that provides ratings can combine the ratings with information about a person's social network, in order to provide information that a person seeking the rating may find more reliable. The information provided to a person may, in some manner, differentiate between ratings that were provided by members of the person's social network and ratings that were provided by those outside of the persons' social network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Oludare Obasanjo, Bhupinder S. Sethi, David A. Nichols
  • Patent number: 8288572
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, in recombinant cells such as yeast or plant cells. Also provided are recombinant cells or plants which produce long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a group of new enzymes which possess desaturase or elongase activity that can be used in methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Surinder Pal Singh, Stanley Suresh Robert, Peter David Nichols, Susan Irene Ellis Blackburn, Xue-Rong Zhou, James Robertson Petrie, Allan Graham Green
  • Publication number: 20120215018
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, in recombinant cells such as yeast or plant cells. Also provided are recombinant cells or plants which produce long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a group of new enzymes which possess desatorase or elongase activity that can be used in methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Surinder Pal Singh, Stanley Suresh Robert, Peter David Nichols, Susan Irene Ellis Blackburn, Xue-Rong Zhou, James Robertson Petrie, Allan Graham Green
  • Patent number: 8244764
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying and stashing all or portions of application data to a network accessible storage device or location. Identifying and stashing are accomplished in a fashion that is transparent to a user such that a user is not burdened by the process of managing and stashing a full or partial set of application data. The system, the application, or a combination of system components and the application persist and manage data locally and stash portions of the local data to one or more network accessible storage devices or locations. One or more links are provided in place of the stashed portions of data. The application uses the links in a same or similar fashion as handling local data while providing little to no loss of functionality due to all or portions of the local data being stashed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Nichols, Catherine C Marshall, John D. Mehr, Elissa E. S. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8219654
    Abstract: A highly available central controller to store and enforce valid state transitions of distributed components is provided for centrally controlling access to a service. Central control is provided by a database with an API according to a set of stored procedures, which provides a virtual view to requesters that seek to read or manipulate service entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Girish Nagaraja, Supin Ko, Vishal Mishra, David A. Nichols
  • Patent number: 8214883
    Abstract: Techniques are described for use with social networks and associated access information, such as access control lists, indicating which users are allowed to access the social networks. The social networks represent relationships between users. The social networks and access control lists may be represented in a graph which is traversed in connection with performing different operations using the social networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Oludare Obasanjo, David Nichols, Bhupinder Sethi, Paul Ming
  • Publication number: 20120165876
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method of securing a spinal rod to an anchoring device, including releasably securing a locking cap to a distal end of an insertion instrument, the instrument having an outer tubular body, a rod persuader, and a locking shaft, each of the tubular body, rod persuader and locking shaft having proximal and distal ends and positioned coaxial with one another; positioning the distal end of the insertion instrument, and locking cap, into operative engagement with the spinal rod; engaging the anchoring device with the distal end of the tubular body; rotating the proximal end of the rod persuader to longitudinally advance the locking cap and spinal rod distally towards the anchoring device, the proximal end and the distal end of the rod persuader being rotatable relative to one another; and after the locking cap is advanced, rotating the locking shaft to rotate the locking cap thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Howmedica Osteonics Corp.
    Inventors: David Nichols, Eric Finley
  • Publication number: 20120158700
    Abstract: Faces may be indexed and identified using visual and social criteria. In one example, the visual features of a face are quantified, and the quantification of the features is represented in a vector. Aspects of the vector are then represented in the form of text strings. Social context surrounding the face is also represented in the form of text strings. The text strings—both the visual-based strings and/or the social-based strings—are associated with the face, and are stored in an index. The association of these strings with the face then may make the face text-searchable on both its visual and social features. Searches on these visual and/or social features may be used to help to assist in identifying new images of faces, or to propose tags for users to apply to photos.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley Dodson, David Nichols, Chung Webster, Joel Scaria
  • Patent number: 8158392
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, in recombinant cells such as yeast or plant cells. Also provided are recombinant cells or plants which produce long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a group of new enzymes which possess desaturase or elongase activity that can be used in methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Surinder Pal Singh, Stanley Suresh Robert, Peter David Nichols, Susan Irene Ellis Blackburn, Xue-Rong Zhou, James Robertson Petrie, Allan Graham Green
  • Patent number: 8142482
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing a spinal rod within an anchoring device, wherein the anchoring device has an open end and a locking cap for securing the spinal rod within the open end. The apparatus includes a handle, an elongated body connected to the handle, a pair of jaws attached to the elongated body, a rod persuader for advancing the rod toward the anchoring device, and a locking shaft for use in locking the locking cap against the anchoring device to secure the spinal rod relative to the anchoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp.
    Inventors: David Nichols, Eric Finley
  • Patent number: 8140914
    Abstract: A predictive failure model is used to generate a failure prediction associated with a node. A repair or backup action may also be determined to perform on the node based on the failure prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Elissa E. S. Murphy, David A. Nichols, John D. Mehr