Patents by Inventor Donald A. Fischer

Donald A. Fischer 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: 10286372
    Abstract: Disclosed are insert assemblies with stacked gas flow gaps to add and/or remove gases from a solid/gas mixture travelling through a barrier. An example system may comprise a barrier and an insert assembly in the barrier defining an annulus between the insert assembly and the barrier, wherein the insert assembly comprises stacked flow gaps configured for addition and/or removal of gas from a solid/gas mixture flowing in the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William R. Peckol, Donald A. Fischer
  • Publication number: 20170259235
    Abstract: Disclosed are insert assemblies with stacked gas flow gaps to add and/or remove gases from a solid/gas mixture travelling through a barrier. An example system may comprise a barrier and an insert assembly in the barrier defining an annulus between the insert assembly and the barrier, wherein the insert assembly comprises stacked flow gaps configured for addition and/or removal of gas from a solid/gas mixture flowing in the annulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William R. PECKOL, Donald A. FISCHER
  • Patent number: 9565222
    Abstract: Discussion of content between users of social networks is described. A request from a first user to discuss content with a recipient user in a first social network is received, wherein the recipient user has a first identifier in the first social network. A request from a second user to discuss content with the recipient user in a second social network is received, wherein the recipient user has a second identifier in the second social network. A discussion is initiated between the second user and the recipient user about the content in the second social network. The recipient user is tracked in view of the first identifier in the first social network and the second identifier in the second social network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Fischer, Havoc Pennington, Bryan Clark, Owen Taylor, Colin Walters
  • Patent number: 9553938
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an automated scheme for identifying high/low value content. Playback data from users in a social network may be periodically submitted by users of the social network. The playback data indicates segments of content, such as audio or video that the user has skipped over or tagged as low value. The playback data may also indicate segments of content that the user has repeated or tagged as high value. The playback data is then analyzed in aggregate and various clips are identified. In addition, the playback data may be compiled and organized among the users for future use. The playback data may be used to indicate segments of high/low interest to peers in the social network or to arbitrary users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Fischer, Havoc Pennington, Bryan Clark
  • Patent number: 9405827
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a mechanism for automatically creating a playlist for a user. In particular, data indicating music played by other users in the user's social network is collected. Music is then selected from this data and gathered from a music service in which the user subscribes, such as iTunes, Yahoo Music, etc. The service then builds the playlist with the gathered music.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Fischer, Havoc Pennington, Bryan Clark, Colin Walters
  • Patent number: 9181361
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for separating a purge gas recovered from a polyethylene product. The method includes recovering a polyethylene product containing one or more volatile hydrocarbons from a polymerization reactor and contacting the polyethylene product with a purge gas to remove at least a portion of the volatile hydrocarbons to produce a polymer product having a reduced concentration of volatile hydrocarbons and a purge gas product enriched in volatile hydrocarbons. The purge gas product is compressed to a pressure of 2,500 kPaa to 10,000 kPaa, and is then cooled and separated into at least a first product, a second product, and a third product. A portion of one or more of the first, second, or third products is then recycled as a purge gas, to the polymerization reactor, or to the purge gas product enriched in volatile hydrocarbons prior to compression, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark W. Blood, Randall L. Force, Theodore D. Duncan, George W. Schwarz, Jr., Daniel W. Mosser, Donald A. Fischer, Robert D. Olson, James Leland Swecker, II, Cloid Russell Smith, III
  • Patent number: 9165282
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems that allow users to share information about their recent activities with other users. In particular, as users receive and/or share multimedia content with other users, information that indicates the locations of this content, such as a website, playlist, or file, is passively tracked and logged. This information may be formatted into a viewable form, such as a web site or web log, and cooperatively shared with other users. Users may then incorporate the multimedia content played by other users into their own library. Users may also elect to synchronize their multimedia content with other users. For convenience, multiple locations for the same multimedia content may be determined when it is logged and tracked. Users may obtain the multimedia content using one or more of their existing accounts with a provider at their own discretion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Fischer, Havoc Penington, Bryan Clark, Owen Taylor, Colin Walters
  • Patent number: 8835576
    Abstract: Provided are processes and systems for recovering hydrocarbons in a vent stream from a polymerization process. The methods and systems may include the recovery of an olefin monomer from a polymerization vent gas using ethylene refrigeration to condense and recover the olefin monomers from the vent gas. In some embodiments, the methods and systems may also include compression and condensation of polymerization vent gas, recompression of ethylene refrigerant, and use of an expander compressor turbine device for ethylene refrigeration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventors: Randall L. Force, Donald A. Fischer
  • Publication number: 20140258422
    Abstract: Discussion of content between users of social networks is described. A request from a first user to discuss content with a recipient user in a first social network is received, wherein the recipient user has a first identifier in the first social network. A request from a second user to discuss content with the recipient user in a second social network is received, wherein the recipient user has a second identifier in the second social network. A discussion is initiated between the second user and the recipient user about the content in the second social network. The recipient user is tracked in view of the first identifier in the first social network and the second identifier in the second social network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Fischer, Havoc Pennington, Bryan Clark, Owen Taylor, Colin Walters
  • Patent number: 8832277
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention allow users to tag a multimedia program or stream with data or pointers to external information related to content of the multimedia program. Users in a social network may tag various aspects of the content, such as a particular actor, a type of car, jewelry, a location, a phrase, etc. This tagging information may then be linked to various websites that provide further information about the tagged content and may be keyed to video offset times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Clark, Havoc Pennington, Donald Fischer
  • Patent number: 8762542
    Abstract: An embodiment relates generally to a method of providing peer-to-peer services. The method includes selecting a peer-to-peer service and determining multiple participants from a social network to form a set of known peers. The method also includes executing the peer-to-peer service from the set of known peers using a peer-to-peer overlay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Havoc Pennington, Donald Fischer
  • Patent number: 8688742
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a platform for an open overlay for online services, such as social networking sites, that permit users to share and leverage information within a single context. In some embodiments, the single context is implemented as a web site that is accessible to a social network of users that are known to each other. Systems and methods are provided that share and forward information for the users' online services within the single context. Client applications are provided that serve as an open overlay for the user and permit the user to seamlessly utilize the services of multiple online services within a single context. In some embodiments, the users' existing account identities and security information are utilized alone or in combination, and thus, the users are not required to establish a separate or new account for accessing the open overlay service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Fischer, Havoc Pennington, Bryan Clark, Owen Taylor, Colin Walters
  • Patent number: 8671114
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a mechanism for weighting search results based on active and passive sharing activity among users in the context of a social network. In particular, information being shared among users is monitored. When a search is requested by a user, information recently shared among a user's social network is consulted and is used to weight the search results in the relevance calculation. For example, sharing activity that occurred recently or ongoing is used to weight the search results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Fischer
  • Patent number: 8635609
    Abstract: An update service is provided for maintaining software of one or more users, or an enterprise. On behalf of users or enterprises, the update service collects information from various software vendors about the certification and updates for their software. Dependencies or issues between the software are determined based on the information collected from the software vendors. A set of applicable updates for particular users or enterprises may then be determined based on the dependencies or issues. The update service may then broker various aspects of the delivery and installation of these updates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Deblaquiere, Donald Fischer, Mihai Ibanescu, Adrian Likins, Jeremy Katz, Deb Woods
  • Patent number: 8615550
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and system for allowing an open overlay service for a social network to interface with other online services. In particular, the open overlay service configures its clients to make requests on behalf of the social network. Responses to the requests are routed back to the open overlay service and the information is then provided to the social network. Since the requests come from the client the online services will simply treat them as normal requests, and thus, the open overlay service can seamlessly integrate with a user's online services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Fischer, Havoc Pennington, Bryan Clark, Owen Taylor, Colin Walters
  • Patent number: 8612483
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide a “live social context” in which users can share multimedia content information. Upon finding multimedia content that a user would like to share with others, the user may select a “share” function Invitations may then be sent to other users across different services. In addition, the invitation may include content, such as a text comment or file that the user has added. The recipient users receive a live notification of the invitation and may then participate in an online discussion with the user. Furthermore, other users may be provided a live notification that activity has been initiated or in-progress about the multimedia content. These users may then request to join in the online discussion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Fischer, Havoc Pennington, Bryan Clark, Owen Taylor, Colin Walters
  • Publication number: 20130291720
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for separating a purge gas recovered from a polyethylene product. The method includes recovering a polyethylene product containing one or more volatile hydrocarbons from a polymerization reactor and contacting the polyethylene product with a purge gas to remove at least a portion of the volatile hydrocarbons to produce a polymer product having a reduced concentration of volatile hydrocarbons and a purge gas product enriched in volatile hydrocarbons. The purge gas product is compressed to a pressure of 2,500 kPaa to 10,000 kPaa, and is then cooled and separated into at least a first product, a second product, and a third product. A portion of one or more of the first, second, or third products is then recycled as a purge gas, to the polymerization reactor, or to the purge gas product enriched in volatile hydrocarbons prior to compression, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark W. Blood, Randall L. Force, Theodore D. Duncan, George W. Schwarz, JR., Daniel W. Mosser, Donald A. Fischer, Robert D. Olson, James Leland Swecker, II, Cloid Russell Smith, III
  • Publication number: 20130125581
    Abstract: Provided are processes and systems for recovering hydrocarbons in a vent stream from a polymerization process. The methods and systems may include the recovery of an olefin monomer from a polymerization vent gas using ethylene refrigeration to condense and recover the olefin monomers from the vent gas. In some embodiments, the methods and systems may also include compression and condensation of polymerization vent gas, recompression of ethylene refrigerant, and use of an expander compressor turbine device for ethylene refrigeration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Randall L. Force, Donald A. Fischer
  • Publication number: 20120233263
    Abstract: Methods and systems to manage users of a social network. The method includes receiving, at a server, a request to contact a user from another user of a social network based on a selected one of a plurality of associated identity resources of the user known by other users. The method also includes restricting views of other users for the identity of the user to the selected one of the plurality of associated identity resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: RED HAT, INC.
    Inventors: Donald Fischer, Havoc Penington, Bryan Clark, Owen Taylor, Colin Walters
  • Publication number: 20120136937
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an automated scheme for identifying high/low value content. Playback data from users in a social network may be periodically submitted by users of the social network. The playback data indicates segments of content, such as audio or video that the user has skipped over or tagged as low value. The playback data may also indicate segments of content that the user has repeated or tagged as high value. The playback data is then analyzed in aggregate and various clips are identified. In addition, the playback data may be compiled and organized among the users for future use. The playback data may be used to indicate segments of high/low interest to peers in the social network or to arbitrary users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Fischer, Havoc Pennington, Bryan Clark