Patents by Inventor Duke McMillin

Duke McMillin 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).

  • Aircraft communications during different phases of flight
    Patent number: 9692500
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for exchanging information between a source and an aircraft. In response to a request to exchange the information between the aircraft and the source, a number of aircraft is identified to send microwave signals between the source and the aircraft to form a number of identified aircraft based on a location of the aircraft and a location of the source. The number of identified aircraft is configured to send the microwave signals between the source and the aircraft to form a number of configured aircraft. The number of configured aircraft forms a mobile network. The microwave signals are sent between the source and the aircraft using the number of configured aircraft. The information is exchanged between the aircraft and the source using the microwave signals sent through the mobile network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory J. Small, Timothy M. Mitchell, Duke McMillin
  • AIRCRAFT COMMUNICATIONS DURING DIFFERENT PHASES OF FLIGHT
    Publication number: 20160365917
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for exchanging information between a source and an aircraft. In response to a request to exchange the information between the aircraft and the source, a number of aircraft is identified to send microwave signals between the source and the aircraft to form a number of identified aircraft based on a location of the aircraft and a location of the source. The number of identified aircraft is configured to send the microwave signals between the source and the aircraft to form a number of configured aircraft. The number of configured aircraft forms a mobile network. The microwave signals are sent between the source and the aircraft using the number of configured aircraft. The information is exchanged between the aircraft and the source using the microwave signals sent through the mobile network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Gregory J. Small, Timothy M. Mitchell, Duke McMillin
  • Aircraft communications during different phases of flight
    Patent number: 9426768
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for exchanging information between a source and an aircraft. In response to a request to exchange the information between the aircraft and the source, a number of aircraft is identified to send microwave signals between the source and the aircraft to form a number of identified aircraft based on a location of the aircraft and a location of the source. The number of identified aircraft is configured to send the microwave signals between the source and the aircraft to form a number of configured aircraft. The number of configured aircraft forms a mobile network. The microwave signals are sent between the source and the aircraft using the number of configured aircraft. The information is exchanged between the aircraft and the source using the microwave signals sent through the mobile network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory J. Small, Timothy M. Mitchell, Duke McMillin
  • System and method for managing aircraft maintenance
    Patent number: 8571747
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of managing maintenance of an aircraft is provided. In one implementation the method includes generating an electronic report that indicates a fault of the aircraft; electronically integrating the electronic report with resource data and flight schedule data to establish a repair solution for the fault; and generating an electronic work order based on the repair solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andrew N. Zimpfer, Duke McMillin, Jeffrey M. Bearce
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF AN AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE PROCESS
    Publication number: 20090150022
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of managing maintenance of an aircraft is provided. In one implementation the method includes generating an electronic report that indicates a fault of the aircraft; electronically integrating the electronic report with resource data and flight schedule data to establish a repair solution for the fault; and generating an electronic work order based on the repair solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Duke McMillin, Andrew N. Zimpfer, Jeffery M. Bearce