Patents by Inventor Ian A. Duncan

Ian A. Duncan 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: 10018015
    Abstract: A downhole tool (32) comprises a tool housing (34) defining a central bore (35) and including a fluid port (20), and a valve member (40) mounted within the housing (34) and being moveable from a closed position in which the fluid port (20) is blocked to an open position in which the fluid port (20) is opened. The tool (32) further comprises a catching arrangement (41) mounted within the housing (34) and comprising one or more radially moveable seat members (106), and being configurable from a free configuration in which the seat members (106) permit an object (48) to pass through the tool (32), to a catching configuration in which the seat members (106) catch an object (48) passing through the tool (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel George Purkis, Oliver Webster, Damien Gerard Patton, Matthew Manning, Steve Corbett, Ian Duncan, Santiago Galvez Porta
  • Publication number: 20180077080
    Abstract: A method for adaptive and intelligent Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) workload placement includes monitoring operation of a network with resources including one or more Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) and microservices; responsive to a request for a service in the network, decomposing the service into interconnected functional atoms, with the functional atoms located in one or more network domains including one or more of different data centers in the network and a user device associated with the service, wherein the functional atoms are decompositions of the VNFs and the microservices into a smaller level of functionality than the VNFs and microservices, wherein the functional atoms are based on isolability, observability, and measurability; and instantiating the service in the network based on the determined placement of the functional atoms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Michaël GAZIER, Robert TOMKINS, Ian DUNCAN, Daniel RIVAUD
  • Patent number: 9473575
    Abstract: For instance, in the case of a software implementation, the terms “component” or “functionality” may refer to program code that performs specified tasks when executed on a processing device or devices (e.g., processor(s) 720). The program code can be stored in one or more computer readable memory devices as described above. The illustrated separation of components and functionality into distinct units may reflect an actual physical grouping and allocation of such software and/or hardware, or can correspond to a conceptual allocation of different tasks performed by a single software program and/or hardware unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jasper Westaway, John Richard Boyle, Ian Duncan Davies
  • Publication number: 20160119414
    Abstract: For instance, in the case of a software implementation, the terms “component” or “functionality” may refer to program code that performs specified tasks when executed on a processing device or devices (e.g., processor(s) 720). The program code can be stored in one or more computer readable memory devices as described above. The illustrated separation of components and functionality into distinct units may reflect an actual physical grouping and allocation of such software and/or hardware, or can correspond to a conceptual allocation of different tasks performed by a single software program and/or hardware unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Jasper Westaway, John Richard Boyle, Ian Duncan Davies
  • Patent number: 9253220
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for quickly determining the status of a network device in a network communicates status inquiry messages over the forwarding plane of one network device to at least one neighboring network device. The status inquiry messages indicate the connectivity status with at least one neighboring network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: RPX CLEARINGHOUSE LLC
    Inventors: Haldon Sandick, Matthew Squire, Bradley Cain, Ian Duncan, Brian Haberman
  • Patent number: 9213962
    Abstract: A method and an agent (500) are provided for the management and control of data files, in particular, the management of shared documents across a network to enable collaboration between users. The agent (500) comprises a collaborative event manager (180) to detect changes made to an open copy of the file that is associated with a first client device (100); a network manager (155) to determine whether a connection can be made with one or more further clients devices (130) connected to a network (120); and an offline manager (170) couplable to the network manager (155) to persist changes detected by the collaborative event manager (180) when a connection cannot be made; wherein the network manager (155) is adapted to selectively transmit the changes across the network (120) to one or more of the said further client devices (130) when a connection can be made, thereby instructing one or more respective agents to apply said changes to respective copies of said file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Quolos Limited
    Inventors: Jasper Westaway, John Richard Boyle, Ian Duncan Davies
  • Patent number: 9130964
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for quickly determining the status of a network device in a network communicates status inquiry messages over the forwarding plane of one network devise to at least one neighboring network device. The status inquiry messages indicate the connectivity status with at least one neighboring network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: PRX CLEARINGHOUSE LLC
    Inventors: Haldon Sandick, Matthew Squire, Bradley Cain, Ian Duncan, Brian Haberman
  • Patent number: 9112882
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for quickly determining the status of a network device in a network communicates status inquiry messages over the forwarding plane of one network device to at least one neighboring network device. The status inquiry messages indicate the connectivity status with at least one neighboring network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: RPX CLEARINGHOUSE LLC
    Inventors: Haldon Sandick, Matthew Squire, Bradley Cain, Ian Duncan, Brian Haberman
  • Publication number: 20150167431
    Abstract: A downhole tool (32) comprises a tool housing (34) defining a central bore (35) and including a fluid port (20), and a valve member (40) mounted within the housing (34) and being moveable from a closed position in which the fluid port (20) is blocked to an open position in which the fluid port (20) is opened. The tool (32) further comprises a catching arrangement (41) mounted within the housing (34) and comprising one or more radially moveable seat members (106), and being configurable from a free configuration in which the seat members (106) permit an object (48) to pass through the tool (32), to a catching configuration in which the seat members (106) catch an object (48) passing through the tool (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel George Purkis, Oliver Webster, Damien Gerard Patton, Matthew Manning, Steve Corbett, Ian Duncan, Santiago Galvez Porta
  • Publication number: 20150167429
    Abstract: A downhole actuator (30) comprises a tubular housing (34) which includes an indexing profile (42) on an inner surface thereof, and an indexing sleeve (46) mounted within the housing (34). The indexing sleeve (46) comprises an engaging arrangement including first and second axially spaced engagement members (52, 54) which cooperate with the indexing profile (42) of the housing (34) to be sequentially engaged by an actuation object (48) passing through a central bore (50) of the indexing sleeve (46) to drive the indexing sleeve (46) one discrete step of movement through the housing (34) towards an actuation site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel George Purkis, Oliver Webster, Damien Gerard Patton, Matthew Manning, Steve Corbett, Ian Duncan, Santiago Galvez Porta
  • Publication number: 20150167430
    Abstract: A downhole actuator (30) comprises a tubular housing (34) which includes an indexing profile (42) on an inner surface thereof, and an indexing sleeve (46) mounted within the housing (34). The indexing sleeve (46) comprises an engaging arrangement including first and second axially spaced engagement members (52, 54) which cooperate with the indexing profile (42) of the housing (34) to be sequentially engaged by an actuation object (48) passing through a central bore (50) of the indexing sleeve (46) to drive the indexing sleeve (46) one discrete step of movement through the housing (34) towards an actuation site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel George Purkis, Oliver Webster, Damien Gerard Patton, Matthew Manning, Steve Corbett, Ian Duncan, Santiago Galvez Porta
  • Publication number: 20150159469
    Abstract: A downhole tool (32) comprises a tool housing (34) defining a central bore (35) and including a fluid port (20), and a valve member (40) mounted within the housing (34) and being moveable from a closed position in which the fluid port (20) is blocked to an open position in which the fluid port (20) is opened. The tool (32) further comprises a catching arrangement (41) mounted within the housing (34) and comprising one or more radially moveable seat members (106), and being configurable from a free configuration in which the seat members (106) permit an object (48) to pass through the tool (32), to a catching configuration in which the seat members (106) catch an object (48) passing through the tool (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel George Purkis, Oliver Webster, Damien Gerard Patton, Matthew Manning, Steve Corbett, Ian Duncan, Santiago Galvez Porta
  • Publication number: 20150027719
    Abstract: Systems and methods for quick access and control of a blown-out well or well that is flowing uncontrollably into the environment. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a re-entry of the casing of the blown-out well below the mud line and the inoperable blowout preventer. The present invention also provides a method to re-enter a production, or injection well, either subsea below the mud line or above the mud line for surface facility applications. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a miniature wellbore is created from the outer casing through the various smaller casing strings into the final wellbore to protect the structural integrity of the well. Once the casing is safely penetrated, coil tubing and or kill weight fluid can be introduced to stop the uncontrolled flow of reservoir fluid. The well can then be sealed with cement and abandoned as normal practice dictates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Ian DUNCAN, Martin DAVIDSON
  • Patent number: 8885634
    Abstract: The present invention utilizes specific referential tables for forwarding decisions while maintaining current mechanisms of Ethernet addressing and QoS marking. The referential tables are utilized for forwarding decisions based on any and/or multiple fields within the packets simultaneously, such as, for example, incoming port number, incoming MAC, incoming VLAN, outgoing MAC, outgoing VLAN, P-bits, DSCP, MPLS label, TCP/UDP port numbers, IP, SIP, HTTP, and the like. A user can define the forwarding criteria based on any combination/permutation fields in the packet. Advantageously, the present invention removes the need to introduce explicit tunnel labels in the Ethernet frame in order to maintain the desired QoS within the network removing explicit labeling requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Morteza Ghodrat, Michael Gazier, Ian Duncan
  • Publication number: 20140211604
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for quickly determining the status of a network device in a network communicates status inquiry messages over the forwarding plane of one network device to at least one neighboring network device. The status inquiry messages indicate the connectivity status with at least one neighboring network device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: ROCKSTAR CONSORTIUM US LP
    Inventors: Haldon Sandick, Matthew Squire, Bradley Cain, Ian Duncan, Brian Haberman
  • Patent number: 8776161
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for video processing, such as transcoding, storage, quality testing, and the like, in network edge devices. The present invention embeds various video processing capabilities within a network to provide advantages, such as superior per-user video handling, reduced network bandwidth, increased service offerings, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Gazier, Ian Duncan, Daniel Rivaud
  • Publication number: 20140022911
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for quickly determining the status of a network device in a network communicates status inquiry messages over the forwarding plane of one network device to at least one neighboring network device The status inquiry messages indicate the connectivity status with at least one neighboring network device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: ROCKSTAR CONSORTIUM US LP
    Inventors: Haldon Sandick, Matthew Squire, Bradley Cain, Ian Duncan, Brian Haberman
  • Publication number: 20140019627
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for quickly determining the status of a network device in a network communicates status inquiry messages over the forwarding plane of one network device to at least one neighboring network device. The status inquiry messages indicate the connectivity status with at least one neighboring network device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: ROCKSTAR CONSORTIUM US LP
    Inventors: Haldon Sandick, Matthew Squire, Bradley Cain, Ian Duncan, Brian Haberman
  • Publication number: 20140012984
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for quickly determining the status of a network device in a network communicates status inquiry messages over the forwarding plane of one network device to at least one neighboring network device. The status inquiry messages indicate the connectivity status with at least one neighboring network device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Rockstar Consortium US LP
    Inventors: Haldon Sandick, Matthew Squire, Bradley Cain, Ian Duncan, Brian Haberman
  • Publication number: 20140010231
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for quickly determining the status of a network device in a network communicates status inquiry messages over the forwarding plane of one network devise to at least one neighboring network device. The status inquiry messages indicate the connectivity status with at least one neighboring network device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: ROCKSTAR CONSORTIUM US LP
    Inventors: Haldon Sandick, Matthew Squire, Bradley Cain, Ian Duncan, Brian Haberman