Patents by Inventor Ian MacMillan

Ian MacMillan 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: 20150319658
    Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for capacity sharing between wireless systems. In one embodiment, a scheduler is operable with a plurality of wireless base stations. Each base station is operable to digitize a frequency spectrum of radio communications from a plurality of user equipment (UEs). The scheduler communicatively couples to first and second Mobile Central Offices (MCOs). The scheduler processes the digitized frequency spectrums of the base stations, extracts radio communications of a first of the UEs from the digitized frequency spectrums of one or more of the base stations coupled to the first MCO, determines that a capacity of the first MCO has been exceeded, determines that a capacity of the second MCO is available, acquires at least a portion of the capacity of the second MCO, and handles a call of the first UE through the capacity acquired from the second MCO.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Joey Padden, Bernard McKibben, Jennifer Andreoli-Fang, Luis Alberto Campos, Ian MacMillan, Justin Colwell
  • Publication number: 20150123314
    Abstract: The present invention relates at least in part to methods for the manufacture of shape memory polymer (SMP) materials. Particularly, although not exclusive, the present invention relates to processes for the formation of complex shaped devices composed of shape memory polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Malcolm Brown, Horacio Montes de Oca Balderas, Michael Andrew Hall, Alan William Bull, David Franklin Farrar, Philip Caton-Rose, Philip David Coates, Glen Thompson, Michael Martyn, Ian MacMillan Ward, Mark James Bonner, Peter John Hine, Paul Unwin, Michael Woodhead
  • Publication number: 20150073476
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising shape memory polymer (SMP) materials and uses thereof. Particularly, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to biocompatible shape memory polymer (SMP) materials and uses thereof in the medical field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Malcolm Brown, Horacio Montes de Oca Balderas, Michael Andrew Hall, Alan William Bull, David Franklin Farrar, Philip Caton-Rose, Philip David Coates, Glen Thompson, Michael Martyn, Ian MacMillan Ward, Mark James Bonner, Peter John Hine, Paul Unwin, Robin Anthony Chivers, Michael Woodhead
  • Publication number: 20150017407
    Abstract: A process for the production of a polymeric article comprises: (a) forming a ply having successive layers, namely, (i) a first layer made up of strands of an oriented polymer material; (ii) a second layer of a polymeric material; (iii) a third layer made up of strands of an oriented polymeric material, wherein the second layer has a lower peak melting temperature that of the first and third layers; (b) subjecting the ply to conditions of time, temperature, and pressure sufficient to melt a proportion of the fits layer, to melt the second layer entirely, and to melt a proportion of the third layer, and to compact the ply; and (c) cooling the compacted ply. The resultant articles have good mechanical properties yet may be made at a lower compaction temperature than articles not employing the second layer, leading to a more controllable manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Ian MacMillan Ward, Peter John Hine, Keith Norris
  • Publication number: 20150003412
    Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for capacity sharing between wireless systems. One wireless telecommunications system includes a plurality of base stations and a Mobile Central Office (MCO) communicatively coupled to each of the base stations. Each base station is operable to handle a session from a wireless device and to handoff the session to another of the base stations when the wireless device moves into a range of the other wireless base station. The MCO is operable to detect capacity on a first of the base stations, to request capacity from another wireless system in response to detecting the capacity on the first base station, to acquire at least a portion of the requested capacity from the other wireless system, and to direct the wireless device to communicate via the capacity acquired from the other wireless system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: CABLE TELEVISION LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jennifer Andreoli-Fang, Luis Alberto Campos, Ian MacMillan, Bernard McKibben, Joey Padden, Justin Colwell
  • Publication number: 20150003413
    Abstract: One wireless telecommunications system includes a Mobile Central Office (MCO) for capacity sharing. The MCO is communicatively coupled to a plurality of wireless base stations, each being operable to handle a session from a wireless device and to handoff the session to another base station when the wireless device moves into a range of the other base station. The MCO is operable to detect capacity on a base station to which it is coupled, to request capacity for the base station from a remotely located master scheduling system, to acquire at least a portion of the requested capacity from a base station of another MCO based on the request to the master scheduling system, to handle another session of another wireless device via the acquired capacity, and to release the acquired capacity to the master scheduling system when the first base station has completed use of the acquired capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard McKibben, Ian MacMillan, Jennifer Andreoli-Fang, Joey Padden, Justin Colwell
  • Publication number: 20150003414
    Abstract: One wireless telecommunications system includes a Mobile Central Office (MCO) for capacity sharing via a master scheduling system. The MCO is communicatively coupled to a plurality of wireless base stations, each being operable to handle a session from a wireless device and to handoff the session to another wireless base station when the wireless device moves into a range of the other base station. Each of the wireless base stations is operable to convey capacity information to the master scheduling system through the MCO, and to acquire capacity from one or more wireless base stations of another MCO when directed by the master scheduling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: CABLE TELEVISION LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Luis Alberto Campos, Bernard McKibben, Ian MacMillan, Jennifer Andreoli-Fang, Joey Padden, Justin Colwell
  • Patent number: 8871333
    Abstract: A process for the production of a polymeric article comprises: (a) forming a ply having successive layers, namely, (i) a first layer made up of strands of an oriented polymer material; (ii) a second layer of a polymeric material; (iii) a third layer made up of strands of an oriented polymeric material, wherein the second layer has a lower peak melting temperature that of the first and third layers; (b) subjecting the ply to conditions of time, temperature, and pressure sufficient to melt a proportion of the fits layer, to melt the second layer entirely, and to melt a proportion of the third layer, and to compact the ply; and (c) cooling the compacted ply. The resultant articles have good mechanical properties yet may be made at a lower compaction temperature than articles not employing the second layer, leading to a more controllable manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventors: Ian MacMillan Ward, Peter John Hine, Keith Norris
  • Publication number: 20140257414
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a shape memory polymer material containing at least one two dimensional region having a first amount of stored stress in a first direction and a second amount of stored stress higher than the first amount of stored stress in a second direction, wherein the two dimensional region is capable of changing shape in only one of the first or second directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Horacio Montes De Oca Balderas, Malcolm Brown, Mark Bonner, Ian MacMillan Ward, Michael Andrew Hall, John Rose, Mason James Bettenga
  • Publication number: 20140233666
    Abstract: A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capable system is contemplated. The communication system may include a signal processor configured to separate an input stream into multiple signal paths to facilitate simultaneous transport through a communication medium. The capability to simultaneously transmit multiples signal paths may be beneficial in order to maximize throughput and/or minimize expense.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Luis Alberto Campos, Jennifer Andreoli-Fang, Ian MacMillan
  • Patent number: 8747976
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a shape memory polymer material containing at least one two dimensional region having a first amount of stored stress in a first direction and a second amount of stored stress higher than the first amount of stored stress in a second direction, wherein the two dimensional region is capable of changing shape in only one of the first or second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Horacio Montes De Oca Balderas, Malcolm Brown, Mark Bonner, Ian Macmillan Ward, Michael Andrew Hall, John Rose, Mason James Bettenga
  • Publication number: 20130029108
    Abstract: A process for the production of a polymeric article comprises: (a) forming a ply having successive layers, namely, (i) a first layer made up of strands of an oriented polymer material; (ii) a second layer of a polymeric material; (iii) a third layer made up of strands of an oriented polymeric material, wherein the second layer has a lower peak melting temperature that of the first and third layers; (b) subjecting the ply to conditions of time, temperature, and pressure sufficient to melt a proportion of the fits layer, to melt the second layer entirely, and to melt a proportion of the third layer, and to compact the ply; and (c) cooling the compacted ply. The resultant articles have good mechanical properties yet may be made at a lower compaction temperature than articles not employing the second layer, leading to a more controllable manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Propex Operating Company LLC
    Inventors: Ian MacMillan Ward, Peter John Hine, Keith Norris
  • Patent number: 8349422
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container (FIBC) having a body made of flexible woven fabric, and integral handling devices, wherein the fabric is woven from opaque oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) strips having a density of from 500 to 1300 kg/m3 and a tensile strength of at least 250 MPa. Advantages of said FIBC include directly printability with the usual type of inks, giving excellent contrast and good adhesion, without pre-treatment like a corona- or flame-treatment. The FIBC based on the PET fabric also shows higher gloss; better UV resistance; better mechanical properties, like high tensile strength and creep resistance; favorable abrasion resistance; and higher temperature resistance than a conventional big bag based on polypropylene strips. The invention further relates to such a FIBC based on stress-whitened PET tapes obtained by a special drawing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Zahir Bashir, Ian Macmillan Ward, Glen Peter Thompson, Anthony Paul Unwin
  • Patent number: 8268439
    Abstract: A process for the production of a polymeric article comprises the steps of: (a) forming a ply having successive layers, namely (ii) a first layer made up of strands of an oriented polymeric material; (ii) a second layer of a polymeric material; (iii) a third layer made up of strands of an oriented polymeric material, wherein the second layer has a lower peak melting temperature than that of the first and third layers; (b) subjecting the ply to conditions of time, temperature and pressure sufficient to melt a proportion of the first layer, to melt the second layer entirely, and to melt a proportion of the third layer; and to compact the ply; and (c) cooling the compacted ply. The resultant articles have good mechanical properties yet may be made at lower compaction temperatures than articles not employing the second layer, leading to a more controllable manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Propex Operating Company, LLC
    Inventors: Ian MacMillan Ward, Peter John Hine, Keith Norris
  • Publication number: 20120094094
    Abstract: A process for the production of a polymeric article comprises the steps of: (a) forming a ply having successive layers, namely (ii) a first layer made up of strands of an oriented polymeric material; (ii) a second layer of a polymeric material; (iii) a third layer made up of strands of an oriented polymeric material, wherein the second layer has a lower peak melting temperature than that of the first and third layers; (b) subjecting the ply to conditions of time, temperature and pressure sufficient to melt a proportion of the first layer, to melt the second layer entirely, and to melt a proportion of the third layer; and to compact the ply; and (c) cooling the compacted ply. The resultant articles have good mechanical properties yet may be made at lower compaction temperatures than articles not employing the second layer, leading to a more controllable manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Propex Operating Company LLC.
    Inventors: Ian MacMillan Ward, Peter John Hine, Keith Norris
  • Patent number: 8052913
    Abstract: Process for the production of a polymeric article by: (a) forming a ply having successive layers, namely (i) a first layer made up of strands of an oriented polymeric material; (ii) a second layer of a polymeric material; (iii) a third layer made up of strands of an oriented polymeric material, wherein the second layer has a lower peak melting temperature than that of the first and third layers; (b) subjecting the ply to conditions of time, temperature and pressure sufficient to melt a proportion of the first layer, to melt the second layer entirely, and to melt a proportion of the third layer; and to compact the ply; and (c) cooling the compacted ply. The resultant articles have good mechanical properties yet may be made at lower compaction temperatures than articles not employing the second layer, leading to a more controllable manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Propex Operating Company LLC
    Inventors: Ian MacMillan Ward, Peter John Hine, Keith Norris
  • Publication number: 20100280559
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a shape memory polymer material containing at least one two dimensional region having a first amount of stored stress in a first direction and a second amount of stored stress higher than the first amount of stored stress in a second direction, wherein the two dimensional region is capable of changing shape in only one of the first or second directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
    Inventors: Horacio Montes De Oca Balderas, Malcolm Brown, Mark Bonner, Ian MacMillan Ward, Michael Andrew Hall, John Rose, Mason James Bettenga
  • Patent number: 7756891
    Abstract: The present invention provides a search method and system for matching a commodity to one or more applications for using the commodity. A plurality of properties associated with the commodity are identified. A collection of documents for searching for a plurality of combinations of said properties is then defined, wherein the combination includes a single property or multiple properties. The defined collection of documents is searched for all occurrences of the combination of properties, and the hits retrieved for those documents that include the properties. The hits are then associated with one or more subclasses of a classification scheme, and reviewed for those hits that include the properties of the commodity but not the commodity, wherein subclasses not including hits that include the commodity are matched as applications for the commodity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sizatola LLC
    Inventors: Steven O. Kimbrough, Ian MacMillan, John Ranieri
  • Publication number: 20080021892
    Abstract: The present invention provides a search method and system for matching a commodity to one or more applications for using the commodity. A plurality of properties associated with the commodity are identified. A collection of documents for searching for a plurality of combinations of said properties is then defined, wherein the combination includes a single property or multiple properties. The defined collection of documents is searched for all occurrences of the combination of properties, and the hits retrieved for those documents that include the properties. The hits are then associated with one or more subclasses of a classification scheme, and reviewed for those hits that include the properties of the commodity but not the commodity, wherein subclasses not including hits that include the commodity are matched as applications for the commodity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Steven Kimbrough, Ian MacMillan, John Ranieri
  • Patent number: 7279441
    Abstract: A polyolefin plaque is made by hot compaction of an assembly of fibres of the oriented polymer. It has been found to be beneficial to subject the fibres to a prior crosslinking process. Hot compaction is then less temperature-sensitive and produces plaques with excellent hot strength properties. Preferably the fibres have been subjected to prior stages of irradiation and annealing, both in a non-oxidising environment, for example acetylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: BTG International Limited
    Inventors: Richard Albert Jones, Ian MacMillan Ward, Peter John Hine, Mark James Bonner