Patents by Inventor James A. Shields

James A. Shields 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: 7684701
    Abstract: A photon emitter including a photon generator configured to generate photons having a first polarization state or a second polarization state, the first polarization state being orthogonal to the second polarization state; and a time delay device which delays photons having the second polarization state with respect to those having the first polarization state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Zhiliang Yuan, Andrew James Shields
  • Publication number: 20100036691
    Abstract: A software project management method uses templates from one project phase as inputs to their subsequent project phases. The project is organized in four phases, each phase having one or more steps and one or more attributes. Using XSL, a phase model is transformed into a starting point as input for the subsequent phase model. XSL-FO is used to generate PDF documents from any phase model to export a particular project deliverable. The information and data created within that phase still has meaning as input for the next phase. A model thus derived can be reused for another project as well as to transform into a model used by a subsequent phase within the same project.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: RICHARD BRADLEY BOULDIN, TAL FRIEDMAN, MICHAEL DOUGLAS JAMES SHIELDS, WENHUI WANG, KIRK WENDLAND
  • Publication number: 20100027794
    Abstract: A system for transmitting quantum information comprising a sending unit and a receiving unit, said sending unit comprising an encoder configured to encode a carrier with quantum information by setting a quantum state of the carrier, the quantum state determined according to a first component and a second component, the receiving unit comprising a decoder configured to cancel said second component and decode said quantum information from the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Zhiliang Yuan, Andrew James Shields
  • Patent number: 7545800
    Abstract: Narrowband subscriber terminals (40,52,58) of different narrowband networks are interconnected via a broadband network (48) that supports dissimilar signaling protocols to those maintained on the respective narrowband networks (40,52,58). A call server in a first narrowband network (40), in response to a call (100) from a first subscriber terminal (12) to a second subscriber terminal (68) in a second but different narrowband network (52), selects a phantom trunk (202) between the two networks. The phantom trunk has a unique circuit identity, which circuit identify is used in a first instance to relay to the second network an address of the second subscriber terminal (68). Then, in a second instance, the unique circuit identify is used to relay to the second network an address of the first subscriber terminal (68).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Julian Frank Barry Cable, Roy Harold Mauger, Mark Ashworth, James Shields
  • Publication number: 20090129772
    Abstract: In a mesh network, a network element for providing protection switching in a 1:N shared mesh protection scheme having a first protection path associated with a pair of working paths selected from the N working paths is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard TRUDEL, Evert E. de BOER, James A. SHIELDS
  • Patent number: 7477843
    Abstract: A method of and system for determining a path through which to route a connection in a photonic network in which optically viable photonic paths of one or more physical links are determined and considered as “virtual” links in a “virtual” topology. Routing is then performed using the “virtual” topology rather than the physical topology to compute “virtual” paths of one or more “virtual” links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Bram Peeters, Friskney Robert, James Shields
  • Publication number: 20080310839
    Abstract: A distributed packet switch to control data packet flows in a network is described. The distributed packet switch includes a means for operating over an asynchronous burst optical closed fiber medium. The distributed packet switch also includes at least one control system provided at a node to control data packet flow characteristics, such that the switch is configured to operate dependent on at least one efficiency parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Intune Technologies Limited
    Inventors: James A. Shields, John Dunne, Thomas Farrell
  • Patent number: 7460669
    Abstract: An encoding method, decoding method and a communication method using single photons where information is directly encoded into each photon. In one embodiment at least two out of the three parameters of phases, polarization, and energy are used to encode information. In another embodiment, three or more non-orthogonal states with respect to each parameter are used. A further embodiment is also described which uses selective grouping of the results in order to more clearly detect the presence of an eavesdropper. Apparatus capable of performing the methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Clare Louise Foden, Andrew James Shields, David Mark Whittaker
  • Patent number: 7450497
    Abstract: In a mesh network, a network element for providing protection switching in a 1:N shared mesh protection scheme having a first protection path associated with a pair of working paths selected from the N working paths is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Richard Trudel, Evert E. de Boer, James A. Shields
  • Patent number: 7406033
    Abstract: In a mesh communications network, in which working and protection paths may be established, channels used to carry protection traffic between nodes are shared across multiple protection paths. Channels need only be shared if sharing does not adversely impact network usage. If working and protection paths become susceptible to single points of failure, channels need not be shared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Evert E. deBoer, James A. Shields, Rick R. Wedge, Peter J. Ashwood-Smith
  • Publication number: 20080165808
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of carrying frame based data, eg Ethernet data, over a synchronous digital hierarchy network in order to provide local area network type functionality over a wide area network coverage. Specific embodiments disclose methods of mapping Ethernet data frames into SDH virtual containers, and distinguishing start and end boundaries of the Ethernet data frames within the virtual container payloads, by a selection of encoding methods including a segmentation, pointer methods, bit stuffing methods and byte stuffing methods. Data frames are encoded with a code which designates a boundary of each frame, and the encoded frames are input into a synchronous data channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
    Inventors: John Paul Russell, Christopher David Murton, David Michael Goodman, Christopher Ramsden, James Shields
  • Publication number: 20080165888
    Abstract: A transmission apparatus and a method for operating the apparatus comprises means for controlling flow of frame based data transmitted from a local frame based data channel interface over a synchronous digital network. The method of operation comprises the transmitter receiving frame based data at a first rate whereafter a buffer is configured to receive the frame based data. A data amount threshold level for the buffer is predetermined whereafter, with respect to the threshold level, an amount of transmitted frame based data that has been received is monitored. In response to monitoring the amount of data received, a signal, in the form of a pause frame, is generated wherein the signal is configurable to adapt the rate of transmission from the frame based data channel interface. Working in conjunction with the transmission means there is also provided a receiver for controlling flow of frame based data, received from a synchronous digital network, to a frame based data channel interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: NORTHERN TELECOM LIMITED
    Inventors: David William Wiggins, John Paul Russell, David Michael Goodman, Christopher David Murton, Christopher Thomas William Ramsden, James Shields
  • Patent number: 7372803
    Abstract: A node within a mesh network includes an Optical Connection Controller (OCC) and a network element. When a connection path within the mesh network is required, an OCC determines if a particular connection path requires a network element to operate as a virtual gateway to separate the mesh network into separate protection domains for that particular connection path. A connection path might require separate protection domains in cases in which the number of network elements and/or repeater/amplifier components for a particular connection path is greater than a threshold, the total length of links for the connection path is above a threshold and/or another factor that could cause the recovery time for the connection path to increase beyond an acceptable threshold level. If the OCC determines that one or more virtual gateways are required for a particular connection path, the OCC selects an appropriate network element within the network to operate as a virtual gateway for that particular connection path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Evert de Boer, James A. Shields, Richard Trudel, Malcolm Betts
  • Patent number: 7369496
    Abstract: A transmission apparatus and a method for operating the apparatus comprises means for controlling flow of frame based data transmitted from a local frame based data channel interface over a synchronous digital network. The method of operation comprises the transmitter receiving frame based data at a first rate whereafter a buffer is configured to receive the frame based data. A data amount threshold level for the buffer is pre-determined whereafter, with respect to the threshold level, an amount of transmitted frame based data that has been received is monitored. In response to monitoring the amount of data received, a signal, in the form of a pause frame, is generated wherein the signal is configurable to adapt the rate of transmission from the frame based data channel interface. Working in conjunction with the transmission means there is also provided a receiver for controlling flow of frame based data, received from a synchronous digital network, to a frame based data channel interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Notel Networks Limited
    Inventors: David William Wiggins, John Paul Russell, David Michael Goodman, Christopher David Murton, Christopher Thomas William Ramsden, James Shields
  • Patent number: 7268374
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising a vertical stack of layers, comprising: an active layer configured to support a two dimensional carrier gas having an excess of carriers; source and drain contacts provided to said active layer such that a current can flow between said source and drain contacts through said two dimensional carrier gas; a lower conducting region, wherein said lower contact conducting region is a patterned lower conducting region such that said active layer is suspended across gaps in said lower conducting region and said active layer is physically supported by and suspended between parts of said lower conducting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Patrick Un Siong See, Andrew James Shields
  • Publication number: 20070188579
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing permanent ink-jet images are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a media substrate coated with a porous media coating, wherein the porous media coating comprises inorganic porous particulates, and wherein at least a portion of the inorganic porous particulates have a first reactive group covalently attached thereto. The system further includes an ink-jet ink containing a dye, wherein the dye comprises a second reactive group, and wherein the first reactive group and the second reactive group are configured to react with one another upon contact to form a covalent bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Vladek Kasperchik, Palitha Wickramanayake, James Shields, Gary Ungefug
  • Publication number: 20070091153
    Abstract: Incorporation of biocide into print system components, such as a metal ion biocide, facilitates reduced reliance on, and possible elimination of, biocides in marking fluid formulations. Such embodiments are especially useful in cationic marking fluid formulations where traditional marking fluid biocides may be incompatible. For some embodiments, the metal ion biocide is included in the marking fluid or incorporated into print system components that are only in intermittent contact with marking fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Inventor: James Shields
  • Patent number: 7199372
    Abstract: A circuit for conditioning the output of a single photon detector, the output of said detector having a stepped electrical output signal with respect to time, the circuit comprising a band pass amplifier, said band pass amplifier having a 3 dB breakpoint equal to and less than the inverse of the expected duration of the rising or falling step of said detector output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Beata Ewa Kardynal, Andrew James Shields
  • Patent number: 7139169
    Abstract: An information handling system cooling fan operating curve is automatically selected for use by a cooling fan controller by detecting the configuration of the information handling system and looking up cooling fan operating parameters from a table associated with the information handling system. For instance, central processing unit identification information is used to select associated cooling fan operating parameters so that adequate cooling is available to meet system cooling constraints for the heat characteristics of the central processing unit with reduced acoustic impact associated with operation of the information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Joshua N. Alperin, Ajay Kwatra, James Shields, Benjamen G. Tyner
  • Patent number: 7132676
    Abstract: A photon source comprising a quantum dot comprising a confined conduction band energy level capable of being populated with at least one carrier and a confined valence band energy level capable of being populated by at least one carrier is provided, the source further comprises supply means for intermittently supplying at least one carrier to the energy levels to create an exciton in the quantum dot, wherein the supply means are configured to regulate the supply of carriers such that as the exciton decays either a single photon or a plurality of single photons each having different distinct energies are emitted during a predetermined time interval. The source is configured to be able to enhance the production of a desired type of exciton and can also be configured to exploit the use of higher order excitons such as biexcitons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Andrew James Shields, Richard Mark Stevenson