Patents by Inventor James Shepherd

James Shepherd 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: 11961008
    Abstract: Methods for controlled segregation of blocks of information encoded in the sequence of a biopolymer, such as nucleic acids and polypeptides, with rapid retrieval based on multiply addressing nanostructured data have been developed. In some embodiments, sequence controlled polymer memory objects include data-encoded biopolymers of any length or form encapsulated by natural or synthetic polymers and including one or more address tags. The sequence address labels are used to associate or select memory objects for sequencing read-out, enabling organization and access of distinct memory objects or subsets of memory objects using Boolean logic. In some embodiments, a memory object is a single-stranded nucleic acid scaffold strand encoding bit stream information that is folded into a nucleic acid nanostructure of arbitrary geometry, including one or more sequence address labels. Methods for controlled degradation of biopolymer-encoded blocks of information in the memory objects are also developed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Mark Bathe, Sakul Ratanalert, Remi Veneziano, James Banal, Tyson Shepherd
  • Publication number: 20240076654
    Abstract: Methods for the automated template-free synthesis of user-defined sequence controlled biopolymers using microfluidic devices are described. The methods facilitate simultaneous synthesis of up to thousands of uniquely addressed biopolymers from the controlled movement and combination of regents as fluid droplets using microfluidic and EWOD-based systems. In some forms, biopolymers including nucleic acids, peptides, carbohydrates, and lipids are synthesized from step-wise assembly of building blocks based on a user-defined sequence of droplet movements. In some forms, the methods synthesize uniquely addressed nucleic acids of up to 1,000 nucleotides in length. Methods for adding, removing and changing barcodes on biopolymers are also provided. Biopolymers synthesized according to the methods, and libraries and databases thereof are also described. Modified biopolymers, including chemically modified nucleotides and biopolymers conjugated to other molecules are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: James Banal, Joseph Don Berleant, Tyson Shepherd, Mark Bathe
  • Patent number: 11863352
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a novel network architecture for deploying guest clusters (GCs) including workload machines for a tenant (or other entity) within an availability zone. The novel network architecture includes a virtual private cloud (VPC) deployed in the availability zone (AZ) that includes a centralized routing element that provides access to a gateway routing element of the AZ. In some embodiments, the centralized routing element provides a set of services for packets traversing a boundary of the VPC. The services, in some embodiments, include load balancing, firewall, quality of service (QoS) and may be stateful or stateless. Guest clusters are deployed within the VPC and use the centralized routing element of the VPC to access the gateway routing element of the AZ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: VMWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Jianjun Shen, Mark Johnson, Gaetano Borgione, Benjamin John Corrie, Derek Beard, Zach James Shepherd, Vinay Reddy
  • Publication number: 20230408252
    Abstract: A multi-axis system (30) for positioning a workpiece measuring sensor (54) on a metrology machine. Preferably, each sensor is positionable via a system comprising movement along and/or about at least linear directions/axes (X, Z, A, B) so as to control linear and/or rotational movement of a sensor automatically to a predetermined position without operator intervention. The multi-axis positioning system allows faster setup times when a workpiece or tooling on a machine is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Parag Prakash Wagaj, Ethan James Shepherd, Michael R. Tanner, Edward J. Damron, Douglas Charles Beerck
  • Patent number: 11822949
    Abstract: An example virtualized computing system includes: a host cluster having hosts and a virtualization layer executing on hardware platforms of the hosts, the virtualization layer supporting execution of virtual machines (VMs); an orchestration control plane integrated with the virtualization layer, the orchestration control plane including a master server executing in a first VM of the VMs; guest cluster infrastructure software (GCIS) executing in the master server, the GCIS configured to create a set of objects defining a container orchestration cluster, and manage lifecycles of second VMs of the VMs based on state of the set of objects; and guest software executing in the second VMs to implement the container orchestration cluster as a guest cluster of the host cluster, the guest software having components that interface with the GCIS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary James Shepherd, Derek William Beard, George Gregory Hicken, Mark Russell Johnson, Jared Sean Rosoff, Joseph Stephen Beda, Konstantinos Roussos
  • Patent number: 11754387
    Abstract: A probe calibration method and calibration artifact (30, 70) whereby calibration can be performed without the use of machine axes capable of three dimensional positioning of a probe relative to a calibration sphere (40). The method includes a plurality of calibration spheres fixed in relation to one another via a rigid structure comprising a calibration artifact body (30, 70). The spheres are mounted such that each will be sensed by the probe at some position of a machine axis (W, N). In other words, the spheres lie in the region swept out by the sensor field of view (8, 78) over the movement of the machine axis. The calibration spheres are located at known positions (A, B, C) and the calibration artifact body is designed such that it may be mounted in a known location in place of a work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: GLEASON METROLOGY SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ethan James Shepherd, Parag P. Wagaj
  • Publication number: 20230179591
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a computer implemented method for receiving authentication credentials identifying a user; identifying computing systems for which the user is authorized access to; and transmitting tokens granting access to the identified computing systems. In some embodiments, no two tokens of the transmitted tokens grants access to the same one of the identified computing systems. The user typically has access to a management tool configured to manage the transmission of the received tokens to the corresponding computing systems, thereby granting the user the ability to have seamless access to any of the computing systems associated with the user's authenticated identity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Michal A. JANKOWSKI, Mark JOHNSON, Fanny STRUDEL, Zachary James SHEPHERD
  • Publication number: 20230166305
    Abstract: A method for removing fouling from a pipeline includes determining the location of fouling in the pipeline. Once determined, the method further includes installing a hot tap in the pipeline. A flex conduit is inserted into the pipeline through the hot tap and a treatment fluid is flowed into the pipeline through the conduit. The treatment fluid is used to remove the fouling from the pipeline. Once the fouling is sufficiently removed, the flexible conduit is removed from the pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Robert Greig, Graham Peter Jack, Iain James Shepherd, Giselle Kevin Braganza
  • Publication number: 20230153145
    Abstract: An example virtualized computing system includes a host cluster having hosts and a virtualization layer executing on hardware platforms of the hosts, the virtualization layer supporting execution of virtual machines (VMs), the VMs including pod VMs, the pod VMs including container engines supporting execution of containers in the pod VMs; and an orchestration control plane integrated with the virtualization layer, the orchestration control plane including a master server configured to manage the pod VMs and first VMs of the VMs. The virtualized computing system further includes a guest cluster executing in the first VMs and managed by the orchestration control plane, the guest cluster including a guest master server configured to, in cooperation with the master server, deploy first pods in the pod VMs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Zachary James SHEPHERD, Derek William BEARD, Mark Russell JOHNSON
  • Patent number: 11595379
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a computer implemented method for receiving authentication credentials identifying a user; identifying computing systems for which the user is authorized access to; and transmitting tokens granting access to the identified computing systems. In some embodiments, no two tokens of the transmitted tokens grants access to the same one of the identified computing systems. The user typically has access to a management tool configured to manage the transmission of the received tokens to the corresponding computing systems, thereby granting the user the ability to have seamless access to any of the computing systems associated with the user's authenticated identity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Michal A. Jankowski, Mark Johnson, Fanny Strudel, Zachary James Shepherd
  • Patent number: 11593139
    Abstract: An example method of checking compatibility of a guest cluster executing as a virtual extension of a host cluster having an orchestration control plane managing the guest cluster, the host cluster being part of a software defined data center (SDDC), is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek William Beard, Brian Charles Forney, Mark Russell Johnson, Zachary James Shepherd
  • Patent number: 11556373
    Abstract: An example virtualized computing system includes a host cluster having hosts and a virtualization layer executing on hardware platforms of the hosts, the virtualization layer supporting execution of virtual machines (VMs), the VMs including pod VMs, the pod VMs including container engines supporting execution of containers in the pod VMs; and an orchestration control plane integrated with the virtualization layer, the orchestration control plane including a master server configured to manage the pod VMs and first VMs of the VMs. The virtualized computing system further includes a guest cluster executing in the first VMs and managed by the orchestration control plane, the guest cluster including a guest master server configured to, in cooperation with the master server, deploy first pods in the pod VMs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary James Shepherd, Derek William Beard, Mark Russell Johnson
  • Patent number: 11422846
    Abstract: A virtualized computing system according to an example includes: a host cluster having hosts and a virtualization layer executing on hardware platforms of the hosts, the virtualization layer supporting execution of virtual machines (VMs); a container image registry configured to manage container images for deploying containers in the host cluster; an orchestration control plane integrated with the virtualization layer, the orchestration control plane including a master server executing in a first VM of the VMs, the master server configured to manage image secrets based on accounts in the container image registry; and a guest cluster, managed by the orchestration control plane and executing in second VMs of the VMs, the guest cluster configured to receive the image secrets from the master server and access the container image registry using the image secrets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventors: Yanping Cao, Zachary James Shepherd, Mark Russell Johnson
  • Publication number: 20220074732
    Abstract: A probe calibration method and calibration artifact (30, 70) whereby calibration can be performed without the use of machine axes capable of three dimensional positioning of a probe relative to a calibration sphere (40). The method includes a plurality of calibration spheres fixed in relation to one another via a rigid structure comprising a calibration artifact body (30, 70). The spheres are mounted such that each will be sensed by the probe at some position of a machine axis (W, N). In other words, the spheres lie in the region swept out by the sensor field of view (8, 78) over the movement of the machine axis. The calibration spheres are located at known positions (A, B, C) and the calibration artifact body is designed such that it may be mounted in a known location in place of a work piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Ethan James Shepherd, Parag P. Wagaj
  • Patent number: 11261689
    Abstract: A subsea chemical injection system and method for injecting chemicals into a hydrocarbon production assembly adjacent the seabed wherein a seawater volume flowmeter is utilized to measure seawater pumped through the system and a chemical subsea mass flowmeter is used to measure a chemical injected into the seawater, where the chemical subsea mass flowmeter measures the chemical at a pressure less than the seawater pumped through the system. Based on the chemical subsea mass flowmeter measurement, the flowrate of a chemical injected into the seawater can be adjusted to a predetermined setpoint corresponding to the flowrate of seawater pumped through the system. The chemical subsea mass flowmeter includes a Coriolis tube and chemical injection process pump housed within a pressure vessel. The subsea chemical injection system may be carried on a skid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Cameron Clunie, Iain James Shepherd, Quintin John Richterberg
  • Patent number: 11262190
    Abstract: A method and machine comprising at least one non-contact sensor (52) on a functional testing platform (50) for workpiece inspection and/or measurement. The inclusion of at least one non-contact sensor on the functional testing platform results in the combination of two machine platforms into a single machine and provides the user with measurement characteristics of both methods, functional and analytical, saving significant cycle time and significant space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: GLEASON METROLOGY SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Parag Prakash Wagaj, Douglas Charles Beerck, Ethan James Shepherd, Michael R. Tanner, Edward J. Damron, Aaron Timothy Slusser
  • Publication number: 20220038311
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a novel network architecture for deploying guest clusters (GCs) including workload machines for a tenant (or other entity) within an availability zone. The novel network architecture includes a virtual private cloud (VPC) deployed in the availability zone (AZ) that includes a centralized routing element that provides access to a gateway routing element of the AZ. In some embodiments, the centralized routing element provides a set of services for packets traversing a boundary of the VPC. The services, in some embodiments, include load balancing, firewall, quality of service (QoS) and may be stateful or stateless. Guest clusters are deployed within the VPC and use the centralized routing element of the VPC to access the gateway routing element of the AZ.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Jianjun Shen, Mark Johnson, Gaetano Borgione, Benjamin John Corrie, Derek Beard, Zach James Shepherd, Vinay Reddy
  • Publication number: 20220019455
    Abstract: A virtualized computing system according to an example includes: a host cluster having hosts and a virtualization layer executing on hardware platforms of the hosts, the virtualization layer supporting execution of virtual machines (VMs); a container image registry configured to manage container images for deploying containers in the host cluster; an orchestration control plane integrated with the virtualization layer, the orchestration control plane including a master server executing in a first VM of the VMs, the master server configured to manage image secrets based on accounts in the container image registry; and a guest cluster, managed by the orchestration control plane and executing in second VMs of the VMs, the guest cluster configured to receive the image secrets from the master server and access the container image registry using the image secrets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Yanping CAO, Zachary James SHEPHERD, Mark Russell JOHNSON
  • Publication number: 20220012080
    Abstract: An example virtualized computing system includes a host cluster having hosts and a virtualization layer executing on hardware platforms of the hosts, the virtualization layer supporting execution of virtual machines (VMs), the VMs including pod VMs, the pod VMs including container engines supporting execution of containers in the pod VMs; and an orchestration control plane integrated with the virtualization layer, the orchestration control plane including a master server configured to manage the pod VMs and first VMs of the VMs. The virtualized computing system further includes a guest cluster executing in the first VMs and managed by the orchestration control plane, the guest cluster including a guest master server configured to, in cooperation with the master server, deploy first pods in the pod VMs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Zachary James SHEPHERD, Derek William BEARD, Mark Russell JOHNSON
  • Publication number: 20220010647
    Abstract: A subsea chemical injection system and method for injecting chemicals into a hydrocarbon production assembly adjacent the seabed wherein a seawater volume flowmeter is utilized to measure seawater pumped through the system and a chemical subsea mass flowmeter is used to measure a chemical injected into the seawater, where the chemical subsea mass flowmeter measures the chemical at a pressure less than the seawater pumped through the system. Based on the chemical subsea mass flowmeter measurement, the flowrate of a chemical injected into the seawater can be adjusted to a predetermined setpoint corresponding to the flowrate of seawater pumped through the system. The chemical subsea mass flowmeter includes a Coriolis tube and chemical injection process pump housed within a pressure vessel. The subsea chemical injection system may be carried on a skid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Alan Cameron Clunie, Iain James Shepherd, Quintin John Richterberg