Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Senn

Jeffrey Senn 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: 11221618
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and implementations of an HMI control system for BOP rigs are disclosed. At least some versions of the disclosed systems enable a user to configure interface settings, perform actions on a BOP stack, view diagnostics, perform testing, and observe and rectify alarms. The disclosed systems may enable a user to more efficiently navigate between different interfaces and perform HMI functions due to a control zone configuration. Additionally, the control zone configuration may reduce operator error by assigning certain control zones to particular functions and requiring the user to take affirmative steps to perform destructive functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Transocean Innovation Labs Ltd.
    Inventors: Kurt Thwaites, Steven Hand, Kevin Hoffmann, Nate Bishop, Bridget Monahan, Amy Ferchak, Jeffrey A. Senn
  • Publication number: 20200150642
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and implementations of an HMI control system for BOP rigs are disclosed. At least some versions of the disclosed systems enable a user to configure interface settings, perform actions on a BOP stack, view diagnostics, perform testing, and observe and rectify alarms. The disclosed systems may enable a user to more efficiently navigate between different interfaces and perform HMI functions due to a control zone configuration. Additionally, the control zone configuration may reduce operator error by assigning certain control zones to particular functions and requiring the user to take affirmative steps to perform destructive functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: Transocean Innovation Labs Ltd.
    Inventors: Kurt THWAITES, Steven HAND, Kevin HOFFMANN, Nate BISHOP, Bridget MONAHAN, Amy FERCHAK, Jeffrey A. SENN
  • Patent number: 10338578
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and implementations of an HMI control system for BOP rigs are disclosed. At least some versions of the disclosed systems enable a user to configure interface settings, perform actions on a BOP stack, view diagnostics, perform testing, and observe and rectify alarms. The disclosed systems may enable a user to more efficiently navigate between different interfaces and perform HMI functions due to a control zone configuration. Additionally, the control zone configuration may reduce operator error by assigning certain control zones to particular functions and requiring the user to take affirmative steps to perform destructive functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Transocean Innovation Labs Ltd.
    Inventors: Kurt Thwaites, Steven Hand, Kevin Hoffmann, Nate Bishop, Bridget Monahan, Amy Ferchak, Jeffrey A. Senn
  • Publication number: 20170255192
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and implementations of an HMI control system for BOP rigs are disclosed. At least some versions of the disclosed systems enable a user to configure interface settings, perform actions on a BOP stack, view diagnostics, perform testing, and observe and rectify alarms. The disclosed systems may enable a user to more efficiently navigate between different interfaces and perform HMI functions due to a control zone configuration. Additionally, the control zone configuration may reduce operator error by assigning certain control zones to particular functions and requiring the user to take affirmative steps to perform destructive functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Kurt Thwaites, Steven Hand, Kevin Hoffmann, Nate Bishop, Bridget Monahan, Amy Ferchak, Jeffrey A. Senn
  • Patent number: 7831282
    Abstract: A system includes fobs and sensors each of which has a wireless transceiver, a processor and a battery powering the transceiver and processor. A server includes a processor and wireless transceiver, both of which are mains-powered. A fob processor timer repetitively causes its processor to enter a normal mode from a sleep mode, cause the transceiver to enter a powered state from a reduced power state, and send a wireless message from its transceiver to the server transceiver to request data therefrom. A sensor processor timer repetitively causes its processor to enter a normal mode from a sleep mode, cause the transceiver to enter a powered state from a reduced power state, read an analog or digital input, and send a wireless message based upon the read input from its transceiver to the server transceiver to provide data thereto. Each of the timers times asynchronously with respect to other timers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Luebke, Jeffrey A. Senn
  • Patent number: 7504940
    Abstract: A sensor node or a control device node is for a home system including a server and a fob. The node includes a household object, and a sensor, control or display device embedded in or substantially within the household object. The sensor, control or display device includes a first wireless port adapted to wirelessly communicate with the server, a second port adapted to communicate with the fob when the fob is proximate to the second port, and a processor operatively associated with the first wireless port and the second port. The processor is adapted to receive proximity information from the second port and responsively communicate with the server through the first wireless port, in order to configure the sensor, control or display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Luebke, Luis R. Pereira, William J. Murphy, John C. Schlotterer, Javier E. Piraneque, Michael L. McManus, Jeffrey A. Senn
  • Publication number: 20060197660
    Abstract: A sensor node or a control device node is for a home system including a server and a fob. The node includes a household object, and a sensor, control or display device embedded in or substantially within the household object. The sensor, control or display device includes a first wireless port adapted to wirelessly communicate with the server, a second port adapted to communicate with the fob when the fob is proximate to the second port, and a processor operatively associated with the first wireless port and the second port. The processor is adapted to receive proximity information from the second port and responsively communicate with the server through the first wireless port, in order to configure the sensor, control or display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Charles Luebke, Luis Pereira, William Murphy, John Schlotterer, Javier Piraneque, Michael McManus, Jeffrey Senn
  • Publication number: 20060152480
    Abstract: A handheld electronic device, such as a fob, includes an input apparatus having a single rotational axis and a thumbwheel adapted to rotate about the rotational axis in a first rotational direction and an opposite second rotational direction. A display alternatively displays a first horizontal list and a second vertical list. The horizontal list includes a plurality of first objects, such as icons, disposed in a first longitudinal direction, and the vertical list includes a plurality of second objects, such as menu items, disposed in a different second longitudinal direction. A microprocessor cooperates with the input apparatus and the display to scroll the icons or the menu items responsive to rotation of the thumbwheel in the first rotational direction or the opposite second rotational direction. The rotational axis is disposed at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the first longitudinal direction and to the different second longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventor: Jeffrey Senn
  • Publication number: 20060100002
    Abstract: A system includes fobs and sensors each of which has a wireless transceiver, a processor and a battery powering the transceiver and processor. A server includes a processor and wireless transceiver, both of which are mains-powered. A fob processor timer repetitively causes its processor to enter a normal mode from a sleep mode, cause the transceiver to enter a powered state from a reduced power state, and send a wireless message from its transceiver to the server transceiver to request data therefrom. A sensor processor timer repetitively causes its processor to enter a normal mode from a sleep mode, cause the transceiver to enter a powered state from a reduced power state, read an analog or digital input, and send a wireless message based upon the read input from its transceiver to the server transceiver to provide data thereto. Each of the timers times asynchronously with respect to other timers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Charles Luebke, Jeffrey Senn
  • Publication number: 20050085248
    Abstract: A home wellness system includes a plurality of sensors, each including a first wireless port and a second program port, and a headless base station including a wireless port. A portable display and configuration fob includes a portable housing, a first wireless port wirelessly communicating with the wireless port of the base station, a second program port adapted for communication with the second program port of the sensors when engaged with or proximate that port, a rotary thumbwheel encoder, and a display. A processor receives engagement or proximity information from the second port of the portable fob, selects sensor information describing the sensors and responsive to the encoder, and sends the sensor information to the wireless port of the base station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventors: Joseph Ballay, Michael McManus, Peter Lucas, Jeffrey Senn
  • Patent number: 6505087
    Abstract: An architecture and electric system for controlling various devices is disclosed. The system uses modular, interchangeable components that can perform one or several tasks, such as interacting with a human user, controlling an external device, communicating and managing communications between several modules, storing and retrieving information, and acting as a master module. The modules are stackable and can interface with any other module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Maya Design Group
    Inventors: Peter Lucas, Jeffrey Senn, Joseph Ballay, Noah Guyot
  • Patent number: 6151610
    Abstract: A document management apparatus has a scripting language which controls documents by setting the attributes of documents. Attributes are pieces of data within a document. A script engine reads a script from a cache memory and launches the processes to accomplish the desired action of the script. A scheduler controls the script engine and an active queue and a blocked queue in order to carry out multi-threaded execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Senn, Peter Lucas, Rashi Khanna
  • Patent number: 6144888
    Abstract: An architecture and electric system for controlling various devices is disclosed. The system uses modular, interchangeable components that can perform one or several tasks, such as interacting with a human user, controlling an external device, communicating and managing communications between several modules, storing and retrieving information, and acting as a master module. The modules are stackable and can interface with any other module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Maya Design Group
    Inventors: Peter Lucas, Jeffrey Senn, Joseph Ballay, Noah Guyot
  • Patent number: 6075530
    Abstract: A computer program, which is a user interface for exploring and analyzing information in a plurality of analysis environments, comprises the steps of receiving information to be analyzed, generating data objects, each of which has a plurality of associated attributes, creating a first visualization frame that has a plurality of first elements. The first visualization frame is created by arranging each of the data objects according to at least one of its plurality of attributes, and the attributes remain associated with the respective data objects. The final step creates at least one second visualization frame by manipulating individual first elements of the first visualization frame according to a second one of the plurality of attributes and arranging the data objects according to a second one of the plurality of attributes. The attributes remain associated with the respective data objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Maya Design Group
    Inventors: Peter Lucas, Steven Roth, Jeffrey Senn, Michael Blaine Burks, Philip Stroffolino
  • Patent number: 6012072
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying documents on a computer controlled display device provides a method for clipping. To clip a document is to restrict the viewable area of the screen object on the computer controlled display device associated with the document. A workspace viewer process maintains the documents in a three-dimensional virtual workspace. A document renderer and attribute-value pairs accomplish clipping in the virtual workspace. Clip stops constrain the clipping edges of a document so that the document may be clipped only to a specified set of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Lucas, Jeffrey A. Senn, Rashi Khanna
  • Patent number: 6012074
    Abstract: A document management apparatus provides a user to define delimiters in order to specify portions of documents or attributes of documents to be retrieved from a document repository. The repository is searched for the defined delimiters and the portions of the documents or the attributes of documents are retrieved and put into a cache memory. The user-defined delimiters may be multi-character delimiters. The cache memory and the document repository may be connected over a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Lucas, Jeffrey A. Senn
  • Patent number: 5905992
    Abstract: A system for displaying documents on a computer controlled display device is disclosed. The disclosed system supports displaying documents as strands, such that documents in a strand follow a strand path. The strand path is a two dimensional line through a three dimensional display space. The documents displayed on the strand are known as child documents, and each strand also has a parent document. Various constraints defining the strand are associated with the parent document, including a strand function defining the strand path when evaluated, minimum and maximum separation constraints defining the distance between the child documents on the strand, and an origin constraint defining the positional relationship of the strand path to the display of the parent document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Lucas, Jeffrey A. Senn
  • Patent number: 5621874
    Abstract: A system for displaying documents on a computer controlled display device is disclosed. The system displays documents either in a completely free-form, user controlled configuration or as strands, such that documents in a strand follow a strand path. The strand path is a two dimensional line through a three dimensional display space. The documents displayed on the strand are known as child documents, and each strand also has a parent document. Various constraints defining the strand are associated with the parent document, including a strand function defining the strand path, minimum and maximum separation constraints defining the distance between the child documents on the strand, and an origin constraint defining the positional relationship of the strand path to the screen object of the parent document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Lucas, Jeffrey A. Senn
  • Patent number: 5613134
    Abstract: A computer controlled information management system is disclosed, including one or more documents. Documents in the system consist of attributes, each attribute having a name and a value. Attributes that are permanently stored with a document are permanent attributes. Attributes which are created only when a document is currently being displayed are ephemeral attributes. Ephemeral attributes store information regarding the visual display of the documents. Ephemeral attributes may be converted into permanent attributes and stored with the documents after the user is done referencing or modifying them. Ephemeral attributes may also be transferred between multiple simultaneous users of a common document through system communications channels. Documents are stored in repositories for long term storage, and are only sent to a client user interface when needed. The repositories are typically on server devices or secondary storage, but may also be in the same unit as the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Lucus, Jeffrey A. Senn, Andrew D. Brown
  • Patent number: 5600833
    Abstract: A system for retrieval of documents in a client-server environment is disclosed. The system provides compatibility between an attribute based document display system and diverse query languages within remote document repositories. The system includes a local process running on a client module, and a remote process running within each document repository. Each remote process is designed for the particular model of computer used for the server. Each remote process executes a System Query Language (SQL) used by a particular database program running on the server. A particular server may have several database programs implemented thereon, and each database program has a dedicated remote process, where the remote process is matched to the particular database program. The local process on the user's workstation launches inquiries in a first format on the network. Each remote process receiving an inquiry translates the received inquiry into the System Query Language required by its server and its database program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corp.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Senn, Andrew D. Brown, Peter Lucas