Patents by Inventor John A. Simon

John A. Simon 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: 20190385463
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for managing traffic one or more unmanned vehicles. A traffic flow managing system can include: a plurality of unmanned vehicle, each of the plurality of the unmanned vehicle comprising: a processor having executable instructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and one or more sensors in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to: detect any other unmanned vehicles approaching the unmanned vehicle within a predetermined distance via one or more sensors, communicate with any other unmanned vehicles to create a buffer zone around the unmanned vehicle to avoid entering the buffer zone of any other unmanned vehicles, and determine a route of the unmanned vehicle to a mission destination based on a signal received by the one or more sensors of the unmanned vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Robert CANTRELL, Donald R. HIGH, John J. O'BRIEN, John SIMON, Brian MCHALE
  • Publication number: 20190370511
    Abstract: A material handling system comprising one or more sub-systems and one or more sensing panels is provided. Each sensing panel may determine whether a mode control token is within a vicinity of the respective sensing panel. When the mode control token is within the vicinity of the respective sensing panel, the sensing panel may generate a signal, and when the mode is outside of the vicinity of the respective sensing panel, the generation of the signal is halted. The material handling system may further include a processor that enables at least one of the one or more sub-systems of the material handling system in response to the generated signal and disables each of the one or more sub-systems of the material handling system in response to a halting of the generation of the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: John HAMER, John SIMONS
  • Publication number: 20190344447
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a material handling system for manipulating items. The material handling system includes a repositioning system comprising a robotic tool which includes a robotic arm portion and an end effector. The robotic tool is configured to manipulate an item in a first orientation and reorient the item to a second orientation. The material handling system further includes a vision system having one or more sensors positioned within the material handling system. The vision system is configured to generate inputs corresponding to the characteristics of the items. The material handling system may further include a controller executing instructions to cause the material handling system to identify the item in the first orientation, based on the one or more characteristics of the item, initiate, by the repositioning system, picking of the item in the first orientation, and re-orient the item in the second orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew R. WICKS, Michael L. GIRTMAN, Thomas M. FERNER, John SIMONS, Herman HERMAN, Gabriel GOLDMAN, Jose GONZALEZ-MORA, Katharina MUELLING
  • Publication number: 20190337719
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described in detail herein for storage and retrieval of objects. The systems and methods allow for automated object retrieval and storage by a user without the need for intervention of a facility employee. Systems and methods described herein place the crane external to storage towers to allow a central shaft of the tower to be used to store objects. Advantageously, storage towers in systems of the present disclosure can include sections of different sizes that can store large objects and objects of varying sizes on a single storage tower. System and methods described herein provide a transport platform that can enable expanded storage in a single machine by translating or rotating multiple storage towers to bring the requested tower proximate to the crane and dispensing window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: David G. Tovey, John Simon, Kurt William Robert Bessel, Bruce W. Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20190325384
    Abstract: A check-in system for an automated tower includes a computing device having an application installed thereon. The computing device is configured to check in a customer to notify the automated tower of a time range during which an order of the customer is picked up. The automated tower is configured to: receive a check-in message from the computing device; receive the location of the computing device; receive a message indicative of the arrival of the customer at the automated tower; retrieve information of the order from an order database stored on a remote server; assemble the order based on the check-in message and the information of the order; and move the assembled order close to a pick-up location of the automated tower to facilitate pick-up of the assembled order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: David G. TOVEY, Bruce WILKINSON, John SIMON, Kurt W. BESSEL
  • Publication number: 20190295081
    Abstract: A system and a method for the verification and visualization of subcomponents in a completed assembly is disclosed. The system receives upstream product component sourcing manifest from upstream source addresses. The system receives one or more downstream product component sourcing manifest from one or more downstream source addresses. The system generates a cryptographic verifiable ledger of transaction records based on the upstream and downstream manifests and upstream and downstream source addresses. The system propagates transaction records across a network. The system retrieves the records and instantiates a display tree graph structure based on the transactions in the master cryptographic ledger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: John Simon, Daniel Wayne Young, Jennifer Northrup, Richard Carl McSorley, JR., Joseph Jurich, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190263522
    Abstract: An aerial vehicle for delivering a package includes a package deployment system coupled to the aerial vehicle, a package coupled to the securing point, and a monitoring system couple to one of the aerial vehicle or the package deployment system. The package deployment system includes a spool coupled to the aerial vehicle; a lowering line fixedly coupled to the spool at a first end, the lowering line having a bitter end at a second end, a securing point coupled to the lowering line between the first end and the second end, and the bitter end coupled to the aerial vehicle at a securing device. The package deployment system is configured to deliver the package at a delivery location and the securing device is configured to release the bitter end to deliver the package. A method for delivering a package with an aerial vehicle having the package deployment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: John SIMON, Donald R. HIGH, John J. O'BRIEN, Robert CANTRELL, Brian MCHALE, Justin SCHUHARDT
  • Publication number: 20190199460
    Abstract: Systems and methods for relaying in broadcast single-frequency networks are disclosed herein. A single-frequency network can be formed in part using transmitters that receive data via a cooperative relay channel instead of a station-to-transmitter link. In some embodiments, a second channel may use a portion of its transmission time to relay the information to the single-frequency network transmitter using time-division multiplexing. In other embodiments, a second channel may encode the relayed information on a second layer using layer-division multiplexing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John SIMON, Louis Herbert LIBIN
  • Publication number: 20190185864
    Abstract: Provided herein are compositions that include at least two different nucleic acid vectors, where each of the at least two different vectors includes a coding sequence that encodes a different portion of an otoferlin protein, and the use of these compositions to treat hearing loss in a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Emmanuel John Simons, Ellen Reisinger
  • Patent number: 10233038
    Abstract: A self-aligning interface (6300) is attached to a robotic carton unloader (6100) and provides an interface between an extendable conveyor (6200) and the robotic carton unloader (6100). The self-aligning interface (6300) can include a positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) mounted on the robotic carton unloader (6100) and operatively engaged with the extendable conveyor (6200) to provide positional information about the location of the extendable nose conveyor (6220) relative to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c). A control unit (6180) is attached to the robotic carton unloader (6100) for full robotic control of robotic carton unloader (6100) and the unloading process. The control unit (6180) is connected to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) and the extendable conveyor (6200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC
    Inventors: Michael L. Girtman, Nathan Blough, Dean Roper, Steven W. Griggs, John Simons
  • Patent number: 10204247
    Abstract: A material handling system comprising one or more sub-systems and one or more sensing panels is provided. Each sensing panel may determine whether a mode control token is within a vicinity of the respective sensing panel. When the mode control token is within the vicinity of the respective sensing panel, the sensing panel may generate a signal, and when the mode is outside of the vicinity of the respective sensing panel, the generation of the signal is halted. The material handling system may further include a processor that enables at least one of the one or more sub-systems of the material handling system in response to the generated signal and disables each of the one or more sub-systems of the material handling system in response to a halting of the generation of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC
    Inventors: John Hamer, John Simons
  • Publication number: 20180330202
    Abstract: Identification of augmented features based on a Bayesian analysis of a text document is disclosed. One example is a system including a document processing module, a feature processing module, and a feature generation module. The document processing module receives a text document via a processor. The feature processing module automatically identifies, based on a Bayesian analysis of the text document, a plurality of augmented features in the text document, the plurality of augmented features including at least one of local, sectional, and document-level features of the text document, and extracts, via the processor, the identified plurality of augmented features from the text document. The feature generation module generates, via the processor, a feature representation of the text document based on the extracted plurality of augmented features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Sean Blanchflower, Christopher Ogden, John Simon Fithergill
  • Publication number: 20180257878
    Abstract: A self-aligning interface (6300) is attached to a robotic carton unloader (6100) and provides an interface between an extendable conveyor (6200) and the robotic carton unloader (6100). The self-aligning interface (6300) can include a positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) mounted on the robotic carton unloader (6100) and operatively engaged with the extendable conveyor (6200) to provide positional information about the location of the extendable nose conveyor (6220) relative to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c). A control unit (6180) is attached to the robotic carton unloader (6100) for full robotic control of robotic carton unloader (6100) and the unloading process. The control unit (6180) is connected to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) and the extendable conveyor (6200).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Michael L. Girtman, Nathan Blough, Dean Roper, Steven W. Griggs, John Simons
  • Publication number: 20180218454
    Abstract: Examples of the disclosure provide systems and methods for managing participation in a monitored system. A system identifies an asset associated with trigger data and authorization data. The trigger data is associated with triggers configured to execute on condition that parameters are satisfied, and the authorization data is associated with an authorization of members to perform tasks. A transaction request associated with a transfer of the asset is transmitted to a network, and a validation notification is received from the network. On condition that the first parameter is satisfied, a validation notification associated with a transfer of another asset between the participant and the member is received from the network. On condition that the second parameter is satisfied, a validation notification associated with another transfer of the asset between the participant and the first member is received from the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: John Simon, Donald Ray High, Bruce Wilkinson, Todd Mattingly, Robert Cantrell, John Jeremiah O'Brien, V, Brian McHale, Joseph Jurich, JR.
  • Patent number: 10007754
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved method for obtaining information about DNA analysis of samples of uncertain origin by establishing the likelihood that they arose in certain manners compared with other possible manners. In this way all of the analysis information is taken into account and likelihood ratios are provided to express the results. The invention is particularly useful in analyzing small DNA samples or DNA samples where the contribution from one or more sources is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: LGC LIMITED
    Inventors: Peter David Gill, Jonathon Paul Whitaker, John Simon Buckleton
  • Patent number: 10005627
    Abstract: A self-aligning interface (6300) is attached to a robotic carton unloader (6100) and provides an interface between an extendable conveyor (6200) and the robotic carton unloader (6100). The self-aligning interface (6300) can include a positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) mounted on the robotic carton unloader (6100) and operatively engaged with the extendable conveyor (6200) to provide positional information about the location of the extendable nose conveyor (6220) relative to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c). A control unit (6180) is attached to the robotic carton unloader (6100) for full robotic control of robotic carton unloader (6100) and the unloading process. The control unit (6180) is connected to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) and the extendable conveyor (6200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC
    Inventors: Michael L. Girtman, Nathan Blough, Dean Roper, Steven W. Griggs, John Simons
  • Publication number: 20170315996
    Abstract: A computing device includes at least one processor and a sentiment analysis module. The sentiment analysis module is to, for each document set of a plurality of document sets, determine a distribution of sentiment classes for documents included in the document set. The sentiment analysis module is also to select, from the plurality of document sets, a first document set for analyzing a target document, and set a prior distribution of sentiment classes of the target document equal to the distribution of sentiment classes for documents included in the first document set. The sentiment analysis module is also to perform a Bayesian classification of the target document using a training data set and the prior distribution of sentiment classes of the target document, and determine a sentiment class for the target document based on the Bayesian classification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventor: John Simon Fothergill
  • Patent number: 9738463
    Abstract: Robotic carton unloader has right and left lower arms of robotic arm assembly that are pivotally attached at lower end respectively to mobile body on opposing lateral sides of conveyor system passing there between. Upper arm assembly has rear end pivotally attached at upper end respectively of right and left lower arms to pivotally rotate about upper arm axis perpendicular to longitudinal axis of conveyor system and parallel to lower arm axis. Manipulator head attached to front end of upper arm assembly engages carton/s from carton pile resting on floor for movement to conveyor system. Upper arm axis is maintained at a height that enables carton/s to be conveyed by conveyor system without being impeded by robotic arm assembly as soon as manipulator head is clear. Lift attached between mobile body and front portion of conveyor system reduces spacing underneath carton/s during movement from carton pile to conveyor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew R. Wicks, John Simons, Michael L. Girtman, Michael J. Roth
  • Publication number: 20170121134
    Abstract: A self-aligning interface (6300) is attached to a robotic carton unloader (6100) and provides an interface between an extendable conveyor (6200) and the robotic carton unloader (6100). The self-aligning interface (6300) can include a positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) mounted on the robotic carton unloader (6100) and operatively engaged with the extendable conveyor (6200) to provide positional information about the location of the extendable nose conveyor (6220) relative to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c). A control unit (6180) is attached to the robotic carton unloader (6100) for full robotic control of robotic carton unloader (6100) and the unloading process. The control unit (6180) is connected to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) and the extendable conveyor (6200).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Michael L. Girtman, Nathan Blough, Dean Roper, Steven W. Griggs, John Simons
  • Publication number: 20170073175
    Abstract: Robotic carton unloader has right and left lower arms of robotic arm assembly that are pivotally attached at lower end respectively to mobile body on opposing lateral sides of conveyor system passing there between. Upper arm assembly has rear end pivotally attached at upper end respectively of right and left lower arms to pivotally rotate about upper arm axis perpendicular to longitudinal axis of conveyor system and parallel to lower arm axis. Manipulator head attached to front end of upper arm assembly engages carton/s from carton pile resting on floor for movement to conveyor system. Upper arm axis is maintained at a height that enables carton/s to be conveyed by conveyor system without being impeded by robotic arm assembly as soon as manipulator head is clear. Lift attached between mobile body and front portion of conveyor system reduces spacing underneath carton/s during movement from carton pile to conveyor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew R. Wicks, John Simons, Michael L. Girtman, Michael J. Roth