Patents by Inventor John Hurst

John Hurst 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: 11803561
    Abstract: Documents may be maintained in a repository and retrieved based on searches that specify labels as criteria. Documents may be associated with groups of labels identified as topics. Searches may be performed using binary-encoded matrices specifying relationships between documents and topics, topics and labels and differential information indicating differences between topics and labels associated with documents. An initial result estimate may be based on forming a product of a documents-topics matrix and a topics-labels matrix. The initial estimate may be corrected by applying the differential information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Nathan John Hurst, Timothy Daniel Cole
  • Publication number: 20220377290
    Abstract: The solar-powered wildlife camera is a high-quality type of camera trap designed to operate by efficient use of power during the day or the night. The solar cell at the top of the device makes such efficiency possible. Said solar cell works in tandem with a lithium battery on the bottom of the device, drawing on its energy when necessary, and charging it when the solar cell generates excess energy. The solar-powered wildlife camera uses an infrared light and thermal trigger to activate the camera when motion is detected or when a heat signature is detected. Therefore, the camera is enabled to capture footage of wildlife during dark hours in addition to hours during the day. The camera device has strap mounts on its posterior to hold it upright. Alternatively, the bottom anchor can be used to mount on a post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: John Hurst, Chad Parks, Travis Mathias
  • Patent number: 10956446
    Abstract: A device may participate in a shared data state in which editing operations performed locally are distributed and synchronized with other devices participating in the shared data state. Data may be maintained in log-structured storage files on each device. Changes made locally may be conditionally appended to log-structured storage and committed or rolled back during synchronization. Devices may exchange sets of related change descriptors preceded by associated contextual information. Conflicts may be resolved through application of conflict resolution rules or through a user-involved process. User notification of conflict resolution may be based on user intent inferred from contextual information and associated change descriptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Nathan John Hurst, Christopher Gerald Emery, Ivan Avramov, Jonathan Peter Wright, Timothy Daniel Cole
  • Patent number: 10321059
    Abstract: A system and method for obtaining, by an electronic device, a first set of image data recorded during an image capture event and a second set of image data recorded during an image capture event. During the image capture event, a characteristic of an image capture device is changed from a first state to a second state. The first and second sets of image data are recorded by an image capture device having one or more image recording components with one or more image sensor arrays. An image is generated based at least in part on the first and second sets of image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Lawrence Hinkel, William Nathan John Hurst
  • Patent number: 9934555
    Abstract: Image filter values can be obtained by applying a high-frequency or edge-detection image filter to an image to extract a level of image detail. The image can be divided into blocks of a predetermined size and the image filter values of the pixels in a block can be used to obtain a density value associated with the level of image detail for the block. For blocks where the density value exceeds a threshold amount, a degree of blur may be applied based on the density value. Thus, the image can be rendered so that only some of the blocks of the image are blurred while other blocks do not have blur applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Mark Paola, Bradley Lawrence Hinkel, Jason Chern Hooi Chionh, William Nathan John Hurst
  • Patent number: 9916372
    Abstract: Computing devices may synchronize respective copies of a repository in part by sharing status information for records stored in the repository. Status information may be conveyed by encoding record identifiers in a hashtable. A hash function may be selected to have an output range equal to or larger than a number of records in the repository. A plurality of hash function outputs may be mapped to a storage location containing a sum of identifiers and a count of identifiers included in the sum. The storage location may be transmitted to a remote computing device, which may unfold the data in the storage location to identify changed records.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Nathan John Hurst, Timothy Daniel Cole
  • Publication number: 20180048820
    Abstract: A system and method for obtaining, by an electronic device, a first set of image data recorded during an image capture event and a second set of image data recorded during an image capture event. During the image capture event, a characteristic of an image capture device is changed from a first state to a second state. The first and second sets of image data are recorded by an image capture device having one or more image recording components with one or more image sensor arrays. An image is generated based at least in part on the first and second sets of image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Bradley Lawrence Hinkel, William Nathan John Hurst
  • Patent number: 9787899
    Abstract: A system and method for determining information about a scene of an image capture event, wherein a first set of image data and a second set of image data of a scene is recorded during an image capture event. Information is determined about the scene by comparing the first and second sets of image data and an image is generated based on the determined information. In some embodiments, depth map information is further generated based on the information. In some embodiments, the image is deblurred based on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Lawrence Hinkel, William Nathan John Hurst
  • Patent number: 9749532
    Abstract: A system and method for obtaining, by an electronic device, a first set of image data recorded during an image capture event and a second set of image data recorded during an image capture event. During the image capture event, a characteristic of an image capture device is changed from a first state to a second state. The first and second sets of image data are recorded by an image capture device having one or more image recording components with one or more image sensor arrays. An image is generated based at least in part on the first and second sets of image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Lawrence Hinkel, William Nathan John Hurst
  • Patent number: 9646365
    Abstract: An system having an aperture configured to change state while recording one or more images during an image capture process, and a method for processing one or more recorded images by detecting at least a bokeh artifact within the one or more images and processing the images based at least in part on information obtained by analyzing the size and orientation of the bokeh artifact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Lawrence Hinkel, William Nathan John Hurst
  • Patent number: 9552407
    Abstract: A device may participate in a shared data state in which editing operations performed locally are distributed and synchronized with other devices participating in the shared data state. Data may be maintained in log-structured storage files on each device. Changes made locally may be represented by change descriptors conditionally appended to the end of a log. The size of the log may be monotonically increasing. Monotonically increasing identifiers may be used to implicitly or explicitly identify change descriptors. Upon conflict resolution, conditionally appended change descriptors may be committed. Non-committed change descriptors may be conditionally reappended to the end of the log for further conflict resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Nathan John Hurst, Ivan Avramov, Jonathan Peter Wright, Timothy Daniel Cole, Christopher Gerald Emery
  • Patent number: 9426383
    Abstract: The following description is directed to systems and methods for digital cameras. In one embodiment, a camera can comprise an optical system, a sensor array, a color spreader, a memory, and a controller. The optical system can focus an image. The sensor array comprises a plurality of pixels and can be configured to capture image data. The color spreader can be positioned between the optical system and the sensor array. The color spreader can comprise an array of segments, where each respective segment can be configured to spread a spectrum of incident light toward a corresponding group of pixels using diffraction or refraction. The memory can store one or more spatial models. The controller can be coupled to the sensor array and the memory. The controller can be configured to reconstruct spectral and spatial components of the image from the captured image data and one of the spatial models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Lawrence Hinkel, William Nathan John Hurst
  • Patent number: 9251235
    Abstract: A device may participate in a shared data state in which editing operations performed locally are distributed and synchronized with other devices participating in the shared data state. Data may be maintained in log-structured storage files on each device. Changes made locally may be conditionally appended to log-structured storage and committed or rolled back during synchronization. Sets of related change descriptors may be identified based on inferred user intent. Conflict resolution rules may be applied to sets of related change descriptors. Conflicts may be resolved through application of conflict resolution rules or through a user-involved process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Nathan John Hurst, Timothy Daniel Cole, Christopher Gerald Emery, Ivan Avramov, Jonathan Peter Wright
  • Publication number: 20120151789
    Abstract: A storage and drying apparatus may comprise a base component, and storage and drying components. The storage and drying component may be a large footwear component, a small footwear component or an apparel component. Any combination of components may be used in connection with the apparatus. A drainage tray may be removeably carried by the base component. The storage and drying components may each include connecting pegs and corresponding connecting holes to receive the connecting pegs so that the storage and drying components may be securely and interchangeably stacked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: John Hurst
  • Publication number: 20100226202
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to apparatus for modifying the properties of a flow field and to a method of selecting an apparatus to achieve a desired flow field. The invention finds particular application in the control of the mixing of fluids, heat transfer within and between fluids, acoustic noise, oscillations in fluids, microchip cooling, structural vibrations and chemical reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: IMPERIAL INNOVATIONS LTD
    Inventors: John Christos Vassilicos, Richard Elian Seoud, Daryl John Hurst
  • Publication number: 20080308477
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a fluid filter comprises a primary filter configured to filter water passing therethrough, the primary filter having first and second ends. A mount holds the planar filter in a chamber adjacent to an opening in the chamber, such that fluid passing through the opening substantially passes through the primary filter. The mount also holds the primary filter at an angle with respect to the opening such that the first end is closer to the planar surface than the second end and such that the second end, but not the first end, is in contact with a wall of the chamber. A downstream filter may also be used to provide a cascading effect permitting water to flow over the edge of the primary filter onto the downstream filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventor: John Hurst
  • Publication number: 20080260465
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a filter assembly for filtering a fluid flowing from a first container into a second container comprises a filter panel disposed in a partition between the first and second containers. The filter panel may include a bristle filter and a frame that holds the bristle filter, and the bristle filter may include a plurality of bristles attached at their proximate ends in an adjacent configuration along the length of a base. The filter panel may be disposed such that the upper ends of the bristles are above a top surface of the fluid in the first container and the lower ends of the bristles are below the top surface of the fluid in the first container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: John Hurst
  • Publication number: 20070290645
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for power factor control of a motor. A phase detector uses a line voltage of a power supply and a motor terminal voltage of a motor. The output of the phase detector is synchronized to a zero crossing of the motor current of the motor and a zero crossing of the line voltage. A digital microprocessor connected between the output of the phase detector and a rectifier driver senses a first time at which a phase of the motor voltage is crossing zero volts and a second time at which a phase of the motor current is crossing zero current. The digital microprocessor calculates the difference in time between the first and second times and uses the difference in time to calculate a phase lag of the motor. The digital microprocessor uses the phase lag to calculate a firing time of a rectifier to command power efficiently to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: George Boyadjieff, John Hurst
  • Publication number: 20070258697
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for playing an audio/video program. One such system includes an audio/video player, a first storage device connected to the audio/video player and storing a first portion of an audio/video program, and a second storage device storing a second portion of the audio/video program and connected via a network to at least one of (1) the audio/video player and (2) the first storage device. In response to an instruction to play the audio/video program on the audio/video player, the second portion of the audio/video program automatically is retrieved from the second storage device, the second portion is combined with the first portion, and the audio/video program is played on the audio/video player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventors: William Elswick, John Hurst, Andrew Maltz, Nicholas Clay
  • Publication number: 20070045162
    Abstract: A storm drain filter including a frame holding a filter assembly to filter incoming drainage water and thereby prevent sediment from entering the storm drain's inlet. The frame can be easily removed and replaced to allow street sweeping. In one embodiment, an erosion control apparatus comprises one or more broom filters each including a plurality of adjacent bristles, and a frame that holds the broom filter(s) so that the bristles extend downwardly to the road surface. In one embodiment, the beam of the broom filter is pivotally connected to the frame, and the bristles have substantially greater than a 90° vertical angle, to allow the weight and flexibility of the bristles to conform to variations in the road surface. A filtration bag to filter hydrocarbons may be attached downstream of the broom filter. The frame can be designed for a wide variety of implementations, and can be re-usable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: John Hurst, David Runner, Samuel Hensley