Patents by Inventor John Valdez

John Valdez 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: 11971595
    Abstract: An enclosure for retaining at least one networking component includes a shell including a rear wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, an upper wall, and a lower wall that cooperate to retain the at least one networking component, a cover adapted to operably couple with the shell to define an interior volume, at least one venting member, at least one networking component mounting member, and a structure mounting member. The at least one venting member is defined by a portion of the shell to permit airflow from the interior volume to an exterior environment. The at least one networking component mounting member retains the at least one networking component. The structure mounting member is at least partially disposed on an outer surface of the shell to secure the shell with a portion of a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Erwin Wardojo, John Valdez
  • Patent number: 11962343
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting fiber port availability in a fiber distribution hub and generating fiber port recommendations are presented. An exemplary method may include detecting, based at least on a fiber distribution record, one or more candidate ports in the fiber distribution hub; transmitting a first indication of a first selected port of the one or more candidate ports to a computing device; detecting, after transmitting the indication of the first selected port and in real time, that a termination unit associated with the fiber distribution hub has been disconnected; automatically updating the fiber distribution record such that the fiber distribution record is representative of an association between the termination unit and the first selected port; and generating, based on detecting that the termination unit has been disconnected, a second indication of a second selected port of the one or more candidate ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Carlo Nino Alba, John Valdez, Vincenzo Gaccetta
  • Patent number: 11944371
    Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical device including an outer shaft, an inner shaft, first and second electrode surfaces, and an irrigation channel. The outer shaft defines a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end forming a cutting window. The inner shaft is rotatably disposed within the outer shaft, and defines a distal portion forming a cutting tip. The cutting tip and the cutting window combine to define a cutting implement. The first and second electrode surfaces are electrically isolated, and are formed at the cutting implement. The irrigation channel extends parallel to the outer shaft, and terminates in at least one outlet port. The outlet port is proximally spaced from the cutting window and is located radially outside of the outer shaft. Fluid (e.g., saline) is emitted at the exterior surface of the device near the cutting window and is readily present for interacting with the electrode surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic Xomed, Inc.
    Inventors: John R Prisco, Eric P. Detmers, Wenjeng Li, David J. Little, Patrick Richart, Jose Valdez
  • Patent number: 11936424
    Abstract: The techniques described within this disclosure are directed to an in-line adaptor or coupling device of a PON that detects incoming optical signals (e.g., of different services) being delivered over the PON on different bands of wavelengths supported by an incoming optical fiber of the PON, converts (if necessary) any optical signals to suitable wavelength signals, and transmits the converted optical signals to a last mile termination unit via suitable output interfaces. At least a portion of the incoming optical signals are not converted by the in-line adaptor, and instead are passed-through the in-line adaptor to the last mile termination unit via an optical output interface. The in-line adaptor further includes one or more wireless interfaces via which information pertaining to the received optical signals and/or other information related to the in-line adaptor is transmitted to one or more recipient devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: John Valdez
  • Patent number: 11863919
    Abstract: Techniques for identifying sources of degradations within a PON include detecting that an optical profile of a segment of the PON is outside of a designated operating range, and comparing the drift over time of the segment's optical profile with respective drifts over time of optical profiles of other PON segments, each of which shares an OLT or a last mile termination unit with the segment as a common endpoint. Each segment's optical profile corresponds to characteristics of optical signals delivered over the segment (e.g., attenuation, changes in frequencies, changes in power outputs, etc.). The differences between the segments' drift(s) over time are utilized to determine the source of a degradation within the PON, and may be utilized to identify a particular component of the segment (e.g., the OLT, the last mile termination unit, or an optical fiber included in the segment) as being the source of the degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: John Valdez, Bryan Pauling
  • Patent number: 11855688
    Abstract: Techniques for identifying sources of degradations within a PON include detecting a degradation pertaining to a segment of the PON and comparing the drift over time of an optical profile of the segment with respective drifts over time of optical profiles of one or more other PON segments, where pairs of segments share respective common endpoints and an optical profile of a segment corresponds to the characteristics of optical signals delivered over the segment (e.g., attenuation, changes in frequencies, changes in power outputs, etc.). The differences between the compared drift(s) over time are utilized to narrow down the candidate components (e.g., segment endpoints, optical fibers, etc.) for the source of the degradation, and may be utilized to particularly identify a particular endpoint or optical fiber as being the source. The source of the degradation may or may not be a component of the segment to which the degradation pertained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: John Valdez, Bryan Pauling
  • Patent number: 11742944
    Abstract: Techniques for maintaining equipment of a PON include determining a current optical profile for each segment of a plurality of segments of a PON, and detecting that the current optical profile of a particular segment is outside of a designated operating range. Based on the detection, drifts over time of the optical profile of the segment and of optical profiles of one or more other segments that share respective common endpoints with the segment are determined and compared, and based on the comparison, a component of the PON (e.g., an endpoint or an optical fiber) is identified as requiring maintenance. Each segment's optical profile corresponds to characteristics of optical signals delivered over the segment (e.g., attenuation, changes in frequencies, changes in power outputs, etc.), and current optical profiles of the PON's segments may be repeatedly updated over time to continuously monitor for components that need maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: John Valdez, Bryan Pauling
  • Patent number: 11736187
    Abstract: Techniques for identifying sources of degradations within a PON include detecting a degradation pertaining to a segment of the PON and comparing the drift over time of an optical profile of the segment with respective drifts over time of optical profiles of one or more other PON segments, where pairs of segments share respective common endpoints and an optical profile of a segment corresponds to the characteristics of optical signals delivered over the segment (e.g., attenuation, changes in frequencies, changes in power outputs, etc.). The differences between the compared drift(s) over time are utilized to narrow down the candidate components (e.g., segment endpoints, optical fibers, etc.) for the source of the degradation, and may be utilized to particularly identify a particular endpoint or optical fiber as being the source. The source of the degradation may or may not be a component of the segment to which the degradation pertained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: John Valdez, Bryan Pauling
  • Patent number: 11719890
    Abstract: Passive optical couplers having passive optical activity indicators and methods of operating the same are disclosed. An example passive optical coupler for passively coupling first and second optical fibers includes a housing including: a first port configured to receive an end of a first optical fiber, and a second port configured to receive an end of a second optical fiber; and a passive optical activity indicator positioned at least partially within the housing, wherein a first portion of the passive optical activity indicator is exposed through the housing, and wherein the passive optical activity indicator is configured to passively illuminate in response to (i) first light propagating in the first optical fiber when the end of the first optical fiber is received in the first port, and (ii) second light propagating in the second optical fiber when the end of the second optical fiber is received in the second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: John Valdez, Steven Smith, Erwin Wardojo
  • Patent number: 11665454
    Abstract: Techniques for identifying sources of degradations within a PON include detecting that an optical profile of a segment of the PON is outside of a designated operating range, and comparing the drift over time of the segment's optical profile with respective drifts over time of optical profiles of other PON segments, each of which shares an OLT or a last mile termination unit with the segment as a common endpoint. Each segment's optical profile corresponds to characteristics of optical signals delivered over the segment (e.g., attenuation, changes in frequencies, changes in power outputs, etc.). The differences between the segments' drift(s) over time are utilized to determine the source of a degradation within the PON, and may be utilized to identify a particular component of the segment (e.g., the OLT, the last mile termination unit, or an optical fiber included in the segment) as being the source of the degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: John Valdez, Bryan Pauling
  • Publication number: 20230141514
    Abstract: Passive optical couplers having passive optical activity indicators and methods of operating the same are disclosed. An example passive optical coupler for passively coupling first and second optical fibers includes a housing including: a first port configured to receive an end of a first optical fiber, and a second port configured to receive an end of a second optical fiber; and a passive optical activity indicator positioned at least partially within the housing, wherein a first portion of the passive optical activity indicator is exposed through the housing, and wherein the passive optical activity indicator is configured to passively illuminate in response to (i) first light propagating in the first optical fiber when the end of the first optical fiber is received in the first port, and (ii) second light propagating in the second optical fiber when the end of the second optical fiber is received in the second port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: John Valdez, Steven Smith, Erwin Wardojo
  • Patent number: 11611394
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mapping optical connections in an FDH are disclosed. An example system includes an FDH and a computing device. The FDH includes a bulkhead having: a plurality of passive optical couplers each having a respective first port to receive a respective first optical fiber, a respective second port to receive a respective second optical fiber, and a respective passive optical activity indicator configured to expose first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber, and second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber; and an image sensor configured to capture one or more images of the plurality of passive optical activity indicators. The computing device configured to, based on the one or more images, determine which of the plurality of passive optical couplers are receiving a first optical signal at their respective first port and/or receiving a second optical signal at their respective second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: John Valdez, Steven Smith, Erwin Wardojo
  • Patent number: 11575432
    Abstract: Techniques for maintaining equipment of a PON include determining a current optical profile for each segment of a plurality of segments of a PON, and detecting that the current optical profile of a particular segment is outside of a designated operating range. Based on the detection, drifts over time of the optical profile of the segment and of optical profiles of one or more other segments that share respective common endpoints with the segment are determined and compared, and based on the comparison, a component of the PON (e.g., an endpoint or an optical fiber) is identified as requiring maintenance. Each segment's optical profile corresponds to characteristics of optical signals delivered over the segment (e.g., attenuation, changes in frequencies, changes in power outputs, etc.), and current optical profiles of the PON's segments may be repeatedly updated over time to continuously monitor for components that need maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: John Valdez, Bryan Pauling
  • Patent number: 11569908
    Abstract: Techniques for identifying sources of degradations within a PON include detecting a degradation pertaining to a segment of the PON and comparing the drift over time of an optical profile of the segment with respective drifts over time of optical profiles of one or more other PON segments, where pairs of segments share respective common endpoints and an optical profile of a segment corresponds to the characteristics of optical signals delivered over the segment (e.g., attenuation, changes in frequencies, changes in power outputs, etc.). The differences between the compared drift(s) over time are utilized to narrow down the candidate components (e.g., segment endpoints, optical fibers, etc.) for the source of the degradation, and may be utilized to particularly identify a particular endpoint or optical fiber as being the source. The source of the degradation may or may not be a component of the segment to which the degradation pertained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: John Valdez, Bryan Pauling
  • Patent number: 11563487
    Abstract: Techniques for predicting times-to-failure of components of a PON include generating an optical profile of a PON segment that has components including a last mile termination unit and an optical fiber received by the last mile termination unit, determining a drift over time of the segment's optical profile, and predicting the time-to-failure of a component of the segment based on the drift over time. The segment's optical profile corresponds to one or more characteristics of optical signals delivered over the segment (e.g., attenuation, changes in frequencies, changes in power outputs, etc.). Predicting the time-to-failure of the component may be based on, for example, a comparison of the drift over time of the segment's optical profile with drifts over time of other segments' optical profiles, a distance between the segment's optical profile and a boundary of a designated operating range of the PON, characteristics of the segment, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: John Valdez, Bryan Pauling
  • Patent number: 11496714
    Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting information regarding optical connections in an FDH are disclosed. An example FDH includes: a bulkhead having a plurality of passive optical couplers, each of the plurality of passive optical couplers having a respective first port adapted to receive an end of a respective first optical fiber, a respective second port adapted to receive an end of a respective second optical fiber, and a respective passive optical activity indicator configured to expose (i) a portion of first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber when the first optical fiber is received in the first port, and (ii) a portion of second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber when the second optical fiber is received in the second port; and an image sensor configured to capture one or more images of the respective passive optical activity indicators of the plurality of passive optical couplers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: John Valdez, Steven Smith, Erwin Wardojo
  • Patent number: 11391894
    Abstract: Passive optical couplers having passive optical activity indicators and methods of operating the same are disclosed. An example passive optical coupler for passively coupling first and second optical fibers includes a housing including: a first port configured to receive an end of a first optical fiber, and a second port configured to receive an end of a second optical fiber; and a passive optical activity indicator positioned at least partially within the housing, wherein a first portion of the passive optical activity indicator is exposed through the housing, and wherein the passive optical activity indicator is configured to passively illuminate in response to (i) first light propagating in the first optical fiber when the end of the first optical fiber is received in the first port, and (ii) second light propagating in the second optical fiber when the end of the second optical fiber is received in the second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: John Valdez, Steven Smith, Erwin Wardojo
  • Patent number: 11356177
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mapping optical connections in an FDH are disclosed. An example system includes an FDH and a computing device. The FDH includes a bulkhead having: a plurality of passive optical couplers each having a respective first port to receive a respective first optical fiber, a respective second port to receive a respective second optical fiber, and a respective passive optical activity indicator configured to expose first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber, and second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber; and an image sensor configured to capture one or more images of the plurality of passive optical activity indicators. The computing device configured to, based on the one or more images, determine which of the plurality of passive optical couplers are receiving a first optical signal at their respective first port and/or receiving a second optical signal at their respective second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: John Valdez, Steven Smith, Erwin Wardojo
  • Patent number: 11350061
    Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting information regarding optical connections in an FDH are disclosed. An example FDH includes: a bulkhead having a plurality of passive optical couplers, each of the plurality of passive optical couplers having a respective first port adapted to receive an end of a respective first optical fiber, a respective second port adapted to receive an end of a respective second optical fiber, and a respective passive optical activity indicator configured to expose (i) a portion of first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber when the first optical fiber is received in the first port, and (ii) a portion of second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber when the second optical fiber is received in the second port; and an image sensor configured to capture one or more images of the respective passive optical activity indicators of the plurality of passive optical couplers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: John Valdez, Steven Smith, Erwin Wardojo
  • Patent number: 10089968
    Abstract: A drum muffle system for muffling a bass drum includes a bass drum that has a first head and a second head. Each of the first and second heads has an inwardly facing surface. A pair of muffles is provided and each of the muffles is positioned within the bass drum. Each of the muffles frictionally engages the inwardly facing surface corresponding to an associated one of the first and second heads. In this way each of the muffles reduces vibration of the associated first and second head to reduce overtones from each of the first and second heads. A plurality of members is provided and each of the members is removably positioned between the muffles such that the muffles are retained against the associated first and second heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Inventor: John Valdez