Patents by Inventor L. Allen

L. Allen 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: 8565414
    Abstract: A telephone includes a transmit channel and a receive channel, each including a bank of sub-band filters having a VAD coupled one to each sub-band filter. Each VAD measures the spectral energy in a sub-band, compares the spectral energy to a first threshold, and produces an output signal representative of whether or not the first threshold is exceeded. The voice activity detector also includes a threshold circuit for calculating a dynamically adjustable noise threshold based upon averaged measured spectral energy. A wide band or system VAD monitors echo canceling circuitry to detect voice activity and double talk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Acoustic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin L. Allen, Franklyn H. Story, Seth Suppappola
  • Patent number: 8550920
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include detecting a request to login a player account via a widget embedded in host content. The operations can further include detecting a selection of a wagering game theme, via the widget, for a wagering game that the player account has previously played and presenting a collection of widget content that the player account is authorized to access, via the widget, based on statistics, playing history, achievements, etc. of the wagering game. The operations can further include detecting a selection of a non-wagering game from the collection of widget content and providing a non-wagering game via the widget. The operations can further include providing customized information for a host and/or the player account via the widget based on statistics from the wagering game content or from the widget content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Danijel Stankovic, John R. Werneke
  • Publication number: 20130242036
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for displaying video image streams in panorama are useful in video conferencing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L. P.
    Inventors: Mark E. Gorzynski, Michael D. Derocher, Bradley L. Allen
  • Publication number: 20130241561
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a property of an earth formation penetrated by a borehole includes: a carrier configured to be conveyed through the borehole; a transmitter antenna disposed at the carrier and configured to emit electromagnetic energy; a direction guidance antenna configured to receive the electromagnetic energy from the transmitter antenna and direct the electromagnetic energy into the formation and to receive a signal from the formation indicative of the property; a receiver antenna configured to receive the signal from the direction guidance antenna; and a processor configured to receive the signal from the receiver antenna and to estimate the property using the received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Robbie L. Allen
  • Publication number: 20130241560
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a property of an earth formation penetrated by a borehole includes: a carrier configured to be conveyed through the borehole; a transmitter antenna disposed at the carrier and configured to emit electromagnetic energy into the earth formation; a controller configured to control electrical current of frequency f transmitted to the transmitter antenna, wherein the transmitted electrical current is non-sinusoidal having a first section with a uniform positive slope and a second section with a uniform negative slope; a receiver antenna configured to receive a signal from the formation indicative of the property; and a processor configured to receive the signal from the receiver antenna and to estimate the property using the received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Robbie L. Allen
  • Patent number: 8529338
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include determining an achievement by a player account that occurs during a wagering game session and rewarding the player accounts achievement according to achievement settings or business rules. The operations can also include generating achievement data with marketing metadata and providing the achievement data to a marketing provider to market to the player account based on the achievement data. In some embodiments, the operations can also include presenting the achievement data on a website, such as a personal wagering game web log “gaming blog”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Larry J. Pacey, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 8513154
    Abstract: The present invention provides porous body precursors and shaped porous bodies. Also included are catalysts and other end-use products based upon the shaped porous bodies and thus the porous body precursors. Finally, processes for making these are provided. The porous body precursors, comprise one or more topography-enhancing additives, i.e., additives that are capable of at least marginally enhancing one or more of surface area, aspect ratio, pore volume, median pore diameter, surface morphology, etc. Downstream products need not necessarily comprise the topography-enhancing additives in order to exhibit the benefits of their inclusion in the porous body precursors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Dow Technology Investments, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy L. Allen, Todd R. Bryden, Kevin E. Howard, Steven R. Lakso, Peter C. Lebaron, Jamie L. Lovelace, Juliana G. Serafin, Sten A. Wallin
  • Patent number: 8512119
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to gaming systems, gaming devices, and methods for presenting tournament games. According to one method, a player tracking card is received at a gaming device. Tournament entry points are incremented as the base game is played. In one embodiment, tournament entry points are based on a predetermined percentage of a player's wager for base game play. The player is presented with one or more tournament games for play when the player has accumulated a sufficient number of tournament entry points. A tournament game selected by the player is initiated on a secondary display of the gaming device. In one embodiment, the secondary device has an embedded processor that is separate and distinct from a main processor of the gaming device. Once the tournament game is initiated, the player is presented with the option to have the tournament game automatically played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Kelly, Robert W. Crowder, Jr., Pravinkumar Patel, Anthony E. Green, John E. Link, Gennady Soliterman, Jeffrey L. Allen, Dennis Lockard, Jeffrey C. Tallcott, Joshua D. Larsen, Thomas Scott, Christopher D. Barton, Sudheer Vemuri, Mettu R. Reddy
  • Patent number: 8506394
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to gaming systems, gaming devices, and methods for presenting tournament games. According to one embodiment, a gaming device provides a base game in a normal, non-tournament mode, and the player's eligibility to play a tournament game is also determined. An eligible player is prompted to select a desired tournament game from a list of available tournaments while base game is in the normal, non-tournament mode. In response to the player's selection of a tournament game, the gaming device is reconfigured from the normal mode to a tournament mode. The gaming device processes game play in the tournament mode and creates a final tournament score for the player. At the conclusion of the tournament game on the gaming device, the gaming device is reconfigured into the normal, non-tournament mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Kelly, Robert W. Crowder, Jr., Pravinkumar Patel, Anthony E. Green, John E. Link, Gennady Soliterman, Jeffrey L. Allen, Dennis Lockard, Jeffrey C. Tallcott, Joshua D. Larsen, Thomas Scott, Christopher D. Barton, Sudheer Vemuri, Mettu R. Reddy
  • Patent number: 8506405
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include transmitting game content from a wagering game server to a gaming machine via a network to present a wagering game at the gaming machine for a player, and generating and storing video of one or more rounds of the wagering game. The operations can also include receiving, at the wagering game server via the network, video of the player playing the one or more rounds of the wagering game. The operations can further include combining the video of the one or more rounds of the wagering game with the video of the player playing the one or more rounds of the wagering game, and storing and providing access to the combined video via the network to a player account associated with the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Krishnakumar Meluveettil, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 8500039
    Abstract: A remote spray nozzle actuating device for spray cans has a spray can holder assembly for holding a spray can, the further including a wireless activator assembly; and a wireless transmitter for remotely activating the wireless activator assembly causing the spray nozzle to be actuated. The spray can holder assembly further has a trigger. The trigger is connected to the wireless activator assembly wherein movement of the trigger actuates a spray nozzle. The wireless activator assembly has a wireless receiver; a power supply; a control circuit; and an actuator. The actuator is connected to the control circuit and wherein upon activating the wireless transmitter a signal is received in the receiver and transmitted to the control circuit to activate the actuator causing the trigger to move activating the nozzle of the held spray can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Arthur L Allen, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130186967
    Abstract: A method controls an air handler that generates heated air from hot water generated by a water heater. The method includes generating a signal in the presence or absence of an indicia of water flow associated with the water heater; initiating operation of a pump associated with the air handler when the signal indicates that water flow associated with the water heater is at least at a selected level to supply hot water to the air handler sufficient to generate heated air; and/or terminating operation of the pump and/or a blower/fan associated with the air handler when the presence or absence signal indicates that the water flow associated with the water heater is less than the selected level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: James York, Hugh L. Allen-Magande
  • Publication number: 20130168395
    Abstract: Method and apparatus to provide a self-locking container to prevent unwanted access to materials stored in the container as a result of exposure to conditions that compromise the effectiveness or safety of the materials. A container may be threaded to receive a threaded lid, and the container may comprise a bolt movable within a channel from a retracted position, which allows the lid to be threadably connected or removed, to a locked position, which prevents removal of the lid. The bolt is movable to the locked position by a drive member, such as a bimetallic strip or a shape-memory element that drive the bolt in response to exposure to the condition that compromises the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ira L. Allen, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Kevin S. Petrarca, Carl J. Radens
  • Patent number: 8479003
    Abstract: A system and method for non-real-time validation of an electronically signed message transmitted via an asynchronous communications link is provided. The method includes creating an electronic message comprising an electronically signed data entry created by executing a secure data application first portion (SDA1) module hosted by a mobile system. The method additionally includes passing the message to a communications management function first portion (CMF1) module via a synchronous interface. The CMF1 module is hosted by the mobile system. The method further includes transmitting the message from the CMF1 module to a communications management function second portion (CMF2) module in a temporally delayed manner using an asynchronous communications link. The CMF2 module is hosted by a central computer system (CCS) located remotely from the mobile system. The method further yet includes validating the electronically signed entry in a temporally delayed manner utilizing a user database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Yukawa, Rajit Jain, Timothy W. Anstey, David L. Allen
  • Patent number: 8459611
    Abstract: A system (10) for simultaneously introducing a cable (11) and another item (21) into a conduit (12) includes a pushing machine (13) and an air blower (15) which introduces the cable (11) into the conduit (12). The conduit (12) is split near the pushing machine (13) so that the item (21) may be attached to the cable (11) by means of an attachment device (25) carried by a bullet head (23) at the leading end of the cable (11). Alternatively, a projectible (35) may be attached to the leading end of the cable (11) and the item (21) may be attached at the junction of the cable (11) and projectile (35). A block (18) then connects the split ends (16, 17) of the conduit (12), and the cable (11) and other item (21) may then be moved together through the conduit (12) by the pushing machine (13) and air blower (15) which moves air against the projectile (35) to assist such movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: WESCO Distribution, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry L. Allen
  • Publication number: 20130130780
    Abstract: A method includes creating an event related to a wagering game, wherein the creating of the event comprises setting a requirement for the event. The requirement includes at least one of a participatory requirement and a monetary requirement for activation of the event. The participatory requirement includes a minimum number of wagering game players required to elect participation in the event. The creating of the event also includes defining an added value wagering game activity for the wagering game players that have elected participation in the event. The added value wagering game activity comprising at least one of access of locked content of the wagering game, increased expected value for payout from the wagering game, increased value of a jackpot of the wagering game, access to a locked progressive jackpot, and access to locked bonuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Andrew C. Guinn, Travis N. Nelson, Richard B. Robbins, Pamela S. Smith
  • Publication number: 20130125720
    Abstract: Space in a conduit having at least one cable therein which is surrounded by a duct is recovered by longitudinally cutting the duct and removing the duct from around the cable. The duct may be pulled out of the conduit and past a blade to affect the cutting, or a blade may be pulled through the conduit to cut the duct while still in the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventor: Jerry L. Allen
  • Publication number: 20130123005
    Abstract: A method includes defining a number of locations in an online immersive environment, wherein each of the number of locations includes a number of games. The defining includes defining a rule set for a location. The rule set includes a rule that defines access to a game. The access to the game is based on game play of a different game. The method includes defining a number of paths between the number of locations in the online immersive environment, wherein the defining includes defining a rule for access to a path to travel between two locations. The method includes presenting a different game that is part of a location in the online immersive environment. The method includes enabling access to the game in the location, in response to determining that game play of the different game satisfies the rule that defines access to the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Brian J. Barclay, Jeremy M. Hornik, Larry J. Pacey, Jamie W. Vann
  • Publication number: 20130117993
    Abstract: A communications cable (11) is provided with a pliant sleeve (12, 21, 31) to allow it to be more easily inserted into a conduit (50). One form of the sleeve (12) has hook (14) and loop (15) connected to each other so that the sleeve (12) can engage the cable (11). Another form of the sleeve (21) is spring-loaded to engage the cable (11). In a third form of the sleeve (31) has an adhesive (33) which attaches the sleeve (31) to the cable (11). Whatever form the sleeve cable takes, when in the conduit (50), the conduit (50) is divided for the ease of insertion of a second sleeved cable and it is not necessary to install a separate conduit divider into the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: WESCO Distribution, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry L. ALLEN
  • Publication number: 20130112343
    Abstract: A method of conforming upper and lower detached edge portions of a label to upper and lower contoured sections of a container, includes moving the container along a travel path, and heating at least the upper and lower detached edge portions of the label to a sufficient temperature to achieve a sufficient degree of plasticity as the container moves along the travel path. The method also includes moving the container between a compression plate and a vertically oriented belt disposed about at least two rotatable drums, thereby applying pressure to at least a portion of the label. The method further includes applying pressure to the upper detached edge portion of the label with a first linear brush held in a rigid supporting structure, and applying pressure to the lower detached edge portion of the label with a second linear brush held in a rigid supporting structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY, THE
    Inventors: Clinton L. ALLEN, William F. MEYERS