Patents by Inventor Lee Allen Neitzel

Lee Allen Neitzel 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: 20220198047
    Abstract: A process control system software security architecture, that is more effective at preventing zero-day or other types of malware attacks, implements the use of “least privileges” when executing the applications and services run within a computer device. The least privileges based architecture separates “service” processes from desktop applications that run on behalf of a logged-on user by partitioning the global namespace of the software system into service namespaces and logged-on user namespaces, and by strictly controlling communications between the applications and services in these different namespaces using interprocess communications. Moreover, the security architecture uses custom accounts to assure that each service process has the least set of privileges that are needed for implementing its function regardless of the privileges associated with the calling application or user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Lee Allen Neitzel, Dan Halver Ussing
  • Patent number: 11275861
    Abstract: A process control system software security architecture, that is more effective at preventing zero-day or other types of malware attacks, implements the use of “least privileges” when executing the applications and services run within a computer device. The least privileges based architecture separates “service” processes from desktop applications that run on behalf of a logged-on user by partitioning the global namespace of the software system into service namespaces and logged-on user namespaces, and by strictly controlling communications between the applications and services in these different namespaces using interprocess communications. Moreover, the security architecture uses custom accounts to assure that each service process has the least set of privileges that are needed for implementing its function regardless of the privileges associated with the calling application or user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Lee Allen Neitzel, Dan Halver Ussing
  • Patent number: 10574791
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to access process data stored on a server are described herein. An example method includes receiving a request to access process data via a web browser, identifying a server that stores at least a portion of the process data, wherein the server is associated with an interoperability data packing format, accessing the server to receive the process data, converting the process data from a format associated with the interoperability data packing format to a web browsing format, and embedding at least a first portion of the converted process data into at least one data field for display via the web browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, INC.
    Inventors: Lee Allen Neitzel, Ling Zhou, Mark Nixon
  • Publication number: 20160050295
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to access process data stored on a server are described herein. An example method includes receiving a request to access process data via a web browser, identifying a server that stores at least a portion of the process data, wherein the server is associated with an interoperability data packing format, accessing the server to receive the process data, converting the process data from a format associated with the interoperability data packing format to a web browsing format, and embedding at least a first portion of the converted process data into at least one data field for display via the web browser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Lee Allen Neitzel, Ling Zhou, Mark Nixon
  • Publication number: 20160026813
    Abstract: A process control system software security architecture, that is more effective at preventing zero-day or other types of malware attacks, implements the use of “least privileges” when executing the applications and services run within a computer device. The least privileges based architecture separates “service” processes from desktop applications that run on behalf of a logged-on user by partitioning the global namespace of the software system into service namespaces and logged-on user namespaces, and by strictly controlling communications between the applications and services in these different namespaces using interprocess communications. Moreover, the security architecture uses custom accounts to assure that each service process has the least set of privileges that are needed for implementing its function regardless of the privileges associated with the calling application or user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Lee Allen Neitzel, Dan Halver Ussing
  • Patent number: 9207666
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to display localized process control objects. A disclosed example method includes receiving a request to view a process control object associated with a process control system, selecting a device description file based on the process control object, the device description file including a tag, selecting a set of locale templates based on a locale associated with the request, selecting a locale template from the set of locale templates based on the process control object, and processing the process control object for display by inserting portions of the selected locale template into the tag in the device description file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Nixon, Lee Allen Neitzel, Ling Zhou
  • Patent number: 9122764
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to access process data stored on a server are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a request to access process data via a web browser, identifying a server that stores at least a portion of the process data, wherein the server is associated with an interoperability data packing format, accessing the server to receive the process data, converting the process data from a format associated with the interoperability data packing format to a web browsing format, and embedding at least a first portion of the converted process data into at least one data field for display via the web browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Allen Neitzel, Ling Zhou, Mark Nixon
  • Patent number: 8977851
    Abstract: Example removable security modules for use with process control devices and related methods are disclosed. An example removable security module includes a body configured to be removably coupled to the process control device and a memory disposed in the body with a shared secret stored in the memory. The example removable security module also includes a processing unit disposed in the body, coupled to the memory and configured to read information from the process control device, compare the information to the shared secret and authenticate the process control device based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Allen Neitzel, Gary Keith Law, Godfrey R. Sherriff
  • Patent number: 8887242
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to provide layered security for interface access control are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Allen Neitzel, Dan Halver Ussing, Jr., Robert Kent Huba
  • Publication number: 20120054599
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to display localized process control objects. A disclosed example method includes receiving a request to view a process control object associated with a process control system, selecting a device description file based on the process control object, the device description file including a tag, selecting a set of locale templates based on a locale associated with the request, selecting a locale template from the set of locale templates based on the process control object, and processing the process control object for display by inserting portions of the selected locale template into the tag in the device description file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Mark Nixon, Lee Allen Neitzel, Ling Zhou
  • Publication number: 20110238780
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to access process data stored on a server are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a request to access process data via a web browser, identifying a server that stores at least a portion of the process data, wherein the server is associated with an interoperability data packing format, accessing the server to receive the process data, converting the process data from a format associated with the interoperability data packing format to a web browsing format, and embedding at least a first portion of the converted process data into at least one data field for display via the web browser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Lee Allen Neitzel, Ling Zhou, Mark Nixon
  • Publication number: 20110239109
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to display process data are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a request to view process data via a web browser, identifying a server that stores the process data, wherein the server receives the process data from a process control system, retrieving the process data from the server, selecting an Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT) template based on a property of the process data, and generating a display file conforming to a web browsing format based on the XSLT template, the property, and the process data, wherein the display file specifies how the process data is to be displayed via the web browser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: MARK NIXON, Lee Allen Neitzel
  • Publication number: 20100263025
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to provide layered security for interface access control are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Lee Allen Neitzel, Dan Halver Ussing, JR., Robert Kent Huba
  • Publication number: 20100185857
    Abstract: Example removable security modules for use with process control devices and related methods are disclosed. An example removable security module includes a body configured to be removably coupled to the process control device and a memory disposed in the body with a shared secret stored in the memory. The example removable security module also includes a processing unit disposed in the body, coupled to the memory and configured to read information from the process control device, compare the information to the shared secret and authenticate the process control device based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Lee Allen Neitzel, Gary Keith Law, Godfrey R. Sherriff