Patents by Inventor Mark J. Foster

Mark J. Foster 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: 20240125395
    Abstract: A fluid end assembly comprising a housing having multiple conduits formed therein. A tubular sleeve is installed within one of the conduits and is configured to house a plurality of packing seals. A seal is installed within a groove formed in the walls of the housing surrounding the tubular sleeve such that the seal engages an outer surface of the tubular sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Mark S. Nowell, Kelcy Jake Foster, Michael Eugene May, Brandon Scott Ayres, Christopher Todd Barnett, Micheal Cole Thomas, Guy J. Lapointe
  • Patent number: 11952986
    Abstract: A fluid end for use with a power end. The fluid end comprises a plurality of fluid end sections positioned adjacent one another. Each section includes a single horizontally positioned bore. A plunger is installed within the bore and includes a fluid passageway. Low-pressure fluid enters the bore through the plunger and high-pressure fluid exits the fluid end through an outlet valve installed within the bore. The intake of low-pressure fluid within the fluid end section is regulated by an inlet valve installed within the plunger. Low-pressure fluid enters the plunger through an inlet component attached to both the plunger and an inlet manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Kerr Machine Co.
    Inventors: Mark S. Nowell, Kelcy Jake Foster, Micheal Cole Thomas, Christopher Todd Barnett, Guy J. Lapointe, Brandon Scott Ayres
  • Patent number: 11952990
    Abstract: A fluid end for use with a power end. The fluid end comprises a plurality of fluid end sections positioned adjacent one another. Each section includes a single horizontally positioned bore. A plunger is installed within the bore and includes a fluid passageway. Low-pressure fluid enters the bore through the plunger and high-pressure fluid exits the fluid end through an outlet valve installed within the bore. The intake of low-pressure fluid within the fluid end section is regulated by an inlet valve installed within the plunger. Low-pressure fluid enters the plunger through an inlet component attached to both the plunger and an inlet manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Kerr Machine Co.
    Inventors: Mark S. Nowell, Kelcy Jake Foster, Micheal Cole Thomas, Christopher Todd Barnett, Guy J. Lapointe, Brandon Scott Ayres
  • Publication number: 20240077076
    Abstract: A high pressure pump comprising a fluid end mechanically coupled to a power end. The power end is modular and comprises a crankshaft section, a crosshead section, and a connector section coupled together by a first set of stay rods. The fluid end comprises a plurality of fluid end sections positioned in a side-by-side relationship. Each of the plurality of fluid end sections are attached to the power end using a plurality of second set of stay rods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Mark S. Nowell, Kelcy Jake Foster, Micheal Cole Thomas, Christopher Todd Barnett, Nicholas Son, John Keith, Guy J. Lapointe, Michael Eugene May
  • Publication number: 20240068455
    Abstract: A fluid end for use with a power end. The fluid end comprises a plurality of fluid end sections positioned adjacent one another. Each section includes a single horizontally positioned bore. A plunger is installed within the bore and includes a fluid passageway. Low-pressure fluid enters the bore through the plunger and high-pressure fluid exits the fluid end through an outlet valve installed within the bore. The intake of low-pressure fluid within the fluid end section is regulated by an inlet valve installed within the plunger. Low-pressure fluid enters the plunger through an inlet component attached to both the plunger and an inlet manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Mark S. Nowell, Kelcy Jake Foster, Micheal Cole Thomas, Christopher Todd Barnett, Guy J. Lapointe, Brandon Scott Ayres
  • Patent number: 8994700
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for driving a display device by a display system is provided. The display system includes a processor, a first display controller, a second display controller and the display device. The first display controller receives display frames that are sent by the processor. The first display controller drives the display device when the processor sends new display frames. When the same display frames are continually sent by the processor, the control of the display device is switched to the second display controller, which is optimized for low-power operation. The control of the display device is switched in proximity to an input vertical synchronization (V-sync) pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Mark J. Foster
  • Patent number: 8095370
    Abstract: A dual compression voice recordation non-repudiation system provides a voice recognition system that compresses voice samples for two purposes: voice recognition and human communication. The user navigates through menus displayed to a user through a television set using both voice commands and button presses on a remote control. The invention accepts voice samples from the remote control and compresses the voice sample for voice recognition while a copy of the voice sample is stored on a storage device. Compressed voice samples are sent to a Voice Engine that performs voice recognition on the voice sample to verify if it is from an authorized user from the consumer's household and determines the action required. If the command is to form a contractual agreement or make a purchase, the Voice Engine determines the merchant server that is appropriate for the action and sends the action request to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: AgileTV Corporation
    Inventor: Mark J. Foster
  • Publication number: 20110050560
    Abstract: A thin electronic reader device is provided. The electronic reader device may have a reduced thickness. The device may comprise a top case housing having a front side and a back side. The device may also comprise a bottom case housing having a front side and a back side. The front side of the bottom case housing may be removably attached to the back side of the top case housing. The device may further comprise an electronic paper display nested within the top case housing. The electronic paper display may be adapted to display viewable images. The device may additionally comprise an interactive screen that may be affixed to the front side of the top case housing. The interactive screen may be adapted to overlie the electronic paper display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: FIRSTPAPER LLC
    Inventors: Mark J. Foster, Muhammad Kashif Imam, Serge Rutman
  • Patent number: 7685523
    Abstract: A method and system of speech recognition presented by a back channel from multiple user sites within a network supporting cable television and/or video delivery is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: AgileTV Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore Calderone, Paul M. Cook, Mark J. Foster
  • Patent number: 7428273
    Abstract: Traditional techniques for data reception in burst-mode receivers are of significant complexity. To aid detection, most burst-mode systems transmit a preamble, or predetermined data pattern, at the start of each new block of data. Using current methods, the detection of a new preamble, indicating the arrival of a new burst of data, is particularly complex. A method and apparatus is disclosed that significantly reduces this detection complexity, while maintaining superior signaling performance. This simplification can lead to higher data throughput within processing-limited receivers, and/or a greater degree of parallelism in multiple channel receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Promptu Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Mark J. Foster
  • Publication number: 20070222774
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for driving a display device by a display system is provided. The display system includes a processor, a first display controller, a second display controller and the display device. The first display controller receives display frames that are sent by the processor. The first display controller drives the display device when the processor sends new display frames. When the same display frames are continually sent by the processor, the control of the display device is switched to the second display controller, which is optimized for low-power operation. The control of the display device is switched in proximity to an input vertical synchronization (V-sync) pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventor: Mark J. Foster
  • Patent number: 7260538
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for remotely processing voice commands for controlling a television. A voice command is uttered by a user into a microphone contained in a remote control. The voice command is digitized, modulated, compressed, and wirelessly transmitted to a wireless receiver connected to a set-top box. The voice command is then transmitted to a cable head-end unit for voice and word recognition processing. Once the command function is determined, the function is transmitted back to the set-top box where the set-top box performs the command. The microphone is activated and deactivated by pressing and releasing a push-to-talk (PTT) switch. The PTT activates other functions by being turned, double-clicked and toggled up and down, left and right.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Promptu Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore Calderone, Mark J. Foster, Harry William Printz, James Jay Kistler
  • Patent number: 7047196
    Abstract: A method and system of speech recognition presented by a back channel from multiple user sites within a network supporting cable television and/or video delivery is disclosed. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises ans system and method of using a back channel containing a multiplicity of identified speech channels from a multiplicity of user sites presented to a speech processing system at a wireline node in a network that supports at least one of cable television delivery and video delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: AgileTV Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore Calderone, Paul M. Cook, Mark J. Foster
  • Patent number: 7039074
    Abstract: In the preferred embodiment of the invention, an output clock synchronizes an output CPU with an n-way demultiplexer to allow the demultiplexer to know which output is which. To do so, the invention provides a synchronization scheme in which a synchronization string is always written to channel zero before the output is allowed to be clocked. Once synchronization is established, each channel has its own word-length output buffer. Thus, each time the clock sends out a signal, a new word is put into the output buffer, unless it happens to be for channel zero which does not need a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: AGILETV Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore Calderone, Mark J. Foster
  • Patent number: 6925651
    Abstract: A method and processor architecture that implements the delivery of compressed digital video and audio content over a broadband network is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Agile TV Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Foster, Theodore Calderone
  • Publication number: 20030167171
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for remotely processing voice commands for controlling a television. A voice command is uttered by a user into a microphone contained in a remote control. The voice command is digitized, modulated, compressed, and wirelessly transmitted to a wireless receiver connected to a set-top box. The voice command is then transmitted to a cable head-end unit for voice and word recognition processing. Once the command function is determined, the function is transmitted back to the set-top box where the set-top box performs the command. The microphone is activated and deactivated by pressing and releasing a push-to-talk (PTT) switch. The PTT activates other functions by being turned, double-clicked and toggled up and down, left and right.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Theodore Calderone, Mark J. Foster, Harry William Printz, James Jay Kistler
  • Publication number: 20030056228
    Abstract: An interactive voice control application for an interactive digital television system needs greater than the typical bandwidth provided in the digital interactive television system return path. One way to obtain greater bandwidth is to make greater utilization of existing bandwidth. The invention herein provides a modified Aloha protocol that can solve the problem of maximizing bandwidth utilization without requiring changes to deployed equipment. The preferred embodiment of the invention provides a method and apparatus for increasing bandwidth assignment latency in a data transmission scheme which employs the Aloha protocol, to improve channel utilization in a multi-carrier data transmission system which thereby improves bandwidth efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Mark J. Foster, Steven Wiley Rose
  • Publication number: 20020188440
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided that significantly enhances the performance of MPEG-2 encoding for computer-output applications by easily distinguishing between situations where temporal coding is useful, and situations where it is unnecessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Mark J. Foster, James Jay Kistler
  • Publication number: 20020183869
    Abstract: A system is disclosed that gracefully degrades system performance at elevated temperatures, for example by shutting down individual components of the system. In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, when a marginal temperature condition is detected, a computer can conserve power, and thereby reduce heat generation, by intentionally slowing or shutting down individual components. A marginal temperature condition occurs when the temperature sensors detect an ambient temperature that is close to exceeding the operating range and rising. This temperature adaptation technique allows the computer to continue to function at elevated temperatures, albeit at a lower performance level than it would in its ordinary operating environment. It is also possible to shut down the computer to a minimal level of activity to allow for uninterrupted remote diagnostics and commands, as opposed to continuing service to consumers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: David Chaiken, Mark J. Foster
  • Patent number: RE44326
    Abstract: A method and system of speech recognition presented by a back channel from multiple user sites within a network supporting cable television and/or video delivery is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Promptu Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore Calderone, Paul M. Cook, Mark J. Foster