Patents by Inventor Mark Stephens

Mark Stephens 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: 9294430
    Abstract: The invention enables digital music content to be downloaded to and used on a portable wireless computing device. An application running on the wireless device has been automatically adapted to parameters associated with the wireless device without end-user input (e.g. the application has been configured in dependence on the device OS and firmware, related bugs, screen size, pixel number, security models, connection handling, memory etc. This application enables an end-user to browse and search music content on a remote server using a wireless network; to download music content from that remote server using the wireless network and to playback and manage that downloaded music content. The application also includes a digital rights management system that enables unlimited legal downloads of different music tracks to the device and also enables any of those tracks stored on the device to be played so long as a subscription service has not terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: OMNIFONE LIMITED
    Inventors: Mark Stephen Knight, Michael Ian Lamb, Robert John Lewis, Stephen William Pocock, Philip Anthony Sant, Mark Peter Sullivan, Christopher John Evans
  • Patent number: 9284792
    Abstract: An apparatus to attach a control line to a tubular member, in which the apparatus includes a control line arm having a first control line guide coupled thereto, and a base having a second control line guide coupled thereto, with the control line arm coupled to the base and movable with respect to the base. The control line arm may be movable between a raised position and a collapsed position with respect to the base, and the control line arm may be at least one of slidably coupled and rotatably coupled to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Frank's International, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Michael Webre, Brian David Begnaud, Mark Stephen Sibille, Dougal Hugo Brown
  • Publication number: 20160071302
    Abstract: A method for executing cinematic direction and dynamic character control via natural language output is provided. The method includes generating a first set of instructions for animation of characters and a second set of instructions for animation of environments; extracting a first set of dialogue elements from a conversant input received in an affective objects module of the processing circuit; extracting a second set of dialogue elements from a natural language system output; analyzing the first and second sets of dialogue elements by an analysis module in the processing circuit for determining emotional content data used to generate an emotional content report; analyzing the first and second sets of dialogue elements by the analysis module in the processing circuit for determining duration data used to generated a duration report; and animating the characters and the environments based on the emotional content report and the duration report.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventor: Mark Stephen Meadows
  • Patent number: 9254980
    Abstract: A method of operating an imaging device having a failed or failing media-full sensor determines whether or not a controller can trust the output signal received from the media-full sensor. A reduced power or intensity level is used to test the media-full sensor and, in particular, the light source to counter the dimming of the light source that occurs due to aging and electrical noise in the system. When the output signal of a photoreceptor is at or below a threshold value, the photo-receptor is considered to have not detected the light beam from the light source and the light beam is deemed not to have been detected even though the photo-receptor may be providing a lower level output signal. Thus, an output signal of the photo-receptor is not trusted and an indication that a media storage area is not full is provided and an imaging operation is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Jude Ahne, Mark Stephen Underwood
  • Patent number: 9253183
    Abstract: Systems and methods for authenticating an avatar are provided. This system is useful with an avatar having an identifier, virtual environments, and a user who uses the avatar in the virtual environments. Transoms are generated, each with a unique identifier configured to exist in a specific location, and registered with an identity provider. The transom initiates a request. An offer is conveyed that includes the transom identifier, the location and the avatar identifier. The avatar is then authenticated by a shared secret. The identity provider then responds to the offer with avatar identification information, including reputation information. Reputation information is for the avatar and the user, and is compiled from external avatar data sources by using a trust matrix. An avatar gallery is generated by linking each avatar owned by each user to the account and compiling avatar profiles from the account, and the reputation information. The avatar profiles are searchable, and include micro formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Inventor: Mark Stephen Meadows
  • Publication number: 20160004299
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to systems, devices and methods for assessing, verifying and adjusting the affective state of a user. An electronic communication is received in a computer terminal from a user. The communication may be a verbal, visual and/or biometric communication. The electronic communication may be assigned at least weighted descriptive value and a weighted time value which are used to calculate a current affective state of the user. Optionally, the computer terminal may be triggered to interact with the user to verify the current affective state if the current affective state is ambiguous. The optional interaction may continue until the current affective state is achieved. Next, the computer terminal may be triggered to interact with the user to adjust the current affective state upon a determination that the current affective state is outside an acceptable range from a pre-defined affective state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas W. Meyer, Mark Stephen Meadows, Navroz Jehangir Daroga
  • Publication number: 20150367045
    Abstract: The illustrative embodiments described herein are directed to an apparatus and method for managing reduced pressure at a tissue site. The apparatus includes a reduced pressure source that generates reduced pressure. The reduced pressure is delivered to the tissue site via a delivery tube. The apparatus includes a single pressure sensor. The single pressure sensor detects an actual reduced pressure at the tissue site. The apparatus also includes a controller. The controller determines a responsiveness of the actual reduced pressure measured by the single pressure sensor to an increase in reduced pressure generated by the reduced pressure source. The apparatus includes an indicator. The indicator emits a signal when the controller determines that the actual reduced pressure measured by the single pressure sensor is nonresponsive to the increase in reduced pressure generated by the reduced pressure source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher Brian LOCKE, Mark Stephen James BEARD
  • Publication number: 20150370823
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a method of expanding storage for filesystems in a fine-grained, scalable manner. The method includes determining, by a file server, a run bias for a span, wherein the run bias indicates a number of contiguous chunks of memory associated with an entry in an address translation table for a filesystem. The method includes receiving, by the file server, a request for an expansion of memory for the filesystem. The method includes scoring, by the chunk allocator, each stripe set in a group of stripe sets based at least in part on a number of unused chunks on the stripeset and a number of chunks on the stripeset being used by the filesystem. The method includes allocating, by the chunk allocator, a chunk on the stripeset with the highest score, wherein the allocated chunk lies outside of runs reserved for other filesystems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventor: Mark Stephen Laker
  • Patent number: 9206213
    Abstract: A method of preparing a compound of formula (III): (M)x-(S)y-(M?)z??(III) wherein x is from 1 to 6, y is from 1 to 12, z is from 0 to 10, each M and each M? is independently a mycolic acid residue including a ?-hydroxy acid moiety and each S is a monosaccharide unit; the method comprising reacting one or more mycolic acids with one or more saccharide units wherein the hydroxyl group of each ?-hydroxy acid moiety is protected prior to reaction with the one or more saccharide units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Bangor University
    Inventors: Mark Stephen Baird, Juma'a Raheem Najeem Al Dulayymi, Johan Adriaan Marc Grooten, Seppe Vander Beken, Maximilliano Maza-Inglesias
  • Patent number: 9195793
    Abstract: A method for designing a system on a target device includes generating a solution for the system. A solution for a module of the system identified by a user is preserved. The preserved solution for the module is implemented at a location on the target device identified by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Stephen Wheeler, Gordon Raymond Chiu
  • Publication number: 20150321948
    Abstract: A process and system for applying coating materials to glass edges of various profiles. The glass edge is coated by picking up the coating material from an applicator such as, for example, a roller, through precise independent or relative control of the spatial relationship between the edge of the glass article and the applicator to achieve desirable product attributes such as coating thickness, profile, coverage areas and consistency. Such spatial relationships include the gap distance between the roller and applicator, coating thickness on the applicator, applicator and/or glass speed, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Donald Orrin Bigelow, Thomas Charles Coller, Scott Winfield Deming, Curtis Robert Fekety, Mark Stephen Friske, Gregory William Keyes, Hongkyu Kim, Hideki Masaki, Michael George Schultz, Ian David Tracy
  • Publication number: 20150324352
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for evaluating an individual's affect or emotional state by extracting emotional meaning from audio, visual and/or textual input into a handset, mobile communication device or other peripheral device. The audio, visual and/or textual input may be collected, gathered or obtained using one or more data modules which may include, but are not limited to, a microphone, a camera, an accelerometer and a peripheral device. The data modules collect one or more sets of potential imprecise characteristics which may then be analyzed and/or evaluated. When analyzing and/or evaluating the imprecise characteristics, the imprecise characteristics may be assigned one or more weighted descriptive values and a weighted time value. The weighted descriptive values and the weighted time value are then compiled or fused to create one or more precise characteristics which may define the emotional state of an individual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas W. Meyer, Mark Stephen Meadows, Navroz Jehangir Daroga
  • Publication number: 20150321084
    Abstract: A system configured to be coupled with a participant of an activity. The system comprises: a participant activity monitoring unit configured for monitoring a performance of the activity by the participant; an activity information module configured for storing performance information corresponding to the activity; and a participant performance correlator configured for delivering comparative performance data based on the monitored performance of the activity by the participant and the stored performance information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: FOX FACTORY, INC.
    Inventors: Mario GALASSO, Wesley E. ALLINGER, David M. HAUGEN, Robert David KASWEN, Mark Stephen FITZSIMMONS
  • Patent number: 9155713
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the administration of alcohol to a person, and therapeutic treatments utilizing the method and apparatus. The invention provides an alcohol “patch” in the form of an adhesive patch or bandage-like structure bearing a quantity of alcohol for transdermal delivery to the user. Permeation enhancers, either chemical or structural, may be included to facilitate the penetration of the alcohol through the skin, and for increased efficacy of delivery of the alcohol to the bloodstream of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Inventors: Mark Stephen Saia, Michael J. Saia
  • Publication number: 20150278820
    Abstract: A method for executing cryptographically secure transactions using voice and natural language processing is provided. The method comprises executing on a processor the steps of receiving an electronic communication in a computer terminal with a memory module, an authentication module, a parsing module, a digital-to-analog converter, a voice interface module and a ledger module, the electronic communication is a verbal request by a user initiating a cryptographically secure transaction for a commodity of exchange in the form of an audio frequency signal; transforming the audio frequency signal into a digital signal; authenticating the user using the authentication module; parsing the digital signal using the parsing module to identify an intent of the verbal request by the user; determining the intent of the verbal request matches an intent of the computer terminal; and transmitting the commodity of exchange upon confirmation of the intent of the verbal request matching the intent of the computer terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventor: Mark Stephen Meadows
  • Publication number: 20150270120
    Abstract: Methods of forming strain-relaxing semiconductor layers are provided in which a porous region is formed in a surface of a semiconductor substrate. A first semiconductor layer that is lattice-matched with the semiconductor substrate is formed on the porous region. A second semiconductor layer is formed on the first semiconductor layer, the second semiconductor layer being a strained layer as formed. The second semiconductor layer is then relaxed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Wei-E Wang, Mark Stephen Rodder
  • Patent number: 9138515
    Abstract: The illustrative embodiments described herein are directed to an apparatus and method for managing reduced pressure at a tissue site. The apparatus includes a reduced pressure source that generates reduced pressure. The reduced pressure is delivered to the tissue site via a delivery tube. The apparatus includes a single pressure sensor. The single pressure sensor detects an actual reduced pressure at the tissue site. The apparatus also includes a controller. The controller determines a responsiveness of the actual reduced pressure measured by the single pressure sensor to an increase in reduced pressure generated by the reduced pressure source. The apparatus includes an indicator. The indicator emits a signal when the controller determines that the actual reduced pressure measured by the single pressure sensor is nonresponsive to the increase in reduced pressure generated by the reduced pressure source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Mark Stephen James Beard
  • Publication number: 20150246507
    Abstract: Laminated structures comprise a metal sheet including a first face and a second face with a thickness of from about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm extending between the first face and the second face. The laminated structure further includes a first chemically strengthened glass sheet including a thickness of less than or equal to about 1.1 mm and a first interlayer attaching the first chemically strengthened glass sheet to the first face of the metal sheet. In further examples, methods of manufacturing a laminated structure comprise the steps of laminating with a metal sheet and a first chemically strengthened glass sheet together with an interlayer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Gordon Charles Brown, Jeffrey Scott Cites, William Keith Fisher, Mark Stephen Friske, Chunhe Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150245974
    Abstract: A reduced pressure treatment system includes a control unit having a control system and a reduced pressure source. The reduced pressure treatment system further includes a manifold unit in fluid communication with the reduced pressure source and a component module to augment treatment. The component module is configured to communicate with the control system of the control unit, and the component module includes a first mounting region configured to be coupled to a complimentary mounting region of the control unit. The component module further includes a second mounting region identical to the complimentary mounting region of the control unit to allow a second component module to be coupled to the first component module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER BRIAN LOCKE, Timothy Mark Robinson, Mark Stephen James Beard, Aidan Marcus Tout
  • Patent number: 9108098
    Abstract: A system configured to be coupled with a participant of an activity. The system comprises: a participant activity monitoring unit configured for monitoring a performance of the activity by the participant; an activity information module configured for storing performance information corresponding to the activity; and a participant performance correlator configured for delivering comparative performance data based on the monitored performance of the activity by the participant and the stored performance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Galasso, Wesley E. Allinger, David M. Haugen, Robert David Kaswen, Mark Stephen Fitzsimmons