Patents by Inventor Mary Louise Bourret

Mary Louise Bourret 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: 9202234
    Abstract: Globally assembled, locally interpreted conditional digital signage playlists allow a global administrator with knowledge of content provider intentions but without knowledge of local data collection methods or local customs at digital signage deployments to assemble a conditional playlist on a global basis and be ensured that content items from the playlist will be displayed at all deployments in a manner conformant with content provider intentions, local data collection methods and local customs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Louise Bourret, Basil Isaiah Jesudason, Andrew Rodney Ferlitsch, Sara Lynn Leslie, Ronnie Neil Patton
  • Patent number: 8655277
    Abstract: A workspace energy management method and system control the power state of workspace appliances using multi-factor presence detection and mobile phone identity verification. Multifactor presence detection substantially reduces the risk that workspace appliances will be powered-up in response to erroneous detection of presence at the workspace (e.g., false positive). Mobile phone identity verification, which verifies that the office worker's mobile phone is at the workspace (and thus that the office worker is also likely at the workspace) before workspace appliances are powered-up, prevents workspace appliances from being inadvertently powered-up by personnel other than the office worker, but without compromising worker privacy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Basil Isaiah Jesudason, Craig Thompson Whittle, Mary Louise Bourret
  • Publication number: 20130151656
    Abstract: Globally assembled, locally interpreted conditional digital signage playlists allow a global administrator with knowledge of content provider intentions but without knowledge of local data collection methods or local customs at digital signage deployments to assemble a conditional playlist on a global basis and be ensured that content items from the playlist will be displayed at all deployments in a manner conformant with content provider intentions, local data collection methods and local customs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Mary Louise Bourret, Basil Isaiah Jesudason, Andrew Rodney Ferlitsch, Sara Lynn Leslie, Ronnie Neil Patton
  • Patent number: 8411298
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for providing load-balancing in cluster printing environments. Embodiments may operate in conjunction with journalled print files, pre-processed, printer-ready print files and other file types. Some embodiments provide load-balanced cluster printing through a printer-independent, driver-independent print system component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Fertlitsch, Mary Louise Bourret, Jerry Steven Orleck
  • Publication number: 20120302226
    Abstract: A workspace energy management method and system control the power state of workspace appliances using multi-factor presence detection and mobile phone identity verification. Multifactor presence detection substantially reduces the risk that workspace appliances will be powered-up in response to erroneous detection of presence at the workspace (e.g., false positive). Mobile phone identity verification, which verifies that the office worker's mobile phone is at the workspace (and thus that the office worker is also likely at the workspace) before workspace appliances are powered-up, prevents workspace appliances from being inadvertently powered-up by personnel other than the office worker, but without compromising worker privacy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Basil Isaiah Jesudason, Craig Thompson Whittle, Mary Louise Bourret
  • Publication number: 20120083934
    Abstract: A method for monitoring and controlling energy usage in an office environment is described. Energy usage information and sensor data are received from a status and control unit for an appliance. An appropriate energy profile for the appliance is determined. The energy profile is customizable by an end user based on preferences and schedules. The energy profile corresponds to appliances within an energy group. A control message is sent to the status and control unit to implement the determined energy profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Basil Isaiah Jesudason, Craig Thompson Whittle, Mary Louise Bourret, Andrew Rodney Ferlitsch
  • Patent number: 8051218
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention comprise systems and methods for detecting and managing peripheral devices that perform outside a given performance envelope. In some aspects, one or more threshold values may be determined prior to or during implementation by heuristic or other methods. These threshold values may then be used to determine device performance. In some aspects, threshold values may relate to performance parameters comprising device failures, consumption levels, output quality and other parameters. In some aspects, multiple threshold values may be used to determine device performance. In an exemplary aspect, a sheet usage threshold, a tone usage threshold and a power usage threshold may be used to determine if a device is an outlying device. In some aspects, performance below an excellence threshold value may indicate that a device has excellent performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Rodney Ferlitsch, Mary Louise Bourret, Harold Scott Hooper
  • Publication number: 20100281188
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention comprise systems and methods for detecting and managing peripheral devices that perform outside a given performance envelope. In some aspects, one or more threshold values may be determined prior to or during implementation by heuristic or other methods. These threshold values may then be used to determine device performance. In some aspects, threshold values may relate to performance parameters comprising device failures, consumption levels, output quality and other parameters. In some aspects, multiple threshold values may be used to determine device performance. In an exemplary aspect, a sheet usage threshold, a tone usage threshold and a power usage threshold may be used to determine if a device is an outlying device. In some aspects, performance below an excellence threshold value may indicate that a device has excellent performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Andrew Rodney Ferlitsch, Mary Louise Bourret, Harold Scott Hopper
  • Patent number: 7679770
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems which enable a user to detect the status of printing devices without the use of additional hardware or application program modification for this purpose. These systems and methods are typically used in conjunction with a computer network comprising at least one computing device and a plurality of printing devices. When a print task is sent for printing it will activate a print processor for interpreting the print task. In addition to a print processor's interpretation function, the print processors of the present invention may detect the status of printing devices. Some embodiments may use this information to redirect or otherwise modify a print task for improved printing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Fertlitsch, Jerry Steven Orleck, Mary Louise Bourret
  • Patent number: 7420692
    Abstract: A security font system and method are provided for generating traceable pages in an electronic document. The method comprises: accepting an electronic document; modifying font print instructions associated with selected characters; and, transmitting the document with the modified font print instructions to a destination. In some aspects, the method further comprises saving a record of the modified font print instructions. The font print instructions can be modified clandestinely. If a printed copy of the document with modified font instructions is created, the printed copy is identical to a printed copy of a document with no modified font print instructions, as the font modification can be made undetectable, or almost undetectable to the human eye. In other aspects, the method comprises: receiving an alleged copy of the electronic document with the modified font print instructions; and, comparing the modified font print instructions in the received document to the record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Mary Louise Bourret
  • Patent number: 7046384
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems which enable a user to detect the status of printing devices without the use of additional hardware or application program modification for this purpose. These embodiments comprise a print processor which can check printing device status prior to sending a print task to a printing device. These embodiments may further check the status of a printing device after a print task has been sent to the device and may determine whether a printing device has successfully completed a print task. Some embodiments may further redirect, restart and reconfigure print tasks with the help of printing device status information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Rodney Ferlitsch, Jerry Steven Orleck, Mary Louise Bourret
  • Publication number: 20020089688
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems which enable a user to detect the status of printing devices without the use of additional hardware or application program modification for this purpose. These embodiments comprise a print processor which can check printing device status prior to sending a print task to a printing device. These embodiments may further check the status of a printing device after a print task has been sent to the device and may determine whether a printing device has successfully completed a print task. Some embodiments may further redirect, restart and reconfigure print tasks with the help of printing device status information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Andrew Rodney Ferlitsch, Jerry Steven Orleck, Mary Louise Bourret
  • Publication number: 20020089691
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for providing load-balancing in cluster printing environments. Embodiments may operate in conjunction with journalled print files, pre-processed, printer-ready print files and other file types. Some embodiments provide load-balanced cluster printing through a printer-independent, driver-independent print system component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Andrew Fertlitsch, Mary Louise Bourret, Jerry Steven Orleck
  • Publication number: 20020089687
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems which enable a user to detect the status of printing devices without the use of additional hardware or application program modification for this purpose. These systems and methods are typically used in conjunction with a computer network comprising at least one computing device and a plurality of printing devices. When a print task is sent for printing it will activate a print processor for interpreting the print task. In addition to a print processor's interpretation function, the print processors of the present invention may detect the status of printing devices. Some embodiments may use this information to redirect or otherwise modify a print task for improved printing performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Andrew Rodney Ferlitsch, Jerry Steven Orleck, Mary Louise Bourret