Patents by Inventor Matthew Robert Sowders

Matthew Robert Sowders 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).

  • PLANNING OF TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS
    Publication number: 20170046653
    Abstract: Techniques for planning of transportation requests may be described. In particular, zones may be generated based on historical information associated with transportation requests, where each zone may be configured to manage a number of the transportation requests. An inter-zone sequence may also be generated relatively statically to indicate an order of progressing between the zones in response to the transportation requests. In addition, an intra-zone sequence for each zone may also be generated relatively dynamically. The intra-zone sequence may indicate an order of progression within the corresponding zone in response to current transportation requests of that zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Darren Edward Wilson, Russell John Allgor, Patrick Jeffrey Dion, William Matthew Driegert, William Theodore Gordon, Gautam Gupta, Anicham Ponn Kumarasamy, Edward McGavin, Pragyana K. Mishra, Jonathan Blair Norwood, Manish Parson, Sekhar Putcha, Murali Rajaa Rajamani, Matthew Robert Sowders, Renato Fonseca Furquim Werneck, Ronald Mark Whitman
  • Moving objects across a surface using a vertically-adjustable low friction transfer module
    Patent number: 8577496
    Abstract: An approach is provided to move an object across a surface using a grid of vertically-adjustable low friction transfer modules. A first set of transfer modules is selected from the grid, with the first set of modules being underneath the object. Back-side and front-side sets of modules are identified from the selected first set of modules, with the back-side sets being toward the back of the object opposite to the horizontal direction and the front-side sets being toward the front side of the object that faces the horizontal direction. The back-side and front-side sets are vertically adjusted so that the average of the back-side sets of vertical heights is higher than the average of the front-side sets of vertical heights. The vertical adjustment of the transfer modules causes the object to move across the tops of the transfer modules in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan E. Masters, James Adam Oravec, Rodrigo Alberto Rey, Matthew Robert Sowders
  • Moving objects across a surface using a vertically-adjustable low friction transfer module
    Patent number: 8577497
    Abstract: An approach is provided to move an object across a surface using a grid of vertically-adjustable low friction transfer modules. A first set of transfer modules is selected from the grid, with the first set of modules being underneath the object. Back-side and front-side sets of modules are identified from the selected first set of modules, with the back-side sets being toward the back of the object opposite to the horizontal direction and the front-side sets being toward the front side of the object that faces the horizontal direction. The back-side and front-side sets are vertically adjusted so that the average of the back-side sets of vertical heights is higher than the average of the front-side sets of vertical heights. The vertical adjustment of the transfer modules causes the object to move across the tops of the transfer modules in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan E. Masters, James Adam Oravec, Rodrigo Alberto Rey, Matthew Robert Sowders