Patents by Inventor Melinda Kaye Hunsaker

Melinda Kaye Hunsaker 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: 11928406
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for creating and building a model of a unique infrastructure, such as a parking structure. The model may be created through the identification of various triggers by a vehicle traversing the infrastructure. The triggers may include, for example, sensors or other devices capable of sensing the vehicle within the infrastructure. The triggers may also be information received from the vehicle itself. Based on the triggers, it may be inferred that various places exist throughout the infrastructure. For example, it may be inferred through two subsequent triggers that a place exists between the two triggers. The place may be added to the model of the infrastructure in between the two triggers. The model may continue to grow in this manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Omar Makke, Oleg Gusikhin, Andrew Gliesman, Bardia Madani, Sina Fakhraee, David Kramer, Melinda Kaye Hunsaker
  • Publication number: 20220004685
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for creating and building a model of a unique infrastructure, such as a parking structure. The model may be created through the identification of various triggers by a vehicle traversing the infrastructure. The triggers may include, for example, sensors or other devices capable of sensing the vehicle within the infrastructure. The triggers may also be information received from the vehicle itself. Based on the triggers, it may be inferred that various places exist throughout the infrastructure. For example, it may be inferred through two subsequent triggers that a place exists between the two triggers. The place may be added to the model of the infrastructure in between the two triggers. The model may continue to grow in this manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Omar Makke, Oleg Gusikhin, Andrew Gliesman, Bardia Madani, Sina Fakhraee, David Kramer, Melinda Kaye Hunsaker
  • Patent number: 10325063
    Abstract: A system is provided with memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store data representative of a multi-valued decision diagram (MDD). The processor is in communication with the memory and is programmed to receive a current selection of one or more of the features, and to determine a feature state for each of the one or more features, based on the current selection and the possible configurations defined by the MDD. The processor is further programmed to calculate an availability bitset indicative of which features as available for further selection, consistent with the valid configurations and without violating existing constraints of the current selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Melinda Kaye Hunsaker, David Mark Newton, Essam Mahmoud Sabbagh
  • Patent number: 10318702
    Abstract: A system is provided with a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store a cached copy of data representative of a multi-valued decision diagram (MDD). The MDD indicates a Boolean function specifying a buildable space of all possible configurations of features of a vehicle. The processor is in communication with the memory, and programmed to generate a working copy of the data from the cache. The processor is further programmed to generate a restricted buildable space in the working copy of the data while traversing the MDD, including to remove available features from the labels of the outgoing edges deemed invalid according to a feature selection, disconnect outgoing edges having no remaining available features, and replace nodes that have no outgoing edges with the false node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Melinda Kaye Hunsaker, Rickie Allan Sprague
  • Patent number: 10318701
    Abstract: A system is provided with a memory device and a processor. The memory device is adapted to store data representative of a multi-valued decision diagram (MDD) specifying a buildable space of all possible configurations of a vehicle. The processor is in communication with the memory and is programmed to identify an invalid configuration, and to generate a restricted buildable space, including to determine an edit distance of each complete path indicative of a number of features to change the invalid configuration of that path to one of the valid configurations, identify a minimum of the edit distances, and remove configurations having edit distances larger than the minimum. The processor is further programmed to identify at least one feature to change the invalid configuration to at least one valid configuration based on the restricted buildable space; and to generate output indicative of the at least one feature to change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Bryan Roger Goodman, Melinda Kaye Hunsaker, David Mark Newton, Yu-Ning Liu, Essam Mahmoud Sabbagh, Rickie Allan Sprague, Yakov M. Fradkin
  • Patent number: 10318703
    Abstract: A system is provided with a memory device adapted to store at least one multi-valued decision diagram (MDD) that specifies a total buildable space and a processor that is programmed to identify a partial configuration; generate a restricted buildable space of the total buildable space; and identify families to complete. The processor is further programmed to, for each family to complete in priority order, add any available standard features for the family to a possible set, if the possible set is empty, add a domain space of the family to the possible set, select the highest priority feature of the possible set as a Default feature state, and generate a further restricted buildable space of the total buildable space based on the Default feature state. The processor is also further programmed to generate a complete configuration including features having Default feature states for each family to complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Melinda Kaye Hunsaker, Bryan Roger Goodman, Yakov M. Fradkin
  • Patent number: 9852429
    Abstract: A method or system that receives a product definition that includes a feature family having data defining one or more product features. The product definition including one or more corresponding rules defining one or more relationships between one or more product features. The method or system receiving input selecting one or more feature families of interest. The method or system identifying the one or more rules that provide a relationship connecting the one or more feature families to the selected feature families of interest. The method or system converting the identified rules to one or more positive logic rule groups. The method or system generating one or more global representations of the product definition by interacting the one or more positive logic rule groups to produce a result that defines the relationship between the interacted positive logic rule groups and storing the results that are determined as being valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Beardslee, Jian Lin, Veera V. M. L. Ganesh Babu Alla, Gintaras Vincent Puskorius, Bryan Roger Goodman, Ravindranatha Kundoor, Yu-Ning Liu, Yakov M. Fradkin, Melinda Kaye Hunsaker
  • Publication number: 20170206577
    Abstract: A system is provided with a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store a cached copy of data representative of a multi-valued decision diagram (MDD). The MDD indicates a Boolean function specifying a buildable space of all possible valid configurations of features of a vehicle. The processor is in communication with the memory, and programmed to generate a working copy of the data from the cache. The processor is further programmed to generate a restricted buildable space in the working copy of the data while traversing the MDD, including to remove available features from the labels of the outgoing edges deemed invalid according to a feature selection, disconnect outgoing edges having no remaining available features, and replace nodes that have no outgoing edges with the false node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Melinda Kaye HUNSAKER, Rickie Allan SPRAGUE
  • Publication number: 20170206305
    Abstract: A system is provided with a memory device adapted to store at least one multi-valued decision diagram (MDD) that specifies a total buildable space and a processor that is programmed to identify a partial configuration; generate a restricted buildable space of the total buildable space; and identify families to complete. The processor is further programmed to, for each family to complete in priority order, add any available standard features for the family to a possible set, if the possible set is empty, add a domain space of the family to the possible set, select the highest priority feature of the possible set as a Default feature state, and generate a further restricted buildable space of the total buildable space based on the Default feature state. The processor is also further programmed to generate a complete configuration including features having Default feature states for each family to complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Melinda Kaye HUNSAKER, Bryan Roger GOODMAN, Yakov M. FRADKIN
  • Publication number: 20170206304
    Abstract: A system is provided with a memory device and a processor. The memory device is adapted to store data representative of a multi-valued decision diagram (MDD) specifying a buildable space of all possible valid configurations of a vehicle. The processor is in communication with the memory and is programmed to identify an invalid configuration, and to generate a restricted buildable space, including to determine an edit distance of each complete path indicative of a number of features to change the invalid configuration of that path to one of the valid configurations, identify a minimum of the edit distances, and remove configurations having edit distances larger than the minimum. The processor is further programmed to identify at least one feature to change the invalid configuration to at least one valid configuration based on the restricted buildable space; and to generate output indicative of the at least one feature to change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Bryan Roger GOODMAN, Melinda Kaye HUNSAKER, David Mark NEWTON, Yu-Ning LIU, Essam Mahmoud SABBAGH, Rickie Allan SPRAGUE, Yakov M. FRADKIN
  • Publication number: 20170206576
    Abstract: A system is provided with memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store data representative of a multi-valued decision diagram (MDD). The processor is in communication with the memory and is programmed to receive a current selection of one or more of the features, and to determine a feature state for each of the one or more features, based on the current selection and the possible valid configurations defined by the MDD. The processor is further programmed to calculate an availability bitset indicative of which features as available for further selection, consistent with the valid configurations and without violating existing constraints of the current selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Melinda Kaye HUNSAKER, David Mark NEWTON, Essam Mahmoud SABBAGH
  • Patent number: 9098854
    Abstract: A method or system that receives a product definition that includes a feature family having data defining one or more product features. The product definition including one or more corresponding rules defining one or more relationships between one or more product features. The method or system receiving input selecting one or more feature families of interest. The method or system identifying the one or more rules that provide a relationship connecting the one or more feature families to the selected feature families of interest. The method or system converting the identified rules to one or more positive logic rule groups. The method or system generating one or more global representations of the product definition by interacting the one or more positive logic rule groups to produce a result that defines the relationship between the interacted positive logic rule groups and storing the results that are determined as being valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jian Lin, Bryan Roger Goodman, James Beardslee, Veera V. M. L. Ganesh Babu Alla, Martin Pipoly, Ravindranatha Kundoor, Gintaras Vincent Puskorius, Yu-Ning Liu, Melinda Kaye Hunsaker, Yakov M. Fradkin, David Mark Newton
  • Publication number: 20140289068
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method or system that is capable of configuring a product. The computer-implemented method or system receiving a product configuration matrix from a computer storage medium. The computer-implemented method or system also receiving user input defining a user selection of at least one feature or component of the product. The computer-implemented method or system generating a binary representation of the user selection. The computer-implemented method or system deriving a resolution matrix. The method or system comparing the resolution matrix and the binary representation of the user selection to determine whether one or more of the selected product features or components in the user selection are valid for the product. The computer-implemented method or system also generating a validation result that identifies one or more valid product features or components within the user selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Bryan Roger Goodman, Melinda Kaye Hunsaker, Yu-Ning Liu, Gintaras Vincent Puskorius
  • Publication number: 20140282361
    Abstract: A method or system that receives a product definition that includes a feature family having data defining one or more product features. The product definition including one or more corresponding rules defining one or more relationships between one or more product features. The method or system receiving input selecting one or more feature families of interest. The method or system identifying the one or more rules that provide a relationship connecting the one or more feature families to the selected feature families of interest. The method or system converting the identified rules to one or more positive logic rule groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Beardslee, Jian Lin, Veera V.M.L. Ganesh Babu Alla, Gintaras Vincent Puskorius, Bryan Roger Goodman, Ravindranatha Kundoor, Yu-Ning Liu, Yakov M. Fradkin, Melinda Kaye Hunsaker
  • Publication number: 20140279602
    Abstract: A method or system that receives a product definition that includes a feature family having data defining one or more product features. The product definition including one or more corresponding rules defining one or more relationships between one or more product features. The method or system receiving input selecting one or more feature families of interest. The method or system identifying the one or more rules that provide a relationship connecting the one or more feature families to the selected feature families of interest. The method or system converting the identified rules to one or more positive logic rule groups. The method or system generating one or more global representations of the product definition by interacting the one or more positive logic rule groups to produce a result that defines the relationship between the interacted positive logic rule groups and storing the results that are determined as being valid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jian Lin, Bryan Roger Goodman, James Beardslee, Veera V.M.L. Ganesh Babu Alla, Martin Pipoly, Ravindranatha Kundoor, Gintaras Vincent Puskorius, Yu-Ning Liu, Melinda Kaye Hunsaker, Yakov M. Fradkin, David Mark Newton
  • Patent number: 8812375
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method or system that is capable of configuring a product. The computer-implemented method or system receiving a product configuration matrix from a computer storage medium. The computer-implemented method or system also receiving user input defining a user selection of at least one feature or component of the product. The computer-implemented method or system generating a binary representation of the user selection. The computer-implemented method or system deriving a resolution matrix. The method or system comparing the resolution matrix and the binary representation of the user selection to determine whether one or more of the selected product features or components in the user selection are valid for the product. The computer-implemented method or system also generating a validation result that identifies one or more valid product features or components within the user selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Roger Goodman, Melinda Kaye Hunsaker, Yu-Ning Liu, Gintaras Vincent Puskorius
  • Patent number: 8428985
    Abstract: A data store includes, for a dealer of interest, a target inventory mix rate for an item having a feature. A computing device is configured to perform an optimization to obtain a recommended feature allocation of the item including the feature by minimizing a difference between a projected inventory mix rate for the feature and the target inventory mix rate for the feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Gintaras Vincent Puskorius, Bryan Roger Goodman, Robbie J. Aniol, William Richard Fravel, Yu-Ning Liu, Melinda Kaye Hunsaker, Shigeru Sadakane
  • Publication number: 20130091033
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method or system that is capable of configuring a product. The computer-implemented method or system receiving a product configuration matrix from a computer storage medium. The computer-implemented method or system also receiving user input defining a user selection of at least one feature or component of the product. The computer-implemented method or system generating a binary representation of the user selection. The computer-implemented method or system deriving a resolution matrix. The method or system comparing the resolution matrix and the binary representation of the user selection to determine whether one or more of the selected product features or components in the user selection are valid for the product. The computer-implemented method or system also generating a validation result that identifies one or more valid product features or components within the user selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
    Inventors: Bryan Roger Goodman, Melinda Kaye Hunsaker, Yu-Ning Liu, Gintaras Vincent Puskorius