Patents by Inventor Michael A. Ackerman

Michael A. Ackerman 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: 7870840
    Abstract: A cattle management system and method for managing numerous routine and non-routine management activities. The system and method incorporate a data processing system wherein comprehensive data is gathered and maintained on each individual animal as well as on selected groups of animals. Preferably, a central database is used which allows enhanced functionality with respect to not only data entry and data transfer, but also with respect to providing system generated management recommendations. Some significant functionality of the present invention includes the ability to track the location of each individual animal by utilizing unique identification data for each animal, recording all monitored events that take place at each location during the animal's production cycle, and reporting the events and locations as required to government entities, financial institutions, and other entities within the cattle industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Lextron, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal Valencia, Michael A. Ackerman, Jim Carisch
  • Patent number: 7689434
    Abstract: A computer network and method for feeding animals in a feedlot, in which discretion and direct control over the various suboperations of the feed ration assignment and delivery process are distributed among the individual operators in the system, while the feedlot manager is capable of indirectly monitoring the performance of the various suboperations through use of a satellite based global positioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Lextron, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Sam Cureton, Thomas Pavlak, James Carisch, Michael A. Ackerman, Arlen Anderson
  • Publication number: 20090151644
    Abstract: A cattle management system and method are provided for managing numerous routine and non-routine management activities. The system and method incorporate a data processing system wherein comprehensive data is gathered and maintained on each individual animal as well as on selected groups of animals. Preferably, a central database is used which allows enhanced functionality with respect to not only data entry and data transfer, but also with respect to providing system generated management recommendations. Some significant functionality of the present invention includes the ability to track the location of each individual animal by utilizing unique identification data for each animal, recording all monitored events that take place at each location during the animal's production cycle, and reporting the events and locations as required to government entities, financial institutions, and other entities within the cattle industry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Neal Valencia, Michael A. Ackerman, Jim Carisch
  • Patent number: 7543549
    Abstract: A cattle management system and method are provided for managing numerous routine and non-routine management activities. The system and method incorporate a data processing system wherein comprehensive data is gathered and maintained on each individual animal as well as on selected groups of animals. Preferably, a central database is used which allows enhanced functionality with respect to not only data entry and data transfer, but also with respect to providing system generated management recommendations. Some significant functionality of the present invention includes the ability to track the location of each individual animal by utilizing unique identification data for each animal, recording all monitored events that take place at each location during the animal's production cycle, and reporting the events and locations as required to government entities, financial institutions, and other entities within the cattle industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Lextron, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal Valencia, Michael A. Ackerman, Jim Carisch
  • Patent number: 6901369
    Abstract: A computer network and method for feeding animals in a feedlot, in which discretion and direct control over the various suboperations of the feed ration assignment and delivery process are distributed among the individual operators in the system, while the feedlot manager is capable of indirectly monitoring the performance of the various suboperations through use of a satellite based global positioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Lextron, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Sam Cureton, Thomas Pavlak, James Carisch, Michael A. Ackerman, Arlen Anderson
  • Patent number: 6745126
    Abstract: An animal feedlot management system including: (a) a main feedlot computer system which stores a feedlot layout database for maintaining geographic coordinate information representative of a model of the feedlot and objects contained therein, (b) at least one feedlot vehicle, and (c) a mobile computer system installed on-board the feedlot vehicle. The mobile computer system includes a display for viewing at least a portion of the model maintained in the feedlot layout database. The mobile computer system is coupled to a GPS receiver that acquires vehicle information related to at least one of the geographic coordinates, orientation, and speed of the feedlot vehicle. The main feedlot computer system is coupled to at least one of a wireless transceiver and a wired or wireless Internet connection for communicating with the mobile computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Lextron, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Pavlak, Arlen Anderson, James Carisch, Michael A. Ackerman
  • Patent number: 6516270
    Abstract: An animal feedlot management system for uniformly delivering assigned feed rations to feedbunks associated with animal pens in a feedlot, in which discretion and direct control over the various suboperations of the feed ration assignment and delivery process are distributed among the individual operators in the system while the feedlot manage is capable of indirectly monitoring the performance of the various suboperations through use of a satellite based global positioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Lextron, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Pavlak, Arlen Anderson, James Carisch, Michael A. Ackerman
  • Publication number: 20020116200
    Abstract: A computer network and method for feeding animals in a feedlot, in which discretion and direct control over the various suboperations of the feed ration assignment and delivery process are distributed among the individual operators in the system, while the feedlot manager is capable of indirectly monitoring the performance of the various suboperations through use of a satellite based global positioning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: J. SAM CURETON, THOMAS PAVLAK, JAMES CARISCH, MICHAEL A. ACKERMAN, ARLEN ANDERSON
  • Publication number: 20020007798
    Abstract: An animal feedlot management system for uniformly delivering assigned feed rations to feedbunks associated with animal pens in a feedlot, in which discretion and direct control over the various suboperations of the feed ration assignment and delivery process are distributed among the individual operators in the system while the feedlot manage is capable of indirectly monitoring the performance of the various suboperations through use of a satellite based global positioning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas Pavlak, Arlen Anderson, James Carisch, Michael A. Ackerman
  • Patent number: 6216053
    Abstract: An animal feedlot management system for uniformly delivering assigned feed rations to feedbunks associated with animal pens in a feedlot, in which discretion and direct control over the various suboperations of the feed ration assignment and delivery process are distributed among the individual operators in the system while the feedlot manager is capable of indirectly monitoring the performance of the various suboperations through use of a satellite based global positioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Lextron, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Sam Cureton, Thomas Pavlak, James Carisch, Michael A. Ackerman, Arlen Anderson
  • Patent number: 5878402
    Abstract: A system and method for uniformly delivering assigned feed rations to the feedbunks associated with animal pens. The system includes a feed delivery vehicle having a feed storage compartment and a scale. The function of the scale is to weigh the amount of feed in the storage compartment at sampled time intervals, and produce a first data signal indicative of the weight of the feed at these sampled time intervals. The vehicle also has a ground speed radar unit which measures the true ground speed of the vehicle at sampled time intervals as the vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk, and produces a second data signal indicative of the vehicular speed at these sampled time intervals. A computer aboard the vehicle processes the first and second data signals along with information regarding the length of the feedbunk and produces a control signal as the vehicle travels alongside the feedbunk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Lextron, Inc.
    Inventors: Sherman H. Brewster, J. Sam Cureton, James Carish, Michael A. Ackerman
  • Patent number: 5867820
    Abstract: A computer network and method for feeding animals in a feedlot, in which discretion and direct control over the various suboperations of the feed ration assignment and delivery process are distributed among the individual operators in the system, while the feedlot manager is capable of indirectly monitoring the performance of the various suboperations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Lextron, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Sam Cureton, Michael A. Ackerman, James Carish
  • Patent number: 5636118
    Abstract: A system and method for uniformly delivering assigned feed rations to the feedbunks associated with animal pens. The system includes a feed delivery vehicle having a feed storage compartment and a scale. The function of the scale is to weigh the amount of feed in the storage compartment at sampled time intervals, and produce a first data signal indicative of the weight of the feed at these sampled time intervals. The vehicle also has a ground speed radar unit which measures the true ground speed of the vehicle at sampled time intervals as the vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk, and produces a second data signal indicative of the vehicular speed at these sampled time intervals. A computer aboard the vehicle processes the first and second data signals along with information regarding the length of the feedbunk and produces a control signal as the vehicle travels alongside the feedbunk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Lextron, Inc.
    Inventors: Sherman H. Brewster, J. Sam Cureton, James Carish, Michael A. Ackerman
  • Patent number: 5457627
    Abstract: A computer network and method for feeding animals in a feedlot, in which discretion and direct control over the various suboperations of the feed ration assignment and delivery process are distributed among the individual operators in the system, while the feedlot manager is capable of indirectly monitoring the performance of the various suboperations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Lextron, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Sam Cureton, Michael A. Ackerman, James Carish