Patents by Inventor Michael A. Thomas

Michael A. Thomas 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: 7966409
    Abstract: A protection CMTS is available to immediately service a cable modem should that modem's service from a working CMTS fail for any reason. To speed the service transfer (cutover) from the working CMTS to the protection CMTS, the cable modem may preregister with the protection CMTS well before the cutover becomes necessary. The cable modem's registration with both the working CMTS and the protection CMTS preferably employs a single IP address, so that the cable modem need not obtain a new IP address during cutover. While the cable modem may register with both the working CMTS and the protection CMTS, the devices are designed or configured so that only the working CMTS injects a host route for the cable modem into the appropriate routing protocol. Only after cutover to the protection CMTS does the protection CMTS inject its host route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Feisal Daruwalla, James R. Forster, Guenter E. Roeck, Richard M. Woundy, Michael A. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20100316496
    Abstract: A balance weight for a turbine rotor includes: (a) a block-like centerbody; (b) a pair of resilient spring arms extending laterally from opposite sides of the centerbody, the centerbody and the spring arms collectively defining an arcuate shape; and (c) at least one locating structure extending from a radially outer surface of the balance weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aaron Todd Williams, Robert Patrick Tameo, Charles Eric Lavender, Michael A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7828527
    Abstract: A paint circulating system is suitable for providing paint to applicators in a product finishing facility. The system includes a pump for pumping paint around the system and a back-pressure regulator (BPR), which substantially eliminates pressure fluctuations of paint in the system upstream of the BPR. A controller is provided for controlling the pump and the BPR to operate in one of a flow mode, wherein a required flow rate of paint around the system is maintained, and a pressure mode, wherein a pressure of paint between the pump and the BPR is maintained. The paint circulating method includes switching operation of the pump and the BPR between the flow mode and the pressure mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Alan A. Smith, Nigel C. Wood, Michael A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7508299
    Abstract: A wireless time stamp system and associated method is disclosed and includes a plurality of slave wireless sensor components each configured to transmit a sensed system condition at unique predetermined time intervals. The system further includes a master wireless control component configured to receive the transmitted sensed system conditions from each of the slave wireless sensor components. The master wireless control component is further configured to assign the unique predetermined time intervals to each of the slave wireless sensor components, thereby eliminating data collisions at the master wireless control component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Michael A. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080320591
    Abstract: A method and system for verifying identification of an electronic mail message. An electronic mail message including a signature and a key is received, the signature identifying a domain from which the electronic mail message originated and the key for verifying the signature. A key registration server of the domain is accessed to verify the key. The key registration server provides for verifying that a key used to sign an electronic mail message is valid and that the sender is authorized by the domain to send the electronic mail message from the return address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James L. Fenton, Michael A. Thomas, Frederick J. Baker
  • Patent number: 7437558
    Abstract: A method and system for verifying identification of an electronic mail message. An electronic mail message including a signature and a key is received, the signature identifying a domain from which the electronic mail message originated and the key for verifying the signature. A key registration server of the domain is accessed to verify the key. The key registration server provides for verifying that a key used to sign an electronic mail message is valid and that the sender is authorized by the domain to send the electronic mail message from the return address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Fenton, Michael A. Thomas, Frederick J Baker
  • Patent number: 7385485
    Abstract: A tire monitoring system and associated method includes a plurality of tire sensor modules configured to transmit tire data in a wireless fashion at a predetermined time interval. The system also includes a vehicle control module that is configured to receive the tire data from the tire sensor modules, and is further configured to dictate the predetermined time interval at which the tire data is transmitted by the tire sensor modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael A. Thomas, Robert D. LeFort, John T. McGowan, Chris A. Wunderlich
  • Publication number: 20070279203
    Abstract: A tire monitoring system and associated method is disclosed. The tire monitoring system includes a plurality of tire sensor modules, employing contactless sensors, configured to transmit tire data at a predetermined time interval. The system also includes a central control unit that is configured to receive the tire data from the tire sensor modules, and is further configured with an external control unit that can communicate with the tire sensor modules, the central control units and outside sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Michael A. Thomas, Peter Knittl
  • Patent number: 6839829
    Abstract: A protection CMTS is available to immediately service a cable modem should that modem's service from a working CMTS fail for any reason. To speed the service transfer (cutover) from the working CMTS to the protection CMTS, the cable modem may preregister with the protection CMTS well before the cutover becomes necessary. The cable modem's registration with both the working CMTS and the protection CMTS preferably employs a single IP address, so that the cable modem need not obtain a new IP address during cutover. While the cable modem may register with both the working CMTS and the protection CMTS, the devices are designed or configured so that only the working CMTS injects a host route for the cable modem into the appropriate routing protocol. Only after cutover to the protection CMTS does the protection CMTS inject its host route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Feisal Daruwalla, James R. Forster, Guenter E. Roeck, Richard M. Woundy, Michael A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6684443
    Abstract: An aircraft boarding bridge has two arms, one arm for each side of the aircraft. Using the boarding bridge, passengers and crew may embark or debark both sides of the aircraft at the same time, enabling boarding or deplaning in as little as half the time presently used. This multiple-door access boarding bridge may use one or more than one door on each side of the aircraft. The bridge itself may be an apron-drive model, using drive wheels to approach a parked aircraft, or may be a fixed-location model, using vertical lifts to move into position once an aircraft has parked. Access doors in the bridge allow service personnel to approach without interfering with the boarding or deplaning processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: United Air Lines, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Thomas, Moshe Schechter
  • Publication number: 20020198731
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for expediting customs and immigration processing is revealed. Passports are scanned and checked against an image of passengers at check in and boarding. This information is forwarded to a government representative, such as an Immigration service representative, and may also be sent to a Customs official. These or other governmental representatives may then decide whether the government has any interest in a particular passenger, and the passenger may be routed in compliance with the governmental interest. A customs declaration for each passenger and an inspection record (such as an x-ray) of passenger luggage may be made and forwarded to a customs official. The customs official may then decide which persons and which baggage to check, routing such baggage and such persons to a customs inspection area. Passengers and luggage not selected may be automatically cleared without further inspection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Jessica M. Barnes, Michael A. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20020104176
    Abstract: An aircraft boarding bridge has two arms, one arm for each side of the aircraft. Using the boarding bridge, passengers and crew may embark or debark both sides of the aircraft at the same time, enabling boarding or deplaning in as little as half the time presently used. This multiple-door access boarding bridge may use one or more than one door on each side of the aircraft. The bridge itself may be an apron-drive model, using drive wheels to approach a parked aircraft, or may be a fixed-location model, using vertical lifts to move into position once an aircraft has parked. Access doors in the bridge allow service personnel to approach without interfering with the boarding or deplaning processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: United Air Lines, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Thomas, Moshe Schechter
  • Publication number: 20010033221
    Abstract: The electronic security system comprises two sets of transmitters and receivers. A first transmitter generates an energy carrying signal for a first receiver in communication with the first transmitter. A memory unit is at least partially powered by the energy carrying signal received by the first receiver. The memory unit stores a key code and a second transmitter in communication with the memory unit generates a key code carrying signal. A second receiver in communication with the second transmitter receives the key code carrying signal. The energy carrying signal is of a different frequency than the key code carrying signal to permit simultaneous transmission of both signals for faster transmission and increased security of the system. Ultimately, an evaluation unit in communication with the second receiver compares the key code with an unlocking code to determine if the key code matches the unlocking code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Michael A. Thomas, Patrick A. Banas
  • Patent number: D593964
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: LW Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest L. Tai, Timothy A. Chambers, Michael A. Thomas