Patents by Inventor Michael D. McDaniels

Michael D. McDaniels 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: 6360254
    Abstract: In a Web site system in which different private records or other resources are personal to different users, a method is provided for allowing users to securely access a private resource without the need to enter a username, password, or other authentication information, and without the need to download special authentication software or data to the user's computer. Each resource is assigned a private uniform resource locator (URL) which includes a fixed character string and a unique token, and the URLs are conveyed by email (preferably using hyperlinks) to users that are entitled to access such resources. The tokens are generated using a method which distributes the tokens substantially randomly over the range of allowable token values (“token space”). The token space is selected to be sufficiently large relative to the expected number of valid tokens to inhibit the identification of valid tokens through trial and error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Amazon.com Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Linden, Michael D. McDaniel, Ryan J. Snodgrass, Joel R. Spiegel
  • Patent number: 6298982
    Abstract: An external guide assembly for reducing the frictional drag force acting on a side-flexing modular link conveyor belt, particularly along curves or bends in the conveyor system. The guide assembly is formed from one or more roller assemblies, each having first and second rollers that provide external bearing surfaces for the forward and return runs of the belt. The rollers prevent the belt from drifting to the inside of the curve, and thus serve to reduce the frictional drag force between the belt and the guide rail on the outside of the curve. To form the guide assembly, pairs of articulated members interconnect the roller assemblies and allow the relative angular position of each to be selectively adjusted for mounting along any curve. The rollers may optionally include a peripheral lip which provides additional support for the guide links of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Span Tech LLC
    Inventors: James L. Layne, Wendell S. Bell, Michael D. McDaniel, Mark T. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6253911
    Abstract: A modular conveyor system having an improved side flexing conveyor belt and improved active guide rail is provided. One or more roller assemblies replace the passive inside or outside guide rails in a curved section of the conveyor system for reducing the drag force on the conveyor belt as it negotiates the curve. Pairs of articulated members interconnect roller assemblies and allow the relative angular position of each to be selectively adjusted. The improved side flexing conveyor belt includes side links having a curved skirt which bridges the gap between the side links, thereby providing a continuous bearing surface for smooth operation. The skirts of adjacent links engage each other in edge-to-edge contact to prevent the tendency to sag, as well as assisting the conveyor belt in ramping up and down and the retention of the conveyor belt along a return run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Span Tech LLC
    Inventors: James L. Layne, Wendell S. Bell, Michael D. McDaniel, Mark T. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6223889
    Abstract: A modular link conveyor includes a plurality of modular link assemblies made up of links of an improved design assembled to create a closely interdigitating conveying surface. The improved links eliminate undesirable gaps or openings in the conveying surface. Projecting fingers are provided for filling the openings between the legs of each link and also between adjoining links. The fingers aid in preventing the entry of any foreign objects in these openings. In a first alternative embodiment, the fingers are arcuate projections that extend across the legs adjacent to both openings. In a second alternative embodiment, the modular link assemblies carry a plate which forms the conveying surface. The plate is provided with alternating forwardly and rearwardly projecting fingers for filling the openings in the conveyor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Span Tech LLC
    Inventors: James L. Layne, Michael D. McDaniel
  • Patent number: 6202834
    Abstract: A conveyor system has an upstanding integral I-beam guide rail of extruded plastic for use with a narrow width chain conveyor belt. The belt is formed from a series of modular links interconnected through an apex and spaced legs. The legs terminate in foot portions having inwardly projecting guide tabs for slidingly engaging integral outwardly extending upper and lower guide tracks of the guide rail. Each link may be provided with wings which serving to increase the conveying surface area. Split sprockets for engaging the narrow chain belt are releasably secured to the drive/idler shafts. Releasable end guide components, including a support plate and a split bushing, provide both a support and a bearing surface for these shafts. The I-beam may include separate extruded plastic guide tracks spaced and clamped in position by a series of clamping assemblies. A series of narrow chain belts positioned in a spaced relationship and driven by a single shaft provide multiple lane product flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Span Tech LLC
    Inventors: James L. Layne, Michael D. McDaniel, Mark T. Johnson, Wendell S. Bell
  • Patent number: 6129202
    Abstract: A modular conveyor system having an improved side flexing conveyor belt and improved active guide rail is provided. One or more roller assemblies replace the passive inside or outside guide rails in a curved section of the conveyor system for reducing the drag force on the conveyor belt as it negotiates the curve. Pairs of articulated members interconnect roller assemblies and allow the relative angular position of each to be selectively adjusted. The improved side flexing conveyor belt includes side links having a curved skirt which bridges the gap between the side links, thereby providing a continuous bearing surface for smooth operation. The skirts of adjacent links engage each other in edge-to-edge contact to prevent the tendency to sag, as well as assisting the conveyor belt in ramping up and down and the retention of the conveyor belt along a return run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Span Tech LLC
    Inventors: James L. Layne, Wendell S. Bell, Michael D. McDaniel, Mark T. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6125995
    Abstract: An external guide assembly for reducing the frictional drag force acting on a side-flexing modular link conveyor belt, particularly along curves or bends in the conveyor system. The guide assembly is formed from one or more roller assemblies, each having first and second rollers that provide external bearing surfaces for the forward and return runs of the belt. The rollers prevent the belt from drifting to the inside of the curve, and thus serve to reduce the frictional drag force between the belt and the guide rail on the outside of the curve. To form the guide assembly, pairs of articulated members interconnect the roller assemblies and allow the relative angular position of each to be selectively adjusted for mounting along any curve. The rollers may optionally include a peripheral lip which provides additional support for the guide links of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Span Tech LLC
    Inventors: James L. Layne, Wendell S. Bell, Michael D. McDaniel, Mark T. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5900866
    Abstract: A display system conversion technique that provides text-mode (e.g., VGA mode) display capabilities to a computer system that lacks text-mode display hardware is disclosed. By using the display conversion technique, programs which assume or require text-mode display hardware can be made to operate properly on computer systems that lack such text-mode display hardware. According to one implementation, a display system for a computer system having an operating system, includes: a display device for displaying an image, a frame buffer for storing a bitmap of the image, a display driver for causing the bitmap to be forwarded to and displayed on the display device, and a text-mode-to-bitmap conversion system for converting text characters received from the operating system operating in a text-mode to the bitmap of the image which is stored in the frame buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. McDaniel, James W. Osborne
  • Patent number: 5860006
    Abstract: A PowerPC based Network Operating System Loadable Module (NOSLM) is concatenated onto an Intel-based NOSLM and offsets are adjusted to account for the size of the Intel-based NOSLM. The resulting enlarged NOSLM appears as a typical Intel-based NOSLM to Intel-based servers. When the enlarged NOSLM is loaded by PowerPC-based servers, the offsets are used to point the server to the beginning of the PowerPC-based NOSLM code and the Intel-based NOSLM is interpreted as a machine-specific header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Osborne, Michael D. McDaniel