Patents by Inventor Michael D. Smith

Michael D. Smith 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).

  • Publication number: 20130041621
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are used to sense powered vehicle operating conditions, and compute and display to the operator the instant, most advantageous or optimum speed for conditions based on variable and fixed costs for that particular vehicle. Instead of the conventional or traditional display of fuel consumption relative to distance, the invention computes and displays the speed at which all cost factors result in optimal utilization of resources. If adhered to by the operator, either manually or through direct interface with vehicle speed control, this speed will provide the best balance between distance traveled per unit time with minimum negative impact from fixed and operating costs, resulting in minimum overall operating cost as well as maximum profit potential for the commercial operator. In addition, waste of valuable and limited-supply fossil fuel is minimized by encouraging avoidance of excessive speeds that waste fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: David B. Smith, Michael D. Smith
  • Patent number: 8145708
    Abstract: Various embodiments can provide a virtual online robot (bot) or security agent. The agent or guardian can monitor on line conversations and can act to intervene in an event a conversation's content meets certain definable criteria that indicates that the content might be inappropriate or possibly harmful or risky. In at least some embodiments, the agent or guardian is configured to utilize natural language processing techniques to evaluate the context of a conversation across its span and/or conversations across individual users. Using natural language processing techniques, the agent or guardian can then present notifications or warnings to individual users (or others) when a particular conversation or portion thereof is deemed problematic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Todd S. Biggs, Campbell D. Gunn, Michael D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120021464
    Abstract: The present invention is in the fields of molecular and cellular biology. The invention is generally related to reverse transcriptase enzymes and methods for the reverse transcription of nucleic acid molecules, especially messenger RNA molecules. Specifically, the invention relates to reverse transcriptase enzymes which have been mutated or modified to increase thermostability, decrease terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity, and/or increase fidelity, and to methods of producing, amplifying or sequencing nucleic acid molecules (particularly cDNA molecules) using these reverse transcriptase enzymes or compositions. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules produced by these methods and to the use of such nucleic acid molecules to produce desired polypeptides. The invention also concerns kits comprising such enzymes or compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael D. SMITH, Robert Jason POTTER, Gulshan DHARIWAL, Gary F. GERARD, Kim ROSENTHAL, Jun E. LEE
  • Publication number: 20120005722
    Abstract: Access control for an application is described. An exemplary method includes receiving a first command of an application to invoke a function of a user interface, identifying a first authorization context based on a first user context and the function of the user interface invoked, retrieving a first access policy providing access criteria associated with the first authorization context, and applying the first access policy to the accessibility of the function. The method includes receiving a second command to invoke the function in a second instance of the application and identifying a second authorization context based on a second user context and the function of the user interface invoked. The second authorization context is different than the first authorization context. The method includes retrieving a second access policy providing second access criteria associated with the second authorization context and applying the second access policy to the accessibility of the function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Geir Olsen, Lee C. Spiesman, Michael D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120005515
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a system for avoiding voltage emergencies. The system comprises a microprocessor, an actuator for throttling the microprocessor, a voltage emergency detector and a voltage emergency predictor. The voltage emergency detector may comprise, for example, a checkpoint recovery mechanism or a sensor. The voltage emergency predictor of a preferred embodiment comprises means for tracking control flow instructions and microarchitectural events, means for storing voltage emergency signatures that cause voltage emergencies, means for comparing current control flow and microarchitectural events with stored voltage emergency signatures to predict voltage emergencies, and means for actuating said actuator to throttle said microprocessor to avoid predicted voltage emergencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Vijay Janapa Reddi, Meeta Sharma Gupta, Glenn Holloway, Gu-Yeon Wei, Michael D. Smith, David Brooks
  • Patent number: 8075866
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing hydrogen sulfide from liquid sulfur including: passing a liquid sulfur feed comprising liquid sulfur and hydrogen sulfide to a vaporizer; vaporizing at least a portion of the liquid sulfur feed in the vaporizer to thereby form a first vapor stream comprising gaseous sulfur and gaseous hydrogen sulfide; partially condensing the first vapor stream in a condenser to form a liquid product stream comprising liquid sulfur and a second vapor stream comprising hydrogen sulfide; wherein the liquid product stream has a lower concentration of hydrogen sulfide than the liquid sulfur feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Alfred E. Keller, Nathan A. Hatcher, Sriram Ramani, Terry D. Pruitt, Michael D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20110266135
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing hydrogen sulfide from liquid sulfur including: passing a liquid sulfur feed comprising liquid sulfur and hydrogen sulfide to a vaporizer; vaporizing at least a portion of the liquid sulfur feed in the vaporizer to thereby form a first vapor stream comprising gaseous sulfur and gaseous hydrogen sulfide; partially condensing the first vapor stream in a condenser to form a liquid product stream comprising liquid sulfur and a second vapor stream comprising hydrogen sulfide; wherein the liquid product stream has a lower concentration of hydrogen sulfide than the liquid sulfur feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Alfred E. KELLER, Nathan A. HATCHER, Sriram RAMANI, Terry D. PRUITT, Michael D SMITH
  • Patent number: 8042151
    Abstract: A context based access control system that includes a set of one or more authorization contexts that are activated in response to selection of different functions or tasks or other functional boundary object of an application program. The authorization contexts are associated with one or more access policies that are invoked in response to activation of the one or more authorization contexts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Geir Olsen, Lee C. Spiesman, Michael D. Smith
  • Patent number: 8033738
    Abstract: A bearing assembly is provided including at least one needle roller that is resiliently compressible in response to a load applied to an exterior surface thereof. In addition, a method is provided for taking up a clearance between one or more first rollers and a bearing race in which the rollers are positioned. At least one resiliently compressible second roller is provided rollably secured within the bearing. The compressible second roller has an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of any of the first rollers, such that the compressible second roller resiliently compresses when the bearing is positioned in the bearing race. Forces generated by compression of the resiliently compressible second roller urge the first rollers against a surface of the bearing race, thereby taking up the clearance between the first rollers and the race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventors: Richard P. Nash, Ravi Ravindra, Michael D. Smith
  • Patent number: 7998451
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing hydrogen sulfide from liquid sulfur including: passing a liquid sulfur feed comprising liquid sulfur and hydrogen sulfide to a vaporizer; vaporizing at least a portion of the liquid sulfur feed in the vaporizer to thereby form a first vapor stream comprising gaseous sulfur and gaseous hydrogen sulfide; partially condensing the first vapor stream in a condenser to form a liquid product stream comprising liquid sulfur and a second vapor stream comprising hydrogen sulfide; wherein the liquid product stream has a lower concentration of hydrogen sulfide than the liquid sulfur feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Alfred E. Keller, Nathan A. Hatcher, Sriram Ramani, Terry D. Pruitt, Michael D Smith
  • Patent number: 7996323
    Abstract: A dispute resolution system for requesting a service provider to provide services so that the service provider can demonstrate to a service intermediary that a service consumer requested services. A service consumer that wants to start requesting services of the service provider registers with the service intermediary an end code of a sequence of code generated using a one-way function. The service intermediary provides the end code to the service provider. The service consumer can then using codes of the sequence requests the service provider to provide services. When the service provider receives a request, it verifies that the code of the request can be used to derive the end code. If the verification is successful, then the service provider can provide the verified code to the service intermediary as non-repudiatable evidence of the services requested by the service consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Smith, Miller T. Abel
  • Publication number: 20110081704
    Abstract: The present invention is in the fields of molecular and cellular biology. The invention is generally related to reverse transcriptase enzymes and methods for the reverse transcription of nucleic acid molecules, especially messenger RNA molecules. Specifically, the invention relates to reverse transcriptase enzymes which have been mutated or modified to increase thermostability, decrease terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity, and/or increase fidelity, and to methods of producing, amplifying or sequencing nucleic acid molecules (particularly cDNA molecules) using these reverse transcriptase enzymes or compositions. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules produced by these methods and to the use of such nucleic acid molecules to produce desired polypeptides. The invention also concerns kits comprising such enzymes or compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael D. Smith, Robert Jason Potter, Gulshan Dhariwal, Gary F. Gerard, Kim Rosenthal
  • Publication number: 20110008770
    Abstract: The present invention is generally related to compositions and methods for the reverse transcription of nucleic acid molecules, especially messenger RNA molecules. Specifically, the invention relates to compositions comprising mixtures of polypeptides having reverse transcriptase (RT) activity, and to methods of producing, amplifying or sequencing nucleic acid molecules (particularly cDNA molecules) using these compositions or polypeptides, particularly at temperatures above about 55° C. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules produced by these methods, to vectors and host cells comprising these nucleic acid molecules, and to the use of such nucleic acid molecules to produce desired polypeptides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary F. Gerard, Michael D. Smith, Deb K. Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 7752554
    Abstract: Various embodiments employ methods and techniques to enable users, and others, to manage or otherwise become more informed about applications or bots with which they interact. The methods and techniques, in at least some embodiments, can provide various types of indications, visual or otherwise, that pertain to various types of ratings that can be assigned to applications or bots and which can enable a user and others to assess the propriety, level and nature of their interaction with an application or bot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Todd S. Biggs, Campbell D. Gunn, Michael D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20100163401
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing hydrogen sulfide from liquid sulfur including: passing a liquid sulfur feed comprising liquid sulfur and hydrogen sulfide to a vaporizer; vaporizing at least a portion of the liquid sulfur feed in the vaporizer to thereby form a first vapor stream comprising gaseous sulfur and gaseous hydrogen sulfide; partially condensing the first vapor stream in a condenser to form a liquid product stream comprising liquid sulfur and a second vapor stream comprising hydrogen sulfide; wherein the liquid product stream has a lower concentration of hydrogen sulfide than the liquid sulfur feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Alfred E. Keller, Nathan A. Hatcher, Sriram Ramani, Terry D. Pruitt, Michael D. Smith
  • Patent number: 7698364
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling users at a plurality of client computers to share a common browsing experience are provided. A server computer according to the invention includes an interface to a communications network for establishing a first link between the server and the host client computer and a second link between the server and the slave client computer. The server has a shared view engine for receiving from the host client computer, an identifier that identifies the slave client computer and a locator corresponding to content on the server. The shared view engine causes the server to deliver the content corresponding to the locator to both the host client computer and the slave client computer. Thus, the host client computer and the slave client computer are enabled to share browsing of the content received from the server. To enable the slave clients to share in the browsing experience, the host client can send information such as URL and cookie data to the slave clients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Felix G. T. I. Andrew, David A. Sobeski, Michael D. Smith, Lisa G. Post
  • Patent number: 7694389
    Abstract: A vertically adjustable hinge is disclosed. The hinge comprises a housing for attachment to a first structure. The housing has a housing cavity and an opening into the cavity. The cavity has an upper portion, a lower portion and a retaining portion forming a channel defining the upper portion and the lower portion. The hinge further includes a first leaf extending through the cavity opening and into the cavity upper portion, threaded nut rotationally fixed to the first leaf, and an adjustment mechanism disposed in the housing cavity. The adjustment mechanism comprises a jack screw extending between the upper cavity portion and the lower cavity portion. The jack screw has a threaded portion threadably engaging the nut in the upper cavity portion and a geared portion disposed in the cavity lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Newell Operating Company
    Inventors: Gary M. Erickson, Scott J. Rote, Scott Zeeb, Todd K. Ellerton, Michael D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20100022910
    Abstract: A flexible and disposable allergen-containing patch is provided with markings transferable to the skin. The patch may also include piercing elements to become an all-in-one system. A reusable actuator enables a user with little training or experience to administer multiple test injections with the disposable patch. A scope allows magnified viewing of a test site after the skin test is provided, the scope incorporating the patch as a releasable component. An all-in-one applicator assembly that can be bent to fit a convex engagement surface of a rolling actuator is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Lane, Andrew Kugler, Corinn Fahrenkrug, Suzanne Abate Gunter, Allan Krauter, Lucas C. McCann, Ashley Elizabeth Tudor, Michael D. Smith, William Scott
  • Publication number: 20100015683
    Abstract: The present invention is in the fields of molecular and cellular biology. The invention is generally related to reverse transcriptase enzymes and methods for the reverse transcription of nucleic acid molecules, especially messenger RNA molecules. Specifically, the invention relates to reverse transcriptase enzymes which have been mutated or modified to increase thermostability, decrease terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity, and/or increase fidelity, and to methods of producing, amplifying or sequencing nucleic acid molecules (particularly cDNA molecules) using these reverse transcriptase enzymes or compositions. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules produced by these methods and to the use of such nucleic acid molecules to produce desired polypeptides. The invention also concerns kits comprising such enzymes or compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael D. Smith, Robert Jason Potter, Gulsham Dhariwal, Gary F. Gerard, Kim Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 7650599
    Abstract: A method of offloading compilation includes transmitting compilation information from a first subsystem to a second subsystem. The method also includes compiling computer program code into machine-executable code on the second subsystem based on the compilation information received from the first subsystem. The method further includes receiving the machine-executable code from the second subsystem into the first subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Smith, Oshoma Momoh