Patents by Inventor Michael K. McDonald

Michael K. McDonald 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: 8494976
    Abstract: An optimization system for transportation scheduling and inventory management of a bulk product from supply locations to demand locations is provided. The system has a mathematical model containing mathematical programming equations. In one embodiment, the objective function of the mathematical model is to minimize a cost basis of the product transported. The system also has a database system for data input that interfaces with the mathematical model. The last component of the system is a mathematical optimization solver that solves the equations provided by the mathematical model after the mathematical model receives data from the database system. As a result, the optimization system provides optimized or simulated results for the input data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kevin C. Furman, Gary R. Kocis, Michael K. McDonald, Philip H. Warrick, Marco A. Duran
  • Publication number: 20100332273
    Abstract: A tool to assist decision-making in the logistics of bulk product transportation. For example, the tool may be used to solve a problem involving the transportation and the inventory management of crude oil, in which the transportation of crude oil between supply ports and discharge ports are performed by a fleet of ships. The tool is capable of handling a typical petroleum product transportation problem, which can be quite complex. The tool uses advanced modeling and optimization technology to find a solution (either optimal or near optimal) for the allocation of bulk products, vehicle routing, vehicle scheduling, and/or bulk product blending operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jayanth BALASUBRAMANIAN, Nicolas SAWAYA, Kevin C. FURMAN, Gary R. KOCIS, Michael F. MARGOLIES, Merryl J. MIRANDA, Michael K. MCDONALD, Jin-Hwa SONG, Philip H. WARRICK
  • Patent number: 7797205
    Abstract: A computer application loaded on a computer readable medium, a computer apparatus comprising the same, and process employing the same, is described herein. The computer application, when executed, causes a computer to optimize, for maximum net profit margin, the product allocation, transportation routing, transportation vehicle/route scheduling and, optionally, blending, of bulk products that are produced by and loaded from supply locations and delivered to and consumed by demand locations, using a heterogeneous fleet of transportation vehicles over a pre-defined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Jin-Hwa Song, Kevin C. Furman, Gary R. Kocis, Michael K. McDonald, Philip H. Warrick, Chad D. Reimann
  • Publication number: 20090192864
    Abstract: A computer application loaded on a computer readable medium, a computer apparatus comprising the same, and process employing the same, is described herein. The computer application, when executed, causes a computer to optimize, for maximum net profit margin, the product allocation, transportation routing, transportation vehicle/route scheduling and, optionally, blending, of bulk products that are produced by and loaded from supply locations and delivered to and consumed by demand locations, using a heterogeneous fleet of transportation vehicles over a pre-defined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: ExxoMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Jin-Hwa Song, Kevin C. Furman, Gary R. Kocis, Michael K. McDonald, Philip H. Warrick, Chad D. Reimann
  • Publication number: 20080294484
    Abstract: An optimization system for transportation scheduling and inventory management of a bulk product from supply locations to demand locations is provided. The system has a mathematical model containing mathematical programming equations. In one embodiment, the objective function of the mathematical model is to minimize a cost basis of the product transported. The system also has a database system for data input that interfaces with the mathematical model. The last component of the system is a mathematical optimization solver that solves the equations provided by the mathematical model after the mathematical model receives data from the database system. As a result, the optimization system provides optimized or simulated results for the input data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kevin C. Furman, Gary R. Kocis, Michael K. McDonald, Philip H. Warrick, Marco A. Duran