Patents by Inventor Michael W. Howell

Michael W. Howell 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: 11968325
    Abstract: Technology for identifying that a communication is from a verified enterprise includes receiving, by a device associated with a user, a data packet from a phone network. The data packet can be included in a communication to the device, which can have an application configured to verify communications from at least one enterprise. A token within the data packet can be identified by the application, and the application can compare the token to at least one token identifier associated with the at least one enterprise. In response to the token corresponding to at least one token identifier, the application can verify that the communication is from the at least one enterprise. In response to the communication being verified, the application can display a validation image on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: Michael W. Howell
  • Patent number: 11558502
    Abstract: Technology for identifying that a communication is from a verified enterprise includes receiving, by a device associated with a user, a data packet from a phone network. The data packet can be included in a communication to the device, which can have an application configured to verify communications from at least one enterprise. A token within the data packet can be identified by the application, and the application can compare the token to at least one token identifier associated with the at least one enterprise. In response to the token corresponding to at least one token identifier, the application can verify that the communication is from the at least one enterprise. In response to the communication being verified, the application can display a validation image on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: Michael W. Howell
  • Publication number: 20110286805
    Abstract: An ice anchor system, configured to secure items to a layer of ice formed at the surface of a body of water, is provided. The layer of ice has a bottom surface. The ice anchor system includes an anchor configured to seat against the bottom surface of the layer of ice. The anchor has a fin. A line is attached to the anchor and a float is slidably attached to the line. The float has a buoyancy. The anchor is configured for a substantially vertical orientation for insertion through an opening in the layer of ice and the fin is configured to urge the anchor into a substantially horizontal orientation for seating against the bottom surface of the layer of ice. The buoyancy of the float is configured to maintain the seating of the anchor against the bottom surface of the layer of ice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Vincent A. Beagle, Michael W. Howell