Patents by Inventor Neal Roberts

Neal Roberts 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: 12222865
    Abstract: The system described herein introduces a cache that a file system uses to determine, for a current object, if the process to merge different types of access control information into merged access control information has already been performed for a previous object. Stated alternatively, the file system uses the cache to determine whether a current object being processed for storage has the same combination of access control information as a previous object that has already been processed for storage. If the current object has the same combination of access control information as the previous object, the file system is able to associate merged access control information for the previous object with the current object via the use of a pointer. Consequently, the file system avoids having to perform the resource-intensive process of merging the different types of access control information for the current object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Neal Robert Christiansen, Neeraj Kumar Singh, Yanran Hao
  • Patent number: 12210608
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: receiving, at an information handling device positioned within a vehicle, a command from a vehicle occupant to initiate a function; transmitting, responsive to the receiving and prior to initiation of the function, an authorization request to a secondary device designated as an authorization authority; determining, using a processor, whether confirmation of the authorization request is received from the secondary device; and initiating, responsive to determining that confirmation of the authorization request is received from the secondary device, the function. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Arnold S. Weksler, Sandy Scott Collins, Neal Robert Caliendo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12204453
    Abstract: The described technologies enable a computing device to allocate at least a portion of its persistent memory as volatile memory during runtime. At least some implementations create a file in the persistent memory of the computing device. The file is created in the persistent memory of the computing device during runtime of a virtual machine (VM) hosted by the computing device. The file may be allocated to the VM. The file allocated to the VM may be used as volatile memory. For example, the VM may use the file to store temporary data (e.g., volatile data). In some implementations, the temporary data is associated with an application executing in the VM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Neal Robert Christiansen, Scott Chao-Chueh Lee
  • Patent number: 12197387
    Abstract: Described herein are technologies that provide an element of security related to file system operations. Individual nodes in a file system, such as a directory or a file, can be associated with information that describes how to handle letter case when a file name included in a file system operation request is used to locate a file in the file system. For example, a case sensitive designation associated with a directory can require a case sensitive match between a file name included in a request and a file name included in the directory, in order to perform the requested file system operation. In another example, a case preferring designation associated with a directory first checks for a case sensitive match between file names. If a case sensitive match does not exist, then a case insensitive match between the file names can be used to perform the requested file system operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Neal Robert Christiansen, Chandra Kumar Konamki Vijayamuneeswaralu, Craig Ashley Barkhouse, Sven Groot, John Andrew Starks
  • Publication number: 20240427737
    Abstract: The system described herein introduces a file system operation that enables a file system to delete a directory tree without the overhead associated with opening each file in the directory tree, marking the file for deletion, and closing the file. Accordingly, the file system is able to delete directories and files in the directory tree independent of communicating with, and being transparent to, filter drivers in the operating system. The file system operation is implemented via a directory tree delete attribute included in a request for deletion of a directory tree. The file system can perform the file system operation in a foreground manner or in a deferred manner based on the directory tree delete attribute respectively specifying foreground deletion or deferred deletion. By operating on files and directories in a single invocation, the file system can optimize overheads related to security checks and data transfer across a user-to-kernel boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Neal Robert CHRISTIANSEN, Chandra Kumar Konamki VIJAYAMUNEESWARALU, Neeraj Kumar SINGH
  • Publication number: 20240394192
    Abstract: The system described herein introduces a cache that a file system uses to determine, for a current object, if the process to merge different types of access control information into merged access control information has already been performed for a previous object. Stated alternatively, the file system uses the cache to determine whether a current object being processed for storage has the same combination of access control information as a previous object that has already been processed for storage. If the current object has the same combination of access control information as the previous object, the file system is able to associate merged access control information for the previous object with the current object via the use of a pointer. Consequently, the file system avoids having to perform the resource-intensive process of merging the different types of access control information for the current object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Neal Robert CHRISTIANSEN, Neeraj Kumar SINGH, Yanran HAO
  • Publication number: 20240181493
    Abstract: Methods of modifying a medical device and manufacturing a medical device are disclosed. One embodiment of a method of modifying a medical device includes treating a portion of the medical device with cold plasma and functionalizing the plasma-treated portion with a polymer. One embodiment of a method of manufacturing a medical device includes providing a subcutaneous part configured to be positioned subcutaneously in a user and performing a surface treatment on a portion of the subcutaneous part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventor: Neal Robert Carty
  • Publication number: 20240078181
    Abstract: The described technologies enable a computing device to allocate at least a portion of its persistent memory as volatile memory during runtime. At least some implementations create a file in the persistent memory of the computing device. The file is created in the persistent memory of the computing device during runtime of a virtual machine (VM) hosted by the computing device. The file may be allocated to the VM. The file allocated to the VM may be used as volatile memory. For example, the VM may use the file to store temporary data (e.g., volatile data). In some implementations, the temporary data is associated with an application executing in the VM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Neal Robert CHRISTIANSEN, Scott Chao-Chueh LEE
  • Patent number: 11890642
    Abstract: Methods of modifying a medical device and manufacturing a medical device are disclosed. One embodiment of a method of modifying a medical device includes treating a portion of the medical device with cold plasma and functionalizing the plasma-treated portion with a polymer. One embodiment of a method of manufacturing a medical device includes providing a subcutaneous part configured to be positioned subcutaneously in a user and performing a surface treatment on a portion of the subcutaneous part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ConvaTec Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Neal Robert Carty
  • Patent number: 11789870
    Abstract: The described technologies enable a computing device to allocate at least a portion of its persistent memory as volatile memory during runtime. At least some implementations create a file in the persistent memory of the computing device. The file is created in the persistent memory of the computing device during runtime of a virtual machine (VM) hosted by the computing device. The file may be allocated to the VM. The file allocated to the VM may be used as volatile memory. For example, the VM may use the file to store temporary data (e.g., volatile data). In some implementations, the temporary data is associated with an application executing in the VM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Neal Robert Christiansen, Scott Chao-Chueh Lee
  • Patent number: 11732920
    Abstract: An air conditioning system (1) has a heater unit (3) providing a hot water flow (7) and receiving a hot water return (31) in hot water loop, a chiller unit (5) providing a cold water flow (13) and receiving a cold water return (33) in a cold water loop, one or more air to water heat exchangers (17), and one or more control valves (11), each control valve (11) associated with one of the air to water heat exchangers (17) and arranged to receive the hot water flow (7) and cold water flow (13), selectively provide the flow from a one of the hot water loop or cold water loop to the associated air to water heat exchanger (17), receive a return from the associated air to water heat exchanger (17), and selectively provide the return from the associated air to water heat exchanger (17) to the return of the one of the hot water loop or cold water loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventors: Neal Robert Gooding, Adrian Geoffrey Terrett
  • Publication number: 20230251406
    Abstract: Dynamic mirror assemblies are disclosed that can vary the amount of light reflected, that include a mirror and a switching material. The switching material is placed between the mirror and a viewer, and has a dark state and a light state, and switches state in at least one direction due to a photochromic reaction, and switches in the other direction due to one or more of a photochromic reaction or an electrochromic reaction or a thermal reversion above a threshold temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: SOLUTIA CANADA INC.
    Inventors: JONATHAN ROSS SARGENT, RYAN J. GIBSON, JEREMY GRAHAM FINDEN, NEIL ROBIN BRANDA, GREG STUART, JAMES DANIEL SENIOR, MATTHEW NEAL ROBERTS
  • Publication number: 20230244117
    Abstract: Dynamic mirror assemblies are disclosed that can vary the amount of light reflected, that include a mirror and a switching material. The switching material is placed between the mirror and a viewer, and has a dark state and a light state, and switches state in at least one direction due to a photochromic reaction, and switches in the other direction due to one or more of a photochromic reaction or an electrochromic reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Solutia Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Ross Sargent, Ryan J. Gibson, Jeremy Graham Finden, Neil Robin Branda, Greg Stuart, James Daniel Senior, Matthew Neal Roberts
  • Publication number: 20230177009
    Abstract: Described herein are technologies that provide an element of security related to file system operations. Individual nodes in a file system, such as a directory or a file, can be associated with information that describes how to handle letter case when a file name included in a file system operation request is used to locate a file in the file system. For example, a case sensitive designation associated with a directory can require a case sensitive match between a file name included in a request and a file name included in the directory, in order to perform the requested file system operation. In another example, a case preferring designation associated with a directory first checks for a case sensitive match between file names. If a case sensitive match does not exist, then a case insensitive match between the file names can be used to perform the requested file system operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Neal Robert CHRISTIANSEN, Chandra Kumar Konamki VIJAYAMUNEESWARALU, Craig Ashley BARKHOUSE, Sven GROOT, John Andrew STARKS
  • Publication number: 20230121380
    Abstract: Various implementations power homes and businesses without needing to connect to electric utility company-provided power, i.e., they can operate off-grid. The system may include a first power source (e.g., solar, generator, fuel cell, etc.) and an enclosure installed at a premises. The enclosure may at least partially enclose or otherwise provide one or more batteries, one or more inverters, one or more switches, and one or more electrical wires. The switches may include an isolation switch, where, when the isolation switch is closed, a second power source separate from the first power source provides power to the building and the one or more batteries. The electrical wires may electrically connect the system to a main panel of the building, where the main panel is configured to provide power received from the system to the building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: William Grant SILVA, Neal Robert ERICKSON
  • Publication number: 20230033481
    Abstract: The invention provides an intermittent catheter comprising a hollow polymeric tubular body comprising a base polymer and a lubricious additive, wherein the lubricious additive comprises an amphiphilic molecule having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance below 8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Rachel Zimet Pytel, Neal Robert Carty, Lukas Kandrac
  • Publication number: 20230033683
    Abstract: The invention provides an intermittent catheter comprising a hollow polymeric tubular body comprising a base polymer and further comprising an amphiphilic additive at and/or on an outer surface of the body, wherein one or both of the base polymer and the additive are independently cross-linked and/or the base polymer and additive are cross-linked with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Rachel Zimet Pytel, Neal Robert Carty, Lukas Kandrac
  • Patent number: 11556102
    Abstract: Various implementations power homes and businesses without needing to connect to electric utility company-provided power, i.e., they can operate off-grid. Generally the system includes solar panel racks (e.g., photovoltaic cells on sheets stabilized using ballasts, anchors, or mounting) that generate electrical power used to provide power to a building or that is stored on batteries. The system includes the solar panel racks and an enclosure to be installed at the premises and separate from the building. The enclosure includes the batteries and inverters that are electronically connected to the solar panel racks and batteries. The inverters are configured to convert direct current (DC) electricity from the solar power racks and batteries to alternating current (AC) electricity to provide power to the building via wires electrically connecting the inverters to the main panel of the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: United Renewable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: William Grant Silva, Neal Robert Erickson
  • Patent number: 11537561
    Abstract: Described herein are technologies that provide an element of security related to file system operations. Individual nodes in a file system, such as a directory or a file, can be associated with information that describes how to handle letter case when a file name included in a file system operation request is used to locate a file in the file system. For example, a case sensitive designation associated with a directory can require a case sensitive match between a file name included in a request and a file name included in the directory, in order to perform the requested file system operation. In another example, a case preferring designation associated with a directory first checks for a case sensitive match between file names. If a case sensitive match does not exist, then a case insensitive match between the file names can be used to perform the requested file system operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Neal Robert Christiansen, Chandra Kumar Konamki Vijayamuneeswaralu, Craig Ashley Barkhouse, Sven Groot, John Andrew Starks
  • Patent number: 11526362
    Abstract: A computing device saves storage space by foregoing writing the payloads for batches of feature files to local storage and then automatically downloading payloads for individual batches of feature files as associated features are called upon. In various embodiments, an operating system (OS) that includes both frequently used and infrequently used features is executing on the computing device. Batches of feature files for the frequently used features of the OS may be hydrated on the computing device whereas batches of feature files for the infrequently used features of the OS may be left dehydrated on the computing device. When an infrequently used feature is requested, the computing device automatically downloads a corresponding batch of feature files. Then, the computing device may fulfill the request by implementing the infrequently used feature. Thus, predetermined batches of feature files remain immediately accessible at the computing device without consuming storage space unless called upon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Neal Robert Christiansen, Yanran Hao, Mingbiao Fei, Vinod Reddy Chavva, Aniket Krishnat Naravanekar