Patents by Inventor R. Thomas

R. Thomas 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: 20140048597
    Abstract: A wireless financial transaction instrument, such as a card, has a magnetic stripe, a display, and an on-board power supply, such as a battery, and is usable with a dual capture point of sale terminal. Information is received by such a terminal from the card wirelessly, and also from the magnetic stripe, and the data received contactlessly is preferably used to verify that read from the stripe. The display can display the account number on command, or to display a current balance, or amount of credit remaining, or any combination of these items of information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: DAVID S. BONALLE, Michael D. Donovan, Sherrie G. Jackson, Scott Glen Paylor, Medina J. Senghore, Tracey R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8656035
    Abstract: A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and evaluated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Tracey R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8655781
    Abstract: A system for dynamic currency conversion is provided. The system includes a bank identifier system determining whether currency conversion is available for a card-issuing bank of a presented card, such as by comparing a bank identifier from the card with a list or table of participating banks. An exchange rate system determines whether an exchange rate has expired, such as an exchange rate associated with the foreign currency of the card-issuing bank. The card holder is presented with an option for selecting a foreign currency transaction after it is determined that currency conversion is available for the card-issuing bank and that the exchange rate has not expired, such that the card holder does not need to see such information unless foreign currency processing is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Paymentech, LLC
    Inventors: Michael K. Nicholls, Lester S. Maragh, Joan DeTemple, Rosemary R. Thomas, George E. Wilcox, Keeley M. Sapienza, Zunoraine Holmes, Lubna Shad
  • Patent number: 8652555
    Abstract: A method for producing a high density compact livestock feed from a loose granular material may include feeding distiller grain into a loading zone and passing the distiller grain into a heating zoned comprising one or more heaters and a rotating screw. The method further includes rotating the screw to transfer the treated material through the heating zone while increasing the compressive force applied to the treated material. The method may further include pressing the treated material through a compression enclosure that simultaneously applies a transverse force and a parallel force onto the treated material to form a high density compact body. The method may then include a cooling process and an extraction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: Michael R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140046641
    Abstract: Methods and materials for measuring the composition of plant biomass and predicting the efficiency of conversion of such biomass to various end products under various processing conditions are disclosed. For example, methods and materials for identifying plant material having higher levels of accessible carbohydrate, as well as materials and methods for processing plant material having higher levels of accessible carbohydrate are disclosed. Also disclosed are computer-implemented methods and systems that provide improved economic efficiencies to biorefineries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Ceres, Inc.
    Inventors: Bonnie Hames, Tanya Kruse, Steven R. Thomas, Amr Saad Ragab
  • Patent number: 8648305
    Abstract: Methods and systems for real time, in situ monitoring of fluids, and particularly the determination of both the energy content and contaminants in a gas or oil transmission facility, are provided. The system may include two separate scanning sources to scan two different, but overlapping, NIR ranges, or may involve two separate scans from a single scanning spectroscopy source. The first scan ranges from approximately 1550 nm up through 1800 nm and a second scan concurrently scans at a high resolution across a band from approximately 1560-1610 nm, the wavelength of interest for hydrogen sulfide (though similar scans are contemplated in alternative wavelength ranges for alternative contaminants). The second scan may provide very narrow (0.005 nm) step resolution over just the wavelength of interest for the contaminant and may scan at a substantially higher power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: JP3 Measurement, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Paul Little, III, Matthew R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8650316
    Abstract: A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Tracey R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8650319
    Abstract: A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Tracey R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8650318
    Abstract: A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Tracey R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8650317
    Abstract: A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Tracey R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8650315
    Abstract: A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Tracey R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140035516
    Abstract: Described embodiments provide a local electronic device having a power supply coupled to a power main in wireless communication, via a wireless transceiver, to a remote device. The local electronic device includes a charging station to recharge a rechargeable power supply of the remote devices. The local electronic device detects when at least one remote device is being recharged by the charging station. Based on the detection, the local electronic device selectively enters a low-power mode by disabling one or more circuits to reduce power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Roger A. Fratti, Aaron J. Young, William R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140037973
    Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter is directed generally to a polymeric film that comprises at least one laser imageable marking layer. The marking layer comprises a non-polyolefin component (such as polyamide, polyester, and/or polystyrene) and a photochromatic pigment. It has been discovered that a non-polyolefin film comprising a marking layer formulated with a photochromatic pigment offers a substantial advantage over prior art methods of laser imaging non-polyolefin films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: CRYOVAC, INC.
    Inventors: Rick Merical, Russell Darley, Patrick R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140026517
    Abstract: A fiberglass material contains glass fibers having graphite evenly distributed thereon. The graphite provides a coating that makes the fiberglass material substantially free of static electricity. Suitable graphite content of the fiberglass material is about 0.25 wt % to about 0.50 wt %, or about 0.25 wt % to about 1.0 wt %, or about 0.8 wt % of dry weight of the glass fibers. The graphite used may be synthetic material or natural material substantially free of silica. Other components of the fiberglass material may include de-dusting oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Knauf Insulation GmbH
    Inventors: Ronald A. Houpt, Lawrence R. Thomas, Francis Cloudt, Brandon J. Dalrymple, Matthew W. Revercomb
  • Patent number: 8639622
    Abstract: A computer-implemented data processing system includes a data storage system; and a processor and program logic stored in memory and executable by the processor, the program logic including account management logic coupled to the data storage system and configured to manage accounts respectively associated with a plurality of users, the account management logic including account processing logic configured to process transactions for the accounts and store account data related to the accounts in the data storage device; and budget logic coupled to the account management logic and configured to provide budget data including budget cash flow amounts for a user for cash withdrawals, the cash withdrawals executed via automated teller machines (ATMs). The budget logic enables the user to access and modify the budget data including the budget spending amounts via the ATMs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: Alicia Y. Moore, Michael R. Thomas, Andrew Diggdon, John Maher, Karen Lynne Moore, Yon Wing Lee, Brian Paul McMahon
  • Publication number: 20140002457
    Abstract: Creating a three dimensional user interface. The interface comprising a three dimensional user interface control set in a scene in the interface, wherein the three dimensional user interface control comprises shading based on a virtual light source, a virtual camera, and based on a virtual depth of the three dimensional user interface control relative to the scene, wherein the three dimensional user interface control is a control for triggering an event. The interface further comprising a detector to detect a change in position of the device relative to the virtual light source and the virtual camera. The interface further comprising a rendering module to render the three dimensional user interface control and the scene in a new perspective with a change in the three dimensional effects based on the change in position of the device relative to the virtual light source and the virtual camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Michael L. Swindell, John R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8613902
    Abstract: Hydrogen (“H2”) is produced when ammonia borane reacts with a catalyst complex of the formula LnM-X wherein M is a base metal such as iron, X is an anionic nitrogen- or phosphorus-based ligand or hydride, and L is a neutral ancillary ligand that is a neutral monodentate or polydentate ligand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Charles W. Hamilton, R. Thomas Baker, Troy A. Semelsberger, Roshan P. Shrestha
  • Publication number: 20130313025
    Abstract: The current invention provides a drill pipe of standard weight with an integral wear pad. The drill pipe with integral wear pad provides increased durability while retaining the strength, flexibility, lightweight, and other performance characteristics of standard weight drill pipe. The current invention also provides methods for making a standard weight drill pipe with integral wear pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Thein Htung Aung, Raul G. Garza, Andrew J. Alien, R. Thomas Moore
  • Patent number: 8590720
    Abstract: A framework for support of a tank within the framework includes four corner posts joined by four top rails and four bottom rails together defining a rectangular prism. At least one of the rails includes a forkpocket assembly. The forkpocket assembly includes at least one forkpocket protection plate. The forkpocket protection plate defines a pair of forkpocket tubes configured to receive tines of a forklift. The forkpocket tubes are situated at a vertical forkpocket height selected to be removed from the tank vertical profile of a framework profile. A vertical protection plate extends vertically over a portion of the tank vertical profile of a framework profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Inventor: Terrance R. Thomas, II
  • Patent number: 8584938
    Abstract: A wireless financial transaction instrument, such as a card, has a magnetic stripe, a display, and an on-board power supply, such as a battery, and is usable with a dual capture point of sale terminal. Information is received by such a terminal from the card wirelessly, and also from the magnetic stripe, and the data received contactlessly is preferably used to verify that read from the stripe. The display can display the account number on command, or to display a current balance, or amount of credit remaining, or any combination of these items of information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Bonalle, Mike Donovan, Sherrie G. Jackson, Scott G. Paylor, Medina J. Senghore, Tracey R. Thomas