Patents by Inventor Ralph Neff

Ralph Neff 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: 20070189275
    Abstract: A system and a method connect mobile devices via channels which connect a first terminal and a second terminal. A bearer establishment of the connection is identified by the first terminal and/or the second terminal. The first terminal accesses information to identify the second terminal and/or to select a first codec for data to transmit the data in the first codec between the terminals. The first terminal alternatively chooses a first codec without accessing the information. The data in the first codec is transmitted from the first terminal to the second terminal without an exchange of codec capabilities and/or codec preferences. The second terminal is capable of receiving the data sent in the first codec. Alternatively, the second terminal may be incapable of receiving the data sent in the first codec. The first terminal uses capability and/or preference information received from the second terminal to detect cases whether the second terminal is incapable of receiving the data in the first codec.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Ralph Neff
  • Publication number: 20070011277
    Abstract: A system and a method transmit data in a first codec from a first terminal to a second terminal. The first terminal establishes a connection with the second terminal and/or transmits, transfers and/or sends the data to the second terminal via the connection between the first terminal and the second terminal. The connection between the first terminal and the second terminal has a first channel and/or a second channel to transmit the data from the first terminal to the second terminal. The first terminal transmits the data in a first codec to the second terminal via the first channel and/or the second channel of the connection without receiving capabilities of and/or intentions from the second terminal. The second terminal may be incapable of receiving, of processing, of accepting and/or of displaying the data in the first codec. The capabilities of and/or the intentions from the second terminal is transmitted to the first terminal via the connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Ralph Neff, Ajay Rajagopal, Russell Hayashida, Osama Al-Shaykh
  • Publication number: 20020164279
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a single step sterilization wrapping material suitable for use, as an example, in wrapping surgical instruments and supplies for sterilization, transportation and storage. The material includes separate inner and outer wraps which, unlike previous wraps, are joined to one another. Common wrapping techniques involve wrapping items to be sterilized with two separate sheets of wrap. The present invention provides separate wraps which can be specially engineered to deliver specific properties for each sheet and then joined to one another so as to permit wrapping and opening in a neat single step process which increases efficiency and saves time and money. In special situations the outer wrap can be engineered with increased strength, the inner wrap with increased barrier properties and the inner and outer wraps can be made visually distinct from one another so that improper wrapping or opening is not a problem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Sonya Nicholson Bourne, Nelson McRay, Lavada Campbell Boggs, William Ralph Neff, Charles John Morell, Marsha Lottie Vaughn
  • Patent number: 6406674
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a single step sterilization wrapping material suitable for use, as an example, in wrapping surgical instruments and supplies for sterilization, transportation and storage. The material includes separate inner and outer wraps which, unlike previous wraps, are joined to one another. Common wrapping techniques involve wrapping items to be sterilized with two separate sheets of wrap. The present invention provides separate wraps which can be specially engineered to deliver specific properties for each sheet and then joined to one another so as to permit wrapping and opening in a neat single step process which increases efficiency and saves time and money. In special situations the outer wrap can be engineered with increased strength, the inner wrap with increased barrier properties and the inner and outer wraps can be made visually distinct from one another so that improper wrapping or opening is not a problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Sonya Nicholson Bourne, Nelson McRay, Lavada Campbell Boggs, William Ralph Neff, Charles John Morell, Marsha Lottie Vaughn
  • Patent number: 6159423
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a single step sterilization wrapping material suitable for use, as an example, in wrapping surgical instruments and supplies for sterilization, transportation and storage. The material includes separate inner and outer wraps which, unlike previous wraps, are joined to one another. Common wrapping techniques involve wrapping items to be sterilized with two separate sheets of wrap. The present invention provides separate wraps which can be specially engineered to deliver specific properties for each sheet and then joined to one another so as to permit wrapping and opening in a neat single step process which increases efficiency and saves time and money. In special situations the outer wrap can be engineered with increased strength, the inner wrap with increased barrier properties and the inner and outer wraps can be made visually distinct from one another so that improper wrapping or opening, is not a problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Sonya Nicholson Bourne, Nelson McRay, Lavada Campbell Boggs, William Ralph Neff, Charles John Morell, Marsha Lottie Vaughn
  • Patent number: 5958337
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a single step sterilization wrapping material suitable for use, as an example, in wrapping surgical instruments and supplies for sterilization, transportation and storage. The material includes separate inner and outer wraps which, unlike previous wraps, are joined to one another. Common wrapping techniques involve wrapping items to be sterilized with two separate sheets of wrap. The present invention provides separate wraps which can be specially engineered to deliver specific properties for each sheet and then joined to one another so as to permit wrapping and opening in a neat single step process which increases efficiency and saves time and money. In special situations the outer wrap can be engineered with increased strength, the inner wrap with increased barrier properties and the inner and outer wraps can be made visually distinct from one another so that improper wrapping or opening is not a problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Sonya Nicholson Bourne, Nelson McRay, Lavada Campbell Boggs, William Ralph Neff, Charles John Morell, Marsha Lottie Vaughn
  • Patent number: 5699121
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to compress a video signal uses a motion compensated DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) type approach. However, instead of relying upon a DCT coder to process a motion residual signal, the motion residual signal is processed by a pattern marcher. The pattern marcher identifies regions in the motion residual signal that have not been accurately reproduced on account of image motion. Each of these regions is compared to a set of library patterns in a pattern library. The pattern marcher links each region with a selected library pattern, which accurately characterizes the region. The pattern matcher forms an atom parameter signal characterizing each selected library pattern. The atom parameter signal is transmitted as a compressed version of the video signal. After transmission, the video signal is reconstructed from the atom parameter signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Avideh Zakhor, Ralph Neff
  • Patent number: 5688476
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a single step sterilization wrapping material suitable for use, as an example, in wrapping surgical instruments and supplies for sterilization, transportation and storage. The material includes separate inner and outer wraps which, unlike previous wraps, are joined to one another. Common wrapping techniques involve wrapping items to be sterilized with two separate sheets of wrap. The present invention provides separate wraps which can be specially engineered to deliver specific properties for each sheet and then joined to one another so as to permit wrapping and opening in a neat single step process which increases efficiency and saves time and money. In special situations the outer wrap can be engineered with increased strength, the inner wrap with increased barrier properties and the inner and outer wraps can be made visually distinct from one another so that improper wrapping or opening is not a problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Sonya Nicholson Bourne, Nelson McRay, Lavada Campbell Boggs, William Ralph Neff, Charles John Morell, Marsha Lottie Vaughn