Patents by Inventor Robert J. Howard
Robert J. Howard 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).
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Patent number: 10216734Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for constructing a complementary calendar and/or a shadow calendar. A user may maintain a primary calendar within which the user may schedule user specified tasks and/or meetings, but may inadvertently omit other entries. Accordingly, a complementary calendar may be constructed based upon inferences derived from user signal data (e.g., information used to identify/infer activities of the user, such as social network profile information, messages, temporal information, locational information, documents, etc.). The complementary calendar may be automatically populated with entries corresponding to inferences derived from user signals and/or real-time conditions (e.g., weather, store hours, traffic conditions, etc.). The primary calendar and the complementary calendar may be merged to create a shadow calendar.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2018Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Shira Weinberg, Haim Somech, Scott Vernon Fynn, Uri Barash, Colleen Elizabeth Hamilton, Robert J. Howard, III
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Publication number: 20180373707Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for constructing a complementary calendar and/or a shadow calendar. A user may maintain a primary calendar within which the user may schedule user specified tasks and/or meetings, but may inadvertently omit other entries. Accordingly, a complementary calendar may be constructed based upon inferences derived from user signal data (e.g., information used to identify/infer activities of the user, such as social network profile information, messages, temporal information, locational information, documents, etc.). The complementary calendar may be automatically populated with entries corresponding to inferences derived from user signals and/or real-time conditions (e.g., weather, store hours, traffic conditions, etc.). The primary calendar and the complementary calendar may be merged to create a shadow calendar.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Shira Weinberg, Haim Somech, Scott Vernon Fynn, Uri Barash, Colleen Elizabeth Hamilton, Robert J. Howard, III
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Patent number: 10089310Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for constructing a complementary calendar and/or a shadow calendar. A user may maintain a primary calendar within which the user may schedule user specified tasks and/or meetings, but may inadvertently omit other entries. Accordingly, a complementary calendar may be constructed based upon inferences derived from user signal data (e.g., information used to identify/infer activities of the user, such as social network profile information, messages, temporal information, locational information, documents, etc.). The complementary calendar may be automatically populated with entries corresponding to inferences derived from user signals and/or real-time conditions (e.g., weather, store hours, traffic conditions, etc.). The primary calendar and the complementary calendar may be merged to create a shadow calendar.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Shira Weinberg, Haim Somech, Scott Vernon Fynn, Uri Barash, Colleen Elizabeth Hamilton, Robert J. Howard, III
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Publication number: 20170286133Abstract: In embodiments of one step task completion, a computing system includes memory to maintain metadata associated with information that corresponds to a user, where the information is then determinable with a contextual search based on the metadata. The information corresponding to a user can be determined and tagged with the metadata, such as information associated with a user account and/or activity of the user. The computing system includes a personal assistant application that is implemented to receive a request as a one step directive to locate the information and perform an action designated for the information. The personal assistant application can then locate the information based on the metadata, and perform the action designated for the information.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2016Publication date: October 5, 2017Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Amy Harilal Rambhia, Robert J. Howard, III, Joseph Spencer King
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Patent number: 9514748Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are described for implementing a digital personal assistant. The digital personal assistant is capable of determining that a user has asked a question or made a statement that is intended to engage with a persona of the digital personal assistant. In response to determining that the user has asked such a question or made such a statement, the digital personal assistant provides a response thereto by displaying or playing back a multimedia object associated with a popular culture reference within or by a user interface of the digital personal assistant. Additionally or alternatively, in response to determining that the user has asked such a question or made such a statement, the digital personal assistant provides the response thereto by generating or playing back speech that comprises an impersonation of a voice of a person associated with the popular culture reference.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Mouni Reddy, Robert J. Howard, III, Deborah B. Harrison, Sogol Malekzadeh
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Patent number: 9388798Abstract: A heat exchanger module for thermally coupling a first fluid and second fluid is disclosed. The heat exchanger module comprises a plurality of heat exchangers, each of which is fluidically coupled to a common seawater inlet and a common seawater outlet. The heat exchanger module is dimensioned and arranged for integrating with an OTEC system located on an offshore platform that is deployed in a body of water. The heat exchanger module physically and fluidically couples with ports included in pontoons attached to the offshore platform. The ports are individually controllable so that the module can be added or removed from the OTEC system without interrupting operation of other heat exchanger modules integrated with the OTEC system.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2011Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Natalie B. Levings, Eugene C. Jansen, Jared D. Gilbert, Nicholas J. Nagurny, Robert J. Howard, Stephen L. Bailey
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Publication number: 20150199649Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for constructing a complementary calendar and/or a shadow calendar. A user may maintain a primary calendar within which the user may schedule user specified tasks and/or meetings, but may inadvertently omit other entries. Accordingly, a complementary calendar may be constructed based upon inferences derived from user signal data (e.g., information used to identify/infer activities of the user, such as social network profile information, messages, temporal information, locational information, documents, etc.). The complementary calendar may be automatically populated with entries corresponding to inferences derived from user signals and/or real-time conditions (e.g., weather, store hours, traffic conditions, etc.). The primary calendar and the complementary calendar may be merged to create a shadow calendar.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2014Publication date: July 16, 2015Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Shira Weinberg, Haim Somech, Scott Vernon Fynn, Uri Barash, Colleen Elizabeth Hamilton, Robert J. Howard, III
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Publication number: 20150199967Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are described for implementing a digital personal assistant. The digital personal assistant is capable of determining that a user has asked a question or made a statement that is intended to engage with a persona of the digital personal assistant. In response to determining that the user has asked such a question or made such a statement, the digital personal assistant provides a response thereto by displaying or playing back a multimedia object associated with a popular culture reference within or by a user interface of the digital personal assistant. Additionally or alternatively, in response to determining that the user has asked such a question or made such a statement, the digital personal assistant provides the response thereto by generating or playing back speech that comprises an impersonation of a voice of a person associated with the popular culture reference.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2014Publication date: July 16, 2015Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Mouni Reddy, Robert J. Howard, III, Deborah B. Harrison, Sogol Malekzadeh
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Patent number: 8776538Abstract: A pontoon that includes infrastructure for fluidically coupling a heat exchanger or heat exchanger module into each of the seawater and working-fluid distribution systems of an OTEC power generation system is provided. In some embodiments, a pontoon comprises: (1) a first passage for conveying seawater between a first port and a second port at which a heat exchanger module can be connected; and (2) a conduit and connectors for connecting the heat exchanger module and the working fluid circulation system—even while the heat exchanger module is submerged. In some embodiments, pontoons in accordance with the present invention enable heat exchangers or heat exchanger modules to be added or removed to an OTEC system without disrupting the operation of other heat exchangers or heat exchanger modules in use in the OTEC system.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Nicholas J. Nagurny, Eugene C. Jansen, Natalie B. Levings, Stephen L. Bailey, Robert J. Howard
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Patent number: 8540012Abstract: A heat exchanger and a method for fabricating the heat exchanger are disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger core that is formed from a plurality of stacked aluminum panels that are joined together via friction stir welding. Each panel in the core is formed from at least two aluminum extrusions that are joined to one another via friction stir welding.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2009Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Nicholas J. Nagurny, Natalie B. Levings, Derek M. Beckner, Michael R. Eller, Patrick D. Grandelli, Joe Van Ryzin, Eliot Goldstein, Randy J. Brown, Leslie D. Kramer, Robert J. Howard
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Patent number: 8267033Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing and a ballast disposed within the housing. The ballast is adapted to receive, store and expel a fluid. A bladder is operatively coupled to the ballast wherein an increase in the volume of the bladder causes a decrease in the free volume of the ballast available for the storage of the fluid therewithin and a decrease in the volume of the bladder causes an increase in the free volume of the ballast available for the storage of the fluid therewithin. A heat exchanger has a heat exchange duct thermally coupled to the bladder and is adapted to receive a fluid from outside the housing. The bladder is configured to receive a clathrate.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2009Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Matthew Herbek, Matthew B. Ascari, John W. Rapp, Robert J. Howard
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Publication number: 20120125561Abstract: A heat exchanger module for thermally coupling a first fluid and second fluid is disclosed. The heat exchanger module comprises a plurality of heat exchangers, each of which is fluidically coupled to a common seawater inlet and a common seawater outlet. The heat exchanger module is dimensioned and arranged for integrating with an OTEC system located on an offshore platform that is deployed in a body of water. The heat exchanger module physically and fluidically couples with ports included in pontoons attached to the offshore platform. The ports are individually controllable so that the module can be added or removed from the OTEC system without interrupting operation of other heat exchanger modules integrated with the OTEC system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2011Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventors: Natalie B. Levings, Eugene C. Jansen, Jared D. Gilbert, Nicholas J. Nagurny, Robert J. Howard, Stephen L. Bailey
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Publication number: 20120080164Abstract: A pontoon that includes infrastructure for fluidically coupling a heat exchanger or heat exchanger module into each of the seawater and working-fluid distribution systems of an OTEC power generation system is provided. In some embodiments, a pontoon comprises: (1) a first passage for conveying seawater between a first port and a second port at which a heat exchanger module can be connected; and (2) a conduit and connectors for connecting the heat exchanger module and the working fluid circulation system—even while the heat exchanger module is submerged. In some embodiments, pontoons in accordance with the present invention enable heat exchangers or heat exchanger modules to be added or removed to an OTEC system without disrupting the operation of other heat exchangers or heat exchanger modules in use in the OTEC system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2011Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Nicholas J. Nagurny, Eugene C. Jansen, Natalie B. Levings, Stephen L. Bailey, Robert J. Howard
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Patent number: 8132525Abstract: A water navigable vessel or glider can transport cargo across oceans and other bodies of water without the use of fossil or nuclear fuels. The vessel includes a housing, a cargo or payload area within the housing, one or more control fins attached to the housing, a ballast within the housing, an expandable and contractible container configured to receive a clathrate and maintain a minimum amount of pressure on the clathrate within the housing in proximity to the ballast, and an intake valve coupled to the ballast. The clathrate changes state, thereby changing the buoyancy of the glider, and causing the glider to move through the body of water.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2009Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Matthew Herbek, Robert Dietzen, Braden Powell, Sean Day, Kenneth Blanchette, Matthew Gries, Matthew B. Ascari, John W. Rapp, Robert J. Howard
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Publication number: 20120015567Abstract: A water navigable vessel or glider can transport cargo across oceans and other bodies of water without the use of fossil or nuclear fuels. The vessel includes a housing, a cargo or payload area within the housing, one or more control fins attached to the housing, a ballast within the housing, an expandable and contractible container configured to receive a clathrate and maintain a minimum amount of pressure on the clathrate within the housing in proximity to the ballast, and an intake valve coupled to the ballast. The clathrate changes state, thereby changing the buoyancy of the glider, and causing the glider to move through the body of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2009Publication date: January 19, 2012Applicant: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Matthew Herbek, Robert Dietzen, Braden Powell, Sean Day, Kenneth Blanchette, Matthew Gries, Matthew B. Ascari, John W. Rapp, Robert J. Howard
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Patent number: 8064291Abstract: An embodiment of device for generating an acoustic signal in a fluid includes an engine operable to repeat a thermodynamic process to vibrate a membrane of the engine to generate an acoustic signal having more than one period. The thermodynamic process includes heating mass inside a chamber of an engine to generate pressure inside the chamber; in response to generating the pressure, moving in a first direction a portion of a membrane of the engine; removing mass from inside the chamber to decrease the pressure inside the chamber; and in response to decreasing the pressure inside the chamber, moving the membrane portion in a second direction. Because the engine repeats the thermodynamic process, the engine can generate and sustain an acoustic signal for a significant amount of time.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: John Rapp, Nicholas John Nagurny, Curry Farrior, Robert J. Howard
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Patent number: 8050138Abstract: A ballistic-acoustic transducer system includes a processor and one or more acoustic sensors. The sensors are positioned in a body of water and are in communication with the processor. The system is configured such that acoustic energy generated by a non-explosive projectile as it impacts the water, enters the water, and sinks through the water, is sensed by the one or more acoustic sensors, and the processor is configured to process the acoustic energy sensed by the one or more acoustic sensors.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2009Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Robert J. Howard, Antonio Paulic, John W. Rapp
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Publication number: 20110226176Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing and a ballast disposed within the housing. The ballast is adapted to receive, store and expel a fluid. A bladder is operatively coupled to the ballast wherein an increase in the volume of the bladder causes a decrease in the free volume of the ballast available for the storage of the fluid therewithin and a decrease in the volume of the bladder causes an increase in the free volume of the ballast available for the storage of the fluid therewithin. A heat exchanger has a heat exchange duct thermally coupled to the bladder and is adapted to receive a fluid from outside the housing. The bladder is configured to receive a clathrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2009Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventors: Matthew Herbek, Matthew B. Ascari, John W. Rapp, Robert J. Howard
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Patent number: 7984581Abstract: An unguided projectile-accelerator system includes an enclosure, first and second charges, first and second projectiles, and a recoil-absorbing mechanism. The enclosure has an open first end and a closed second end, and the first and second charges are disposed within the enclosure. The first projectile is disposed within the enclosure between the first charge and the first end and is operable to exit the enclosure via the first end and to generate a first recoil in response to detonation of the first charge. The second projectile is disposed within the enclosure between the first charge and the second charge and is operable to exit the enclosure via the first end and to generate a second recoil in response to detonation of the second charge. The recoil-absorbing mechanism is disposed adjacent to the enclosure and is operable to absorb at least a respective portion of each of the first and second recoil.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2008Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: John W. Rapp, Robert J. Howard
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Patent number: 7944776Abstract: An embodiment of a device for generating an acoustic signal in a fluid includes an engine operable to repeat a thermodynamic process to vibrate a membrane of the engine to generate an acoustic signal having more than one period. The thermodynamic process includes heating mass inside a chamber of an engine to generate pressure inside the chamber; in response to generating the pressure, moving in a first direction a portion of a membrane of the engine; removing mass from inside the chamber to decrease the pressure inside the chamber; and in response to decreasing the pressure inside the chamber, moving the membrane portion in a second direction. Because the engine repeats the thermodynamic process, the engine may generate and sustain an acoustic signal for a significant amount of time.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: John Rapp, Nicholas John Nagurny, Curry Farrior, Robert J. Howard