Patents by Inventor Robert Tower
Robert Tower 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: 20230305922Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling serial attached Non-Volatile (NV) memory are provided. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a computing system including: in an NV Random Access Memory module (NVRAM) having a non-volatile device, a volatile memory device with data, a NV Controller unit (NVC), and a serial host interface, the method includes: receiving a request for data on the serial host interface and providing the requested data, from the volatile memory device with data, on the serial host interface. The method also includes: detecting a disruptive volatile memory event; copying the data of the volatile memory device to the NV device based on the disruptive volatile memory event; and restoring the data of the volatile memory device from the NV device. In this way, Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM) level endurance and speed/latency can be provided while making it NV.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2022Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Robert Tower Frey, Kelvin Marino
-
Patent number: 11663829Abstract: Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Ren, Avishkar Misra, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Liefeng Bo, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Christopher Robert Towers, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Yasser Baseer Asmi
-
Patent number: 11182325Abstract: A deaggregated computing system having a memory centric computing storage controller can transfer data from a source to a destination node while dynamically updating a transfer route between them. The transfer route can be recalculated based on the current conditions of the routing nodes between the source and destination. Recalculating the transfer route can be based on power status, bandwidth, in-use status, current capacity, or failure conditions. The deaggregated computing system can include one or more processor units coupled to one or more storage and memory units all connected by the memory centric computing storage controller that can route control and data packets between the processor units and the storage and memory units. The processor units and the storage units can be connected by a combination of serial data communication links and a data storage fabric network.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Robert Tower Frey
-
Patent number: 11034516Abstract: An item stowed at an inventory location may rest or be supported by a surface, such as a shelf, that includes an optical sensor array. The optical sensor array comprises a plurality of optical sensors that detect light intensity values. When a light source illuminates the item resting on the surface, a footprint or shadow is cast by the item onto the surface. Such a shadow is detected by the light intensity values at the optical sensors in the optical sensor array. Once the shadow is detected, information about the area, shape, and perimeter of the shadow can be determined and saved as footprint data for a single item. Such a process can be performed at intake of the item to the facility and later accessed to determine a quantity of the item on a shelf of a facility.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Navid Shiee, Michel Leonard Goldstein, Ramanathan Palaniappan, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Xiaofeng Ren, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Christopher Robert Towers, Yasser Baseer Asmi
-
Patent number: 10974953Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, embodiments of a material dispenser configured to dispense material while tracking an amount of dispensed material and messaging to a user, in near-real-time, the amount of dispensed materials, a running cost of the dispensed materials, and/or the like. The material dispenser may include one or more weight sensors to track an amount of dispensed material and a display to indicate to a user a running amount of material that has been dispensed and a running cost to the user.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Robert Towers, Sridhar Boyapati, Dilip Kumar, Gianna Lise Puerini, Jason Michael Famularo
-
Patent number: 10789483Abstract: Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2018Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Ren, Avishkar Misra, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Liefeng Bo, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Christopher Robert Towers, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Yasser Baseer Asmi
-
Patent number: 10671856Abstract: Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Ren, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Avishkar Misra, Liefeng Bo, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Christopher Robert Towers, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Yasser Baseer Asmi
-
Patent number: 10551557Abstract: Disclosed optical mounts are resistant to the various stresses that may be experienced by optical display devices. An optical mount is provided with mechanical compliance and resiliency. Such mechanical compliance and resiliency associated with the disclosed optical mounts are intended to absorb thermal and/or mechanical stresses, while protecting and preserving the operational functionality of optical waveguides coupled to the disclosed optical mounts.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Christopher Robert Towers, David Douglas Bohn
-
Patent number: 10384869Abstract: An item stowed at an inventory location may rest on a surface such as a shelf or may be supported above the surface. The item may exhibit a footprint that is representative of a physical perimeter of the item. For example, the footprint may be an edge of a shadow cast by the item. Information about a size and shape of a footprint associated with a particular item may be stored. An optical sensor array may acquire sensor image data indicative of the footprint of one or more of the items stored at an inventory location. A quantity of items at the inventory location may be determined by comparing the sensor image data with the stored data.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Navid Shiee, Michel Leonard Goldstein, Ramanathan Palaniappan, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Xiaofeng Ren, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Christopher Robert Towers, Yasser Baseer Asmi
-
Publication number: 20190196095Abstract: Disclosed optical mounts are resistant to the various stresses that may be experienced by optical display devices. An optical mount is provided with mechanical compliance and resiliency. Such mechanical compliance and resiliency associated with the disclosed optical mounts are intended to absorb thermal and/or mechanical stresses, while protecting and preserving the operational functionality of optical waveguides coupled to the disclosed optical mounts.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2017Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Christopher Robert TOWERS, David Douglas BOHN
-
Patent number: 10169660Abstract: Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Ren, Avishkar Misra, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Liefeng Bo, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Christopher Robert Towers, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Yasser Baseer Asmi
-
Patent number: 10169677Abstract: Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Ren, Liefeng Bo, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Avishkar Misra, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Christopher Robert Towers, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Yasser Baseer Asmi
-
Patent number: 10068139Abstract: Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Ren, Avishkar Misra, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Liefeng Bo, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Christopher Robert Towers, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Yasser Baseer Asmi
-
Patent number: 9996818Abstract: Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2016Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Ren, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Avishkar Misra, Liefeng Bo, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Christopher Robert Towers, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Yasser Baseer Asmi
-
Patent number: 9779016Abstract: An integrated circuit system, and a method of operation thereof, including: a memory unit having a volatile memory device with data and a non-volatile controller unit; a memory unit controller of the non-volatile controller unit for receiving a snoop signal for indicating an error; a non-volatile device of the memory unit for synchronously receiving data of the volatile memory device based on the snoop signal, the data autonomously copied without any intervention from outside the memory unit to prevent loss of the data; and an in-band command received by the memory unit, for autonomously restoring the data to the volatile memory device from the non-volatile device without any intervention from outside the memory unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2013Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jinying Shen, Robert Tower Frey, Kelvin Marino
-
Patent number: 9754634Abstract: A method of manufacture of the memory management system includes: fabricating a dual in-line memory module carrier; mounting a volatile memory device on the dual in-line memory module carrier; mounting a non-volatile memory on the dual in-line memory module carrier on a side opposite the volatile memory device; mounting an uninterruptible power supply on the dual in-line memory module carrier for maintaining a memory module power when a system power input decays; and mounting a controller logic integrated circuit on the dual in-line memory module carrier coupled to the volatile memory device, the non-volatile memory, and the uninterruptible power supply for copying data content of the volatile memory device to the non-volatile memory when the uninterruptible power supply detects the decay of the system power input to a first cross-over level.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2011Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jinying Shen, Robert Tower Frey, Kelvin Marino, Joshua Harris Brooks
-
Patent number: 9684520Abstract: A method for operating a computing system includes: monitoring a central interface for a power event; accessing a high-speed memory for pre-shutdown data; accessing a non-volatile memory during the power event for the pre-shutdown data previously stored on the high-speed memory; selecting a multiplexer for allowing external access to the high-speed memory; and formatting the pre-shutdown data in the non-volatile memory for access through a non-disruptive interface.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2011Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert Tower Frey, Joshua Harris Brooks
-
Publication number: 20130128685Abstract: A method of manufacture of the memory management system includes: fabricating a dual in-line memory module carrier; mounting a volatile memory device on the dual in-line memory module carrier; mounting a non-volatile memory on the dual in-line memory module carrier on a side opposite the volatile memory device; mounting an uninterruptible power supply on the dual in-line memory module carrier for maintaining a memory module power when a system power input decays; and mounting a controller logic integrated circuit on the dual in-line memory module carrier coupled to the volatile memory device, the non-volatile memory, and the uninterruptible power supply for copying data content of the volatile memory device to the non-volatile memory when the uninterruptible power supply detects the decay of the system power input to a first cross-over level.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2011Publication date: May 23, 2013Applicant: SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Jingying Shen, Robert Tower Frey, Kelvin Marino, Joshua Harris Brooks
-
Publication number: 20130103887Abstract: A method for operating a computing system includes: monitoring a central interface for a power event; accessing a high-speed memory for pre-shutdown data; accessing a non-volatile memory during the power event for the pre-shutdown data previously stored on the high-speed memory; selecting a multiplexer for allowing external access to the high-speed memory; and formatting the pre-shutdown data in the non-volatile memory for access through a non-disruptive interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2011Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicant: SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Robert Tower Frey, Joshua Harris Brooks
-
Patent number: 8171170Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments relate to a storage switch including task processing synchronization. In embodiments of the present invention, the packet processing units may generate and store Task Index and Generation Count information that prevents the processing of expired commands or responses. Additionally or alternatively, embodiments of the present invention may further employ timeout sequences to prevent previous instances of a stale task resource from disrupting the current use of the task resource.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2004Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: EMC CorporationInventors: Robert Tower Frey, Chao Zhang