Patents by Inventor Robin Williams
Robin Williams 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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Publication number: 20040109555Abstract: A method and system are provided for improved routing of repair calls in a call center. A call routing system receives a repair call from a calling party and determines if the calling party is a first time caller or a repeat caller based on identification data associated with the calling party. If it is determined that the calling party is a first time caller, the repair call is routed to a first group of customer service assistants. If it is determined that the calling party is a repeat caller, the repair call is routed to a second group of customer service assistants. The calls may be routed based on an input entered into the system by a calling party. The input may be a voice command or a predetermined key on a telephone keypad.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2002Publication date: June 10, 2004Applicant: BellSouth Intellectual PropertyInventor: Robin Williams
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Publication number: 20040060602Abstract: Systems and/or methods divert a fluid that has reached a preset alarm limit from reaching the point of use. The system may include a valve control unit; and a hydraulic unit operably connected to the valve control unit. The hydraulic unit may have first and second valves and plumbing pieces to connect the first and second valves to each other and the fluid system; the first valve being a normally closed valve that directs water from the fluid system to drain when energized; the second valve is a normally open valve that will turn off flow from the fluid system to the pure water distribution system. The methods may include flowing a fluid through a fluid system which includes a flow control system for preventing a fluid that has reached preset alarm limits from reaching the point of use; sensing when the fluid has reached the preset alarm limits; and signaling the opening of the normally closed valve; and the closing of the normally open valve to divert the fluid from the point of use to a drain.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Applicant: Gambro, Inc.Inventors: Stephen M. Mullins, Mark E. Richers, Robin Williams
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Patent number: 6697818Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a multi-tier object-relational database architecture are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a multi-tier database architecture comprises an object-relational database engine as a top tier, one or more domain-specific extension modules as a bottom tier, and one or more universal extension modules as a middle tier. The individual extension modules of the bottom tier operationally connect with the one or more universal extension modules which, themselves, operationally connect with the database engine. The domain-specific extension modules preferably provide such functions as search, index, and retrieval services of images, video, audio, time series, web pages, text, XML, spatial data, etc. The domain-specific extension modules may include one or more IBM DB2 extenders, Oracle data cartridges and/or Informix datablades, although other domain-specific extension modules may be used.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2001Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Chung-Sheng Li, John R. Smith, Yuan-Chi Chang, Anant D. Jhingran, Sriram K. Padmanabhan, Hui-I Hsiao, David Mun-Hien Choy, Jy-Jine James Lin, Gene Y. C. Fuh, Robin Williams, Lawrence D. Bergman
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Patent number: 6695514Abstract: A guide coat is formed on a surface as part of a smoothing operation, eg of a vehicle bodywork, by distributing finely divided particulate material, eg a non-toxic, a water-based black powder paint, over the surface so the material remains on and thus highlights any irregularities on the surface. The material may be wiped onto the surface by an applicator, eg synthetic foam or sponge (7), impregnated with the material. The material may be stored in a container (1) in a loose, finely divided form (2) or in a compact, substantially solid form (9) from which finely divided particles may be removed. The majority of the material is subsequently removed from the surface as the surface is abraded to removed the highlighted irregularities.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2000Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Speedarrive Projects, Ltd.Inventor: Robin William Hills
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Patent number: 6571996Abstract: The apparatus has a first container part within which material for distributing over a surface as a guide coat is held in a substantially loose, finely divided particulate form; a perforated element through which the particulate material can be sprinkled or shaken; and a second container part for receiving an applicator, e.g., in the form of a sponge, on which the particulate material is to be sprinkled or shaken. The apparatus may be provided with the applicator or as a replacement part or “re-fill” for existing apparatus. Particulate material may also be provided for re-charging such apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2002Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Speedarrive Projects, Ltd.Inventor: Robin William Hills
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Patent number: 6548163Abstract: A sealing strip comprising an elongate sealing portion formed of resiliently compressible material such as foam and an elongate attachment portion extending laterally from the sealing portion. The attachment portion is provided with adhesive to affix it to the rear side of a first body panel so that the sealing portion is located in a gap between the panel and an adjacent component so as to seal or mask the gap therebetween. The sealing portion and attachment portion are preferably integrally formed by an extrusion process. The sealing strip has particular application to the sealing of the “B” post gap of a motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Speedarrive Projects Ltd.Inventor: Robin William Hills
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Publication number: 20030018624Abstract: A scalable content management system manages searches from a local content manager and a plurality of remote content managers. A single scalable content manager manages data in a content repository or file system and its associated metadata in the same content repository or in a database, which will greatly simplify both content management logic and client application logic. The system architecture enables users to add scalable content managers as needed, which allows users to easily scale up the scalable content manager system, in both data size and user connection, as business grows. With the present scalable system architecture, a multi-node content management system will appear to be a single content management system to users, providing location transparency.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2001Publication date: January 23, 2003Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hui-I Hsiao, Robin Williams
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Patent number: 6500447Abstract: The present invention provides pH-sensitive micro-capsules, compositions containing them, methods for their preparation and methods for their use.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 1999Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: BASF AktiengesellschaftInventors: Robin William Dexter, Brian Eric Benoff
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Publication number: 20020198891Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a multi-tier object-relational database architecture are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a multi-tier database architecture comprises an object-relational database engine as a top tier, one or more domain-specific extension modules as a bottom tier, and one or more universal extension modules as a middle tier. The individual extension modules of the bottom tier operationally connect with the one or more universal extension modules which, themselves, operationally connect with the database engine. The domain-specific extension modules preferably provide such functions as search, index, and retrieval services of images, video, audio, time series, web pages, text, XML, spatial data, etc. The domain-specific extension modules may include one or more IBM DB2 extenders, Oracle data cartridges and/or Informix datablades, although other domain-specific extension modules may be used.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2001Publication date: December 26, 2002Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Chung-Sheng Li, John R. Smith, Yuan-Chi Chang, Anant D. Jhingran, Sriram K. Padmanabhan, Hui-I Hsiao, David Mun-Hien Choy, Jy-Jine James Lin, Gene Y.C. Fuh, Robin Williams, Lawrence D. Bergman
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Publication number: 20020136589Abstract: The apparatus has a first container part within which material for distributing over a surface as a guide coat is held in a substantially loose, finely divided particulate form; a perforated element through which the particulate material can be sprinkled or shaken; and a second container part for receiving an applicator, e.g., in the form of a sponge, on which the particulate material is to be sprinkled or shaken. The apparatus may be provided with the applicator or as a replacement part or “re-fill” for existing apparatus. Particulate material may also be provided for re-charging such apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2002Publication date: September 26, 2002Inventor: Robin William Hills
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Patent number: 6445296Abstract: A communication system, such as an identification system for use in animal feeding or milking parlors, has a driver (16; 200; 320; 350), which supplies current to an antenna (for example 1; 68; 208; 306; 352). That current causes the antenna to emit power (in the from of a time varying magnetic or electromagnetic field), which energizes a transponder (220) operable to transmit an identification signal (such as an RF signal). The driver and antenna are connected to a parallel inductor, which reduces the total inductance of the load seen by the driver. The antenna may be one of a plurality of antennae, all of which are connected to the same driver. Each antenna is located in a respective stall in a milking or feeding parlors so that the system can identify which animal is in which stall of the parlors at a given time.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1999Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: A.T.L. Agricultural Technology LimitedInventor: Robin William Sadler
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Patent number: 6398440Abstract: The apparatus has a first container part within which material for distributing over a surface as a guide coat is held in a substantially loose, finely divided particulate form; a perforated element through which the particulate material can be sprinkled or shaken; and a second container part for receiving an applicator, e.g., in the form of a sponge, on which the particulate material is to be sprinkled or shaken. The apparatus may be provided with the applicator or as a replacement part or “re-fill” for existing apparatus. Particulate material may also be provided for re-charging such apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2000Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Speedarrive Projects Ltd.Inventor: Robin William Hills
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Patent number: 6086709Abstract: The sealing strip comprises an elongate sealing portion formed of resiliently compressible material such as foam and an elongate attachment portion extending laterally from the sealing portion. The attachment portion is provided with adhesive to affix it to the rear side of a first body panel so that the sealing portion is located in a gap between the panel and an adjacent component so as to seal or mask the gap therebetween. The sealing portion and attachment portion are preferably integrally formed by an extrusion process. The sealing strip has particular application to the sealing of the "B" post gap of a motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1996Date of Patent: July 11, 2000Assignee: Speedarrive Projects Ltd.Inventor: Robin Williams Hills
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Patent number: 6068880Abstract: A guide coat is formed on a surface as part of a smoothing operation, e.g., during vehicle bodywork, by distributing finely divided particulate material, e.g., a non-toxic, water-based black powder paint, over the surface so the material remains on and thus highlights any irregularities on the surface. The material may be wiped onto the surface by an applicator, e.g., synthetic foam or sponge, impregnated with the material. The material may be stored in a container in a loose, finely divided form or in a compact, substantially solid form from which finely divided particles may be removed. The majority of the material is subsequently removed from the surface as the surface is abraded to remove the highlighted irregularities.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1996Date of Patent: May 30, 2000Assignee: Speedarrive Projects Ltd.Inventor: Robin William Hills
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Patent number: 6050886Abstract: A new machine for and method of manufacturing fluted pin fasteners and the pins produces thereby are disclosed which utilize a circular grinding arrangement of a plurality of grinders which grind flutes into a threaded pin. An internally threaded collar threads onto the pin. When the collar engages a surface of a work piece, resistance to further threading increases. When sufficient resistance to threading occurs, the driver deforms the lobes of the collar radially inward toward the axis of the collar. Material of the collar positioned internally from the lobes responds to deformation of the lobes and flows radially inward into the flutes of the pin to lock the collar, pin, and work piece together. The driver then rotates freely, and a joint has been made with a predetermined axial load thereby locking the component parts together.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1998Date of Patent: April 18, 2000Assignee: Fairchild Holding Corp.Inventors: Robin William Elcock, Albert K. Yamamoto, John A. Louw
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Patent number: 6022501Abstract: The present invention provides pH-sensitive microcapsules, compositions containing them, methods for their preparation and methods for their use.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1996Date of Patent: February 8, 2000Assignee: American Cyanamid CompanyInventors: Robin William Dexter, Brian Eric Benoff
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Patent number: 6015351Abstract: A new machine for and method of manufacturing fluted pin fasteners and the pins produced thereby are disclosed which utilize a circular grinding arrangement of a plurality of grinders which grind flutes into a threaded pin. An internally threaded collar threads onto the pin. When the collar engages a surface of a work piece, resistance to further threading increases. When sufficient resistance to threading occurs, the driver deforms the lobes of the collar radially inward toward the axis of the collar. Material of the collar positioned internally from the lobes responds to deformation of the lobes and flows radially inward into the flutes of the pin to lock the collar, pin, and work piece together. The driver then rotates freely, and a joint has been made with a predetermined axial load thereby locking the component parts together.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1998Date of Patent: January 18, 2000Assignee: Fairchild Holding Corp.Inventors: Robin William Elcock, Albert K. Yamamoto, John A. Louw
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Patent number: 5910314Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of microcapsule compositions, methods for using those microcapsule compositions, compositions containing those microcapsule compositions and microcapsules prepared by the process of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 1997Date of Patent: June 8, 1999Assignee: American Cyanamid CompanyInventors: Brian Eric Benoff, Robin William Dexter
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Patent number: 5906537Abstract: A new machine for and method of manufacturing fluted pin fasteners and the pins produced thereby are disclosed which utilize a circular grinding arrangement of a plurality of grinders which grind flutes into a threaded pin. An internally threaded collar threads onto the pin. When the collar engages a surface of a work piece, resistance to further threading increases. When sufficient resistance to threading occurs, the driver deforms the lobes of the collar radially inward toward the axis of the collar. Material of the collar positioned internally from the lobes responds to deformation of the lobes and flows radially inward into the flutes of the pin to lock the collar, pin, and work piece together. The driver then rotates freely, and a joint has been made with a predetermined axial load thereby locking the component parts together.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1997Date of Patent: May 25, 1999Assignee: Fairchild Holding Corp.Inventors: Robin William Elcock, Albert K. Yamamoto, John A. Louw
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Patent number: 5716280Abstract: A new machine for and method of manufacturing fluted pin fasteners and the pins produced thereby are disclosed which utilize a circular grinding arrangement of a plurality of grinders which grind flutes into a threaded pin. An internally threaded collar threads onto the pin. When the collar engages a surface of a work piece, resistance to further threading increases. When sufficient resistance to threading occurs, the driver deforms the lobes of the collar radially inward toward the axis of the collar. Material of the collar positioned internally from the lobes responds to deformation of the lobes and flows radially inward into the flutes of the pin to lock the collar, pin, and work piece together. The driver then rotates freely, and a joint has been made with a predetermined axial load thereby locking the component parts together.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1995Date of Patent: February 10, 1998Assignee: Fairchild Holding Corp.Inventors: Robin William Elcock, Albert K. Yamamoto, John A. Louw