Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Wood

Stephen M. Wood 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).

  • Patent number: 11966560
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an electronic device presents media items from different media applications in a unified media browsing application. In some embodiments, an electronic device facilitates browsing of media from different media applications based on category of media (e.g., movies, television shows, etc.). In some embodiments, an electronic device facilitates setup of a unified media browsing application that presents media items from different media applications in a unified media browsing user interface. In some embodiments, an electronic device displays multiple episodes of a collection of episodic content (e.g., a television series) in a user interface for the collection of episodic content. In some embodiments, an electronic device displays representations of, and provides access to, live-event media items accessible on the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander W. Johnston, Dennis S. Park, Tito Lloyd Balsamo, Jonathan Lochhead, Yesmeen El-Shafey, Graham R. Clarke, Peter D. Anton, Jennifer L. C. Folse, William M. Bachman, Stephen O. Lemay, Gregg Suzuki, Alan C. Dye, Jeff Tan-Ang, Policarpo B. Wood
  • Patent number: 11776285
    Abstract: An authentication method includes receiving, at a processor, a signal representing an image of a serialization code and multiple flecks of a label, the flecks having a random distribution. The processor detects the serialization code and applies a modification to the image to produce a modified image. A subset of flecks of the modified image is detected, and metrics associated with each fleck from the subset of flecks are identified. The identified metrics are compared with metrics associated with a unique signature, and a message is displayed, via a user interface, indicating an authenticity of the label based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Covectra, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Smith, Ronald Ducharme, Abhijeet Bhandari, Stephen M. Wood, Gary Miloscia
  • Publication number: 20220415067
    Abstract: An authentication method includes receiving, at a processor, a signal representing an image of a serialization code and multiple flecks of a label, the flecks having a random distribution. The processor detects the serialization code and applies a modification to the image to produce a modified image. A subset of flecks of the modified image is detected, and metrics associated with each fleck from the subset of flecks are identified. The identified metrics are compared with metrics associated with a unique signature, and a message is displayed, via a user interface, indicating an authenticity of the label based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: Covectra, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard SMITH, Ronald DUCHARME, Abhijeet BHANDARI, Stephen M. WOOD, Gary MILOSCIA
  • Patent number: 11295126
    Abstract: An authentication method includes receiving, at a processor, a signal representing an image of a serialization code and multiple flecks of a label, the flecks having a random distribution. The processor detects the serialization code and applies a modification to the image to produce a modified image. A subset of flecks of the modified image is detected, and metrics associated with each fleck from the subset of flecks are identified. The identified metrics are compared with metrics associated with a unique signature, and a message is displayed, via a user interface, indicating an authenticity of the label based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Covectra, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Smith, Ronald Ducharme, Abhijeet Bhandari, Stephen M. Wood, Gary Miloscia
  • Patent number: 9996840
    Abstract: An item can be authenticated based on a first, second, third, and fourth identifier, wherein the identifiers are incorporated into various parts of product packaging. In some embodiments, the first, second, and fourth identifiers can be a QR code, a bar code, a serial number, any RFID tag, or a combination thereof, and the third identifier can be an image type, for example, a type of animal, and image location, for example, a quadrant. The identifiers can be scanned or inputted manually by a user. When the four identifiers are authenticated, the product is deemed to be authentic, whereas when the four identifiers are not authenticated, the product is deemed to be counterfeit. In some implementations, a user can authenticate the items using a smart phone, smart phone app, tablet, tablet app, website, web-based application, and/or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Covectra, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Wood, Richard Smith, Terrence P. O'Neill, Ronald Guido
  • Publication number: 20170330198
    Abstract: An item can be authenticated based on a first, second, third, and fourth identifier, wherein the identifiers are incorporated into various parts of product packaging. In some embodiments, the first, second, and fourth identifiers can be a QR code, a bar code, a serial number, any RFID tag, or a combination thereof, and the third identifier can be an image type, for example, a type of animal, and image location, for example, a quadrant. The identifiers can be scanned or inputted manually by a user. When the four identifiers are authenticated, the product is deemed to be authentic, whereas when the four identifiers are not authenticated, the product is deemed to be counterfeit. In some implementations, a user can authenticate the items using a smart phone, smart phone app, tablet, tablet app, website, web-based application, and/or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen M. Wood, Richard Smith, Terrence P. O'Neill, Ronald Guido
  • Patent number: 9697526
    Abstract: An item can be authenticated based on a first, second, third, and fourth identifier, wherein the identifiers are incorporated into various parts of product packaging. In some embodiments, the first, second, and fourth identifiers can be a QR code, a bar code, a serial number, any RFID tag, or a combination thereof, and the third identifier can be an image type, for example, a type of animal, and image location, for example, a quadrant. The identifiers can be scanned or inputted manually by a user. When the four identifiers are authenticated, the product is deemed to be authentic, whereas when the four identifiers are not authenticated, the product is deemed to be counterfeit. In some implementations, a user can authenticate the items using a smart phone, smart phone app, tablet, tablet app, website, web-based application, and/or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Covectra, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Wood, Richard Smith, Terrence P. O'Neill, Ronald Guido
  • Patent number: 9233400
    Abstract: In some embodiments, aggregated serialized goods may be loaded into the serialization/aggregation system via a conveyor, and the aggregated serialized goods may be scanned and authenticated. The aggregated serialized goods that are determined to be authentic may be diverted to at least one aggregation line, where the aggregated serialized goods may be bundled. The serialization/aggregation system may be adjustable, and may be easily converted to accept items of various shapes and sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Covectra, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Smith, Stephen M. Wood
  • Publication number: 20150076218
    Abstract: An item can be authenticated based on a first, second, third, and fourth identifier, wherein the identifiers are incorporated into various parts of product packaging. In some embodiments, the first, second, and fourth identifiers can be a QR code, a bar code, a serial number, any RFID tag, or a combination thereof, and the third identifier can be an image type, for example, a type of animal, and image location, for example, a quadrant. The identifiers can be scanned or inputted manually by a user. When the four identifiers are authenticated, the product is deemed to be authentic, whereas when the four identifiers are not authenticated, the product is deemed to be counterfeit. In some implementations, a user can authenticate the items using a smart phone, smart phone app, tablet, tablet app, website, web-based application, and/or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Stephen M. Wood, Richard Smith, Terrence P. O'Neill, Ronald Guido
  • Publication number: 20150053755
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying, tracking, tracing and determining the authenticity of a good are described herein. In some embodiments, a system includes an imaging system, a database, and an authentication center. The imaging system is configured to capture an image of a unique signature associated with a good at the good's origin. The unique signature can be, for example, a random structure or pattern unique to the particular good. The imaging system is configured to process the image of the good to identify at least one metric that distinguishes the unique signature from unique signatures of other goods. The database is configured to receive information related to the good and its unique signature from the imaging system, and is configured to store the information therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Stephen M. Wood, Richard Smith, David Bear, George Kechter, Conor O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20140360924
    Abstract: In some embodiments, aggregated serialized goods may be loaded into the serialization/aggregation system via a conveyor, and the aggregated serialized goods may be scanned and authenticated. The aggregated serialized goods that are determined to be authentic may be diverted to at least one aggregation line, where the aggregated serialized goods may be bundled. The serialization/aggregation system may be adjustable, and may be easily converted to accept items of various shapes and sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Richard Smith, Stephen M. Wood
  • Patent number: 8908920
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying, tracking, tracing and determining the authenticity of a good are described herein. In some embodiments, a system includes an imaging system, a database, and an authentication center. The imaging system is configured to capture an image of a unique signature associated with a good at the good's origin. The unique signature can be, for example, a random structure or pattern unique to the particular good. The imaging system is configured to process the image of the good to identify at least one metric that distinguishes the unique signature from unique signatures of other goods. The database is configured to receive information related to the good and its unique signature from the imaging system; and is configured to store the information therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Covectra, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Wood, Richard Smith, David Bear, George Kechter, Conor O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20130284803
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying, tracking, tracing and determining the authenticity of a good are described herein. In some embodiments, a system includes an imaging system, a database, and an authentication center. The imaging system is configured to capture an image of a unique signature associated with a good at the good's origin. The unique signature can be, for example, a random structure or pattern unique to the particular good. The imaging system is configured to process the image of the good to identify at least one metric that distinguishes the unique signature from unique signatures of other goods. The database is configured to receive information related to the good and its unique signature from the imaging system; and is configured to store the information therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen M. Wood, Richard Smith, David Bear, George Kechter, Conor O'Neill
  • Patent number: 8488842
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying, tracking, tracing and determining the authenticity of a good include an imaging system, a database, and an authentication center. The imaging system is configured to capture an image of a unique signature associated with a good. The unique signature can be, for example, a random structure or pattern unique to the particular good. The imaging system is configured to process the image to identify at least one metric that distinguishes the unique signature from unique signatures of other goods. The database is configured to receive information related to the good and its unique signature from the imaging system, and to store the information therein. The authentication center is configured to analyze the field image with respect to the information stored in the database to determine whether the unique signature in the field image is a match to the captured image stored in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Covectra, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Wood, Richard Smith, David Bear, George Kechter, Conor O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20130022238
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying, tracking, tracing and determining the authenticity of a good include an imaging system, a database, and an authentication center. The imaging system is configured to capture an image of a unique signature associated with a good. The unique signature can be, for example, a random structure or pattern unique to the particular good. The imaging system is configured to process the image to identify at least one metric that distinguishes the unique signature from unique signatures of other goods. The database is configured to receive information related to the good and its unique signature from the imaging system, and to store the information therein. The authentication center is configured to analyze the field image with respect to the information stored in the database to determine whether the unique signature in the field image is a match to the captured image stored in the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Covectra, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Wood, Richard Smith, David Bear, George Kechter, Conor O'Neill
  • Patent number: 8076524
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing olefin comonomers from ethylene. The comonomer generated can be used in a subsequent process, such as a polyethylene polymerization reactor. The comonomer generated can be transported, optionally without isolation or storage, to a polyethylene polymerization reactor. One method includes the steps of: feeding ethylene and a catalyst in a solvent/diluent to one or more comonomer synthesis reactors; reacting the ethylene and the catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to produce an effluent comprising a desired comonomer; forming a gas stream comprising unreacted ethylene, and a liquid/bottoms stream comprising the comonomer, optionally by passing the effluent to one or more downstream gas/liquid phase separators; and purifying at least a portion of said liquid/bottoms stream by removing at least one of solid polymer, catalyst, and undesirable olefins therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Lattner, John F. Walzer, Jr., Krishnan Sankaranarayanan, John Scott Buchanan, Milind Bholanath Ajinkya, Stephen M Wood, Anastasios I Skoulidas, Jay L Reimers, Timothy Daniel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 8003839
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an in-line method for generating comonomer, from monomer, such as ethylene. The comonomer generated is stored prior to transporting to a polyethylene polymerization reactor. The in-line method includes the steps of providing an in-line comonomer synthesis reactor and a downstream gas/liquid phase separator prior to the polymerization reactor; feeding ethylene monomer and a catalyst in a solvent and/or diluent to the comonomer synthesis reactor; reacting the ethylene monomer and the catalyst in solvent and/or diluent under reaction conditions to produce an effluent stream including ethylene monomer and comonomer; passing the effluent stream from the comonomer synthesis reactor to the downstream gas/liquid phase separator to separate a gas stream from a bottom stream, wherein the gas stream is a mixture of ethylene monomer and comonomer; and passing the gas stream to the polymerization reactor to provide the necessary comonomer input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: John Scott Buchanan, Krishnan Sankaranarayanan, Milind B. Ajinkya, Stephen M. Wood, Anastasios I. Skoulidas, James R. Lattner, John F. Walzer
  • Patent number: 7858833
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing linear alpha olefin comonomers, such as 1-butene, 1-hexene or 1-octene, from ethylene monomer. The comonomer generated is stored on site for use in a subsequent process, such as a polyethylene polymerization reactor. The method includes the steps of feeding an ethylene monomer, and a catalyst in a solvent to one or more comonomer synthesis reactors; reacting the ethylene monomer and the catalyst in solvent under reaction conditions to produce an effluent stream comprising unreacted ethylene monomer, a catalyst in a solvent, and comonomer; passing the effluent stream to one or more downstream gas/liquid phase separators to form a gas stream of unreacted ethylene monomer, and a liquid stream of comonomer, and catalyst in a solvent; recycling to the one or more comonomer synthesis reactors the unreacted ethylene monomer and a portion of the liquid stream; and storing a remaining portion of said liquid stream for subsequent processing of the comonomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Buchanan, Krishnan Sankaranarayanan, Milind B. Ajinkya, Stephen M. Wood, Anastasios Skoulidas
  • Publication number: 20070185360
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an in-line method for generating comonomer, from monomer, such as ethylene. The comonomer generated is directly transported, without isolation or storage, to a polyethylene polymerization reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: John Scott Buchanan, Krishnan Sankaranarayanan, Milind B. Ajinkya, Stephen M. Wood, Anastasios I. Skoulidas, James R. Lattner, John F. Walzer