Patents by Inventor Steven A. Wright

Steven A. Wright 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: 8397506
    Abstract: Techniques for generating power are provided. Such techniques involve a thermodynamic system including a housing, a turbine positioned in a turbine cavity of the housing, a compressor positioned in a compressor cavity of the housing, and an alternator positioned in a rotor cavity between the turbine and compressor cavities. The compressor has a high-pressure face facing an inlet of the compressor cavity and a low-pressure face on an opposite side thereof. The alternator has a rotor shaft operatively connected to the turbine and compressor, and is supported in the housing by bearings. Ridges extending from the low-pressure face of the compressor may be provided for balancing thrust across the compressor. Seals may be positioned about the alternator for selectively leaking fluid into the rotor cavity to reduce the temperature therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventors: Steven A. Wright, Robert L. Fuller
  • Publication number: 20130033044
    Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to tuning composition of a fluid mixture in a supercritical Brayton cycle power generation system are described herein. Compounds, such as Alkanes, are selectively added or removed from an operating fluid of the supercritical Brayton cycle power generation system to cause the critical temperature of the fluid to move up or down, depending upon environmental conditions. As efficiency of the supercritical Brayton cycle power generation system is substantially optimized when heat is rejected near the critical temperature of the fluid, dynamically modifying the critical temperature of the fluid based upon sensed environmental conditions improves efficiency of such a system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Steven A. Wright, Paul S. Pickard, Milton E. Vernon, Ross F. Radel
  • Patent number: 8366446
    Abstract: Data from live events is incorporated into virtual simulations and games. The data may be obtained from various sensors and transferred over a network. However, should one of the participants be a threat, then portions of the virtual simulations and games may be disabled to protect the other participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Barrett M. Kreiner, Steven A. Wright
  • Publication number: 20120295678
    Abstract: Data from live events is incorporated into virtual simulations and games. The data may be obtained from various sensors and transferred over a network. However, should one of the participants be a threat, then portions of the virtual simulations and games may be disabled to protect the other participants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Barrett M. Kreiner, Steven A. Wright, Christian Kuhtz
  • Patent number: 8257084
    Abstract: A method and system for providing substantially real-time data into a virtual setting comprises launching a simulation program on a computing device, receiving data gathered from a live event, accessing the data by the computing device and incorporating at least a portion of the accessed data into the simulation program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Barrett M. Kreiner, Steven A. Wright, Christian Kuhtz
  • Patent number: 7933298
    Abstract: Methods and systems for aggregating Ethernet communications are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a first Ethernet port to communicate with a second Ethernet port of a first device, a third Ethernet port to communicate with a fourth Ethernet port of a second device, a fifth Ethernet port to receive Ethernet frames, and a switching portion to direct nth ones of the frames to a first queue associated with the second port, direct n?1 frames preceding each of the nth ones of the frames to a second queue associated with the fourth port, and select a value of n based on a ratio of a first non-zero data rate of the first device for a first communication link in a first direction and a second non-zero data rate of the second device for a second communication link in the first direction, and based on a remaining capacity of the first queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven A. Wright, Thomas Anschutz
  • Publication number: 20100272165
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing asymmetric Ethernet service are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Steven A. Wright, Thomas Anschutz
  • Patent number: 7788081
    Abstract: A method of communicating data from a virtual setting to a real-time communication device includes launching a simulation program on a computing device, activating a communication object within the simulation program, selecting data from the simulation program and submitting the selected data to the real-time communication device over a communication link wherein a communication address is associated with the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Barrett M. Kreiner, Steven A. Wright, Christian Kuhtz
  • Patent number: 7779162
    Abstract: Methods and systems provide an asymmetric Ethernet service. An Ethernet network transports Ethernet frames over an asymmetric connection to a point of service for a subscriber located remotely from the Ethernet network, and the Ethernet connection is asymmetric in that the effective data transfer rates for uploading and downloading of data over the Ethernet connection are different. The subscriber may then have Ethernet capable network devices such as routers and computers linked to the point of service so that data transfer between the network devices of the subscriber and the Ethernet network occurs over the asymmetric Ethernet connection. The Ethernet network allows for communication between the network devices of the subscriber and any desired Ethernet network resources, such as network resources located on the Ethernet network or resources of downstream networks such as the global Internet that are available through the Ethernet network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven A. Wright, Thomas Anschutz
  • Publication number: 20100046401
    Abstract: These exemplary embodiments utilize Sessions Initiation Protocol (SIP) for admission control. The use of the SIP allows a SIP server itself to perform the admission control function. The use of RSVP linkages is reduced. The use of SIP for admission control allows an application to communicate, or “talk,” to a network and to request that resources within the network be reserved. Any communications device that uses sessions may utilize the SIP protocol for admission control. The SIP protocol may be used for unicast and multicast media sessions including video-on-demand and/or multicast video access control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P., f/k/a/ BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Steven A. Wright, Albert Whited, Thomas A. Anschutz, Randy Zimler
  • Publication number: 20100046536
    Abstract: Methods and systems for aggregating Ethernet communications are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a first Ethernet port to communicate with a second Ethernet port of a first device, a third Ethernet port to communicate with a fourth Ethernet port of a second device, a fifth Ethernet port to receive Ethernet frames, and a switching portion to direct nth ones of the frames to a first queue associated with the second port, direct n?1 frames preceding each of the nth ones of the frames to a second queue associated with the fourth port, and select a value of n based on a ratio of a first non-zero data rate of the first device for a first communication link in a first direction and a second non-zero data rate of the second device for a second communication link in the first direction, and based on a remaining capacity of the first queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Steven A. Wright, Thomas Anschutz
  • Publication number: 20100049856
    Abstract: These exemplary embodiments utilize Sessions Initiation Protocol (SIP) for admission control among a plurality of multimedia devices. The use of the SIP allows a SIP server to perform admission control functions. The use of RSVP linkages is reduced. The use of SIP for admission control allows an application to communicate, or “talk,” to a network and other multimedia devices and to request that resources within the network be reserved. Any communications device that uses sessions may utilize the SIP protocol for admission control. The SIP protocol may be used for unicast and multicast media sessions including video-on-demand and/or multicast video access control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. f/k/a BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Steven A. Wright, Albert Whited, Thomas A. Anschutz, Randy Zimler
  • Patent number: 7630412
    Abstract: Methods and systems provide for the aggregation of Ethernet communications. An Ethernet switch communicates with a network device such as a router or a computer over an Ethernet connection and also communicates with two communications devices such as DSL and/or cable modems over Ethernet connections. Thus, the upload and download speeds available for transporting communications to and from the network device result from the upload and download speeds of the two communications devices in aggregate, as opposed to the upload and download speeds of a single communications device. The two communications devices may communicate with two more communications devices such as those of a service provider network that also have Ethernet connections aggregated at an Ethernet switch to provide access to an Ethernet network for a subscriber. Additionally, the Ethernet switching and communications devices may be incorporated into a single Ethernet aggregation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven A. Wright, Thomas Anschutz
  • Patent number: 7630328
    Abstract: These exemplary embodiments utilize Sessions Initiation Protocol (SIP) for admission control. The use of the SIP allows a SIP server itself to perform the admission control function. The use of RSVP linkages is reduced. The use of SIP for admission control allows an application to communicate, or “talk,” to a network and to request that resources within the network be reserved. Any communications device that uses sessions may utilize the SIP protocol for admission control. The SIP protocol may be used for unicast and multicast media sessions including video-on-demand and/or multicast video access control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, I,L.P.
    Inventors: Steven A. Wright, Albert Whited, Thomas A. Anschutz, Randy Zimler
  • Patent number: 7626950
    Abstract: These exemplary embodiments utilize Sessions Initiation Protocol (SIP) for admission control among a plurality of multimedia devices. The use of the SIP allows a SIP server to perform admission control functions. The use of RSVP linkages is reduced. The use of SIP for admission control allows an application to communicate, or “talk,” to a network and other multimedia devices and to request that resources within the network be reserved. Any communications device that uses sessions may utilize the SIP protocol for admission control. The SIP protocol may be used for unicast and multicast media sessions including video-on-demand and/or multicast video access control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, I,L.P.
    Inventors: Steven A. Wright, Albert Whited, Thomas A. Anschutz, Randy Zimler
  • Patent number: 7315538
    Abstract: Methods and systems provide network access service for a subscriber by utilizing multiple asymmetric DSL modems per service point such that the available bandwidth is the aggregation of the multiple asymmetric DSL modems. One asymmetric DSL modem of a service point has a faster upload speed than download speed while another asymmetric DSL modem of the service point has a faster download speed than upload speed. The two asymmetric DSL modems are aggregated together at the service endpoint so that the service endpoint benefits from the upload and download bandwidth available from both asymmetric DSL modems. The two asymmetric DSL modems at one service point communicate with two asymmetric DSL modems aggregated at another service point to complete the exchange of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Wright, Thomas Anschutz
  • Patent number: 7082102
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for policy-based management of a multiprotocol label switching (“MPLS”) network. In an embodiment, a system includes a policy-based network administration system, and the policy-based network administration system includes a plurality of policies. The system also includes an MPLS network, which is coupled to the policy-based network administration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corp.
    Inventor: Steven A. Wright
  • Publication number: 20040188593
    Abstract: A photosensor control unit for use in a lighting module has a plurality of LEDs, a light sensor, and a switch adapted to operably control the plurality of LEDs responsive to the light sensor. The plurality of LEDs are adapted to be mounted in the lighting module, and are configured to produce light having wavelengths within a first range of wavelengths. The light sensor is adapted to be mounted in the lighting module adjacent the plurality of LEDs, and is responsive to light having wavelengths within a second range of wavelengths. The second range of wavelengths is exclusive of the first range of wavelengths. The switch is adapted to operably control the plurality of LEDs responsive to the light sensor such that the plurality of LEDs emit light having wavelengths within the first range of wavelengths responsive to the presence or absence of light within the second range of wavelengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Patrick Mullins, Steven A. Wright
  • Publication number: 20040184272
    Abstract: A disclosed substrate includes an electrically insulating circuit board, a pair of electrical lead pads adapted for mounting a light-emitting diode (LED) on a first surface, and a heat dissipating structure on the first surface. The heat dissipating structure includes an LED thermal pad adapted to abut the LED when mounted on the electrical lead pads, and a heat dissipation region extending from, and thermally coupled to, the LED thermal pad. The substrate also includes a thermally conductive plating on a second surface of the substrate opposite the heat dissipation region. A described lighting assembly includes the substrate, multiple LEDs connected to the electrical lead pads of the substrate, and multiple traces of the substrate connect the LEDs in a series circuit electrically isolated from the heat dissipating structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Steven A. Wright, Patrick Mullins
  • Patent number: 5982945
    Abstract: The image correlation method and apparatus correlates or matches a test image with a template. The image correlation apparatus includes an image processor for partitioning the template into a number of labels, for determining the total number of pixels N.sub.T which form the template and for determining the number of pixels N.sub.i which form each of the labels i. The image correlation apparatus also includes comparison means for comparing the test image to the template. The comparison means determines, for each predetermined gray level j, the number of pixels of the test image N.sub.j,i representative of a predetermined gray level j which correspond to a predetermined label i of the template. The comparison means also determines, for each predetermined gray level j, the number of pixels of the test image N.sub.j representative of a predetermined gray level j which correspond to the template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. Neff, Ted L. Johnson, Steven A. Wright, Victor E. Ratkowski, Jr.