Patents by Inventor Steven Townsend

Steven Townsend 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: 11910985
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention described herein relate to vacuum cleaners. The vacuum cleaners described herein can include a motor, a lid, a collection receptacle, and at least one support member to permit access to the interior of the vacuum cleaner. Also described herein are vacuum cleaners having a motor, a lid, a collection receptacle, and an accessory holder that can be pivotally mounted to the collection receptacle to permit access to the contents thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Lowe's Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Fording, Eduardo Gonzalez, Michael McDermott, Claude E. Reynolds, Jr., James Townsend, Trevor N. Devine, Steven P. Gerstein, Kevin D. Fry
  • Patent number: 7657923
    Abstract: A framework for a security system is described. The framework may be used to track which security engines are available to enforce security policies. A security engine is a software resource that enforces security policies designed to help ensure that a vulnerability of an application or operating system cannot be exploited. The framework may be used to maintain a holistic view of a status of computing devices that a security system is configured to operate with. The framework may enforce security policies uniformly across components of a security system by providing an application program interface. The security system may broker security enforcement events and security policies. By providing these services, the framework presents a unified model for interactions between software components and the security system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Townsend, Thomas Fakes
  • Patent number: 7530093
    Abstract: Techniques for securing applications and operating systems are provided. In an embodiment, the system notifies a user that a security enforcement action is being taken even though the condition prompting the action is detected by a security engine that executes in kernel mode. The security engine enforces security policies that help to ensure that a vulnerability of an application or operating system cannot be exploited. In an embodiment, the security system may solicit input from a user relating to a security enforcement action even though the condition prompting the action is detected by a security engine that executes in kernel mode. Security policies may be defined as sets of rules, each having a condition and an action. The security system thus enables kernel mode components to provide notifications to a user or solicit input from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Anders Samuelsson, Steven Townsend, Thomas Fakes
  • Patent number: 7430760
    Abstract: A programming interface includes a first group of functions related to communicating a new security policy to multiple security engines. Each of the multiple security engines is configured to replace an existing security policy with the new security policy. The programming interface also includes a second group of functions related to communicating an indication of each security engine's readiness to implement the new security policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Townsend, Thomas Fakes
  • Publication number: 20070286032
    Abstract: A computer based digital transcription system employs audio and video inputs of a court proceeding, and stores the digital signals in a memory in the form of distinct file segments of a predetermined time length during each recording session. The computer associates a date and time and a third identifier, such as location, with each distinct file segment. Playback of any desired segment may be effected during recording or at any time afterward; and playback does not interfere with the recording of realtime information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Steven Townsend, Derrill Williams, Neil Jones, Stephen Fewings
  • Publication number: 20060021002
    Abstract: A framework for a security system is described. The framework may be used to track which security engines are available to enforce security policies. A security engine is a software resource that enforces security policies designed to help ensure that a vulnerability of an application or operating system cannot be exploited. The framework may be used to maintain a holistic view of a status of computing devices that a security system is configured to operate with. The framework may enforce security policies uniformly across components of a security system by providing an application program interface. The security system may broker security enforcement events and security policies. By providing these services, the framework presents a unified model for interactions between software components and the security system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Townsend, Thomas Fakes
  • Publication number: 20060005227
    Abstract: Languages for expressing security policies are provided. The languages comprise rules that specify conditions and actions. The rules may be enforced by a security engine when a security enforcement event occurs. The languages support data separation, dynamic evaluation, and ordered rule scope. By separating data from logic, security engines may only need to be updated with a portion of rules that change. With dynamic evaluation, expressions of rules may be evaluated dynamically, such as by querying a database, when a security engine enforces a rule. With ordered rule scope, when a security enforcement event implicates a number of rules simultaneously, the rules may be enforced in a deterministic and logically organized manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Anders Samuelsson, Thomas Fakes, Arindam Chatterjee, Art Shelest, Mark Vayman, Rajesh Dadhia, Saveen Reddy, Shirish Koti, Steven Townsend
  • Publication number: 20050246522
    Abstract: Techniques for securing applications and operating systems are provided. In an embodiment, the system notifies a user that a security enforcement action is being taken even though the condition prompting the action is detected by a security engine that executes in kernel mode. The security engine enforces security policies that help to ensure that a vulnerability of an application or operating system cannot be exploited. In an embodiment, the security system may solicit input from a user relating to a security enforcement action even though the condition prompting the action is detected by a security engine that executes in kernel mode. Security policies may be defined as sets of rules, each having a condition and an action. The security system thus enables kernel mode components to provide notifications to a user or solicit input from the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Anders Samuelsson, Steven Townsend, Thomas Fakes
  • Publication number: 20050125687
    Abstract: A programming interface includes a first group of functions related to communicating a new security policy to multiple security engines. Each of the multiple security engines is configured to replace an existing security policy with the new security policy. The programming interface also includes a second group of functions related to communicating an indication of each security engine's readiness to implement the new security policy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Steven Townsend, Thomas Fakes
  • Patent number: 6234439
    Abstract: An illuminated cup holder assembly (10,10′) generally includes an elongated waveguide (12,12′), a cup holder bottom portion (14,14′), and a cup holder top portion (16,16′). The cup holder bottom portion (14,14′) includes a waveguide support (22,22′) disposed above a base (18,18′), with at least a portion of the waveguide (12,12′) disposed on the waveguide support. The cup holder top portion (16,16′) includes a shield (24,24′) extending over the waveguide (12,12′). This assembly (10,10′) splits the cup holder in two wherein the two pieces (14,14′ and 16,16′) create a pocket to hold the waveguide (12,12′) in place. In other words, the top and bottom portions (14,14′ and 16,16′) sandwich the waveguide (12,12′) into place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Steven Townsend, James Burr Anderson, George Robert Hulse