Patents by Inventor Steven Williams

Steven 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).

  • Patent number: 8769072
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying Foundation Fieldbus linking devices are described. A pair of redundant Foundation Fieldbus linking devices may be identified by a gateway device that includes one or more computers. A single virtual address representative of the pair of redundant linking devices may then be determined by the gateway device, and information associated with operation of at least one of the pair of redundant linking devices may be provided by the gateway device to an external system. During the provision of information to the external system, the virtual address may be utilized to represent the at least one linking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven William Smith, William Robert Pettigrew
  • Publication number: 20140180198
    Abstract: A fail-safe insufflation device having a thermal cutoff for interrupting power to an electrical heater to prevent overheating of insufflation gas wherein the thermal cutoff operates independent of a temperature control system to provide electrical shutdown of an electrical heater in response to a hostile temperature condition of the insufflation gas or a hostile temperature condition proximate the electrical heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Douglas E. Ott, Steven Williams, Nathaniel Tran
  • Patent number: 8762528
    Abstract: Systems and methods for write protecting Foundation Fieldbus linking devices are described. A message output by an external system for communication to a Foundation Fieldbus linking device may be received by a gateway device. The linking device may be identified by a virtual address included in the received message. The gateway device may determine whether the message includes a command to write data to the linking device or a Foundation Fieldbus device connected to the linking device. If it is determined that the message does not include a command to write data, then the gateway device may direct communication of the message to the linking device. If, however, it is determined that the message includes a command to write data, the gateway device may generate an exception for preventing the requested write operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven William Smith, William Robert Pettigrew
  • Patent number: 8762405
    Abstract: One or more computing devices may be configured to determine an association between at least a first user and a second user based at least on search behavior of the first user and/or the second user. Responsive to the determining, the one or more computing devices may enable a communication forum between the first user and the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Qian, Steven William Macbeth
  • Publication number: 20140162688
    Abstract: Techniques are provided that may be implemented in various methods, apparatuses and articles of manufacture for use by one or more electronic devices to support proximity services for a mobile device. In an example implementation, a computing device may determine whether a first mobile device and a second mobile device are each operatively provisioned to make use of a common proximity service, use a first procedure to determine whether a state of near proximity exists between at least two mobile devices, use a second procedure to determine whether a state of proximity exists between the at least two mobile devices, and initiate notification of a user and/or an application of at least one of the mobile devices in response to one or more of such determinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Steven William Edge
  • Publication number: 20140162687
    Abstract: Techniques are provided to support proximity services for a mobile device. In an example implementation, an electronic device may determine whether a first mobile device and a second mobile device are each operatively provisioned to make use of a common proximity service, and determine whether a state of proximity between the first and second mobile devices is expected to occur at a future time based at least in part on a current or past motion state of at least one of the mobile devices, and/or a historic behavior of at least one of the mobile devices, and/or an identification that the mobile devices are in a common venue. The electronic device may initiate notification of a user and/or an application of at least one of the mobile devices that a state of proximity with the other mobile device has occurred or will occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Steven William Edge
  • Patent number: 8730054
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an industrial process control system includes a field device configured to provide an alert. The process control system also includes a graphical user interface configured to present an alarm for the alert, and an alarm server comprising a processor and configured to associate an alarm class with the alert. The alarm class includes a plurality of alarm attributes having a respective plurality of values, and the graphical user interface is configured to present the alarm for the alert based on the plurality of alarm attributes and the respective plurality of values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Michael Karaffa, Johnny Stephen Downor, Steven William Smith
  • Patent number: 8713166
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating communication with Foundation Fieldbus linking devices are described. A plurality of Foundation Fieldbus linking devices may be identified by a gateway device that includes one or more computers. A single virtual address representative of the plurality of linking devices may be determined by the gateway device. Communications between the plurality of linking devices and an external system may the be facilitated by the gateway device, and the virtual address may be utilized to represent the plurality of linking devices to the external system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven William Smith, William Robert Pettigrew
  • Publication number: 20140114330
    Abstract: An assembly includes a flexible fixation member, a suture, and a delivery device. The flexible fixation member includes a body with two terminal ends. A suture passes through the flexible fixation member at various points along a length of the body such that portions of the fixation member are slidable relative to the suture and configurable to form a cluster within a surgical site. The delivery device includes a tubular member, an elongated inserter, and a trigger. The elongated inserter is slidably disposed within the tubular member. The inserter has a forked distal end configured to receive a portion of the flexible fixation member and the suture. The trigger is finger-engagable and fixedly coupled to the proximal end of the inserter. It is configured to advance and retract the inserter relative to the tubular member. The trigger includes a retention member for retaining a proximal end portion of the suture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
    Inventors: Geoffrey I. Karasic, Brett A. McKenzie, Steven William Astorino, Richard M. Lunn, Matthew Edwin Koski, Tatsuya Arai, Mark Edwin Housman, Roland F. Gatturna
  • Patent number: 8707024
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide identity management security domains that may be used in an enterprise security system. A security domain provides a centralized registry of services provided by the enterprise security system. For example, certificate authorities and other services, such as key archives, and the like, in the enterprise security system may register information about themselves in the security domain. Authorized users can then discover the location of these services. In some embodiments, the security domain may provide an interface that indicates a topology between services of the enterprise security system. The security domain may also serve as a distribution point for security policies. A security policy may comprise information that indicates, for example, a set of trusted certificate authorities, certificate templates, certificate revocation lists, and the locations of the services in the enterprise security system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Nang Kon Kwan, Chandrasekar Kannan, Shuk Yee Ho, Steven William Parkinson
  • Publication number: 20140104827
    Abstract: Inventive methods and apparatus for an optical assembly for a lighting fixture are disclosed. The optical assembly includes a lens (20A, 20B) having an interior face and an optical film (40A, 40B) provided atop the interior face of the lens. A deformable structure may be positioned adjacent the optical film (40A, 40B) and exert force on the optical film (40A, 40B), thereby compressing the optical film (40A, 40B) against the lens (20A, 20B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Steven William Johns, Zoltan Mezo
  • Patent number: 8696563
    Abstract: The present invention comprises devices and methods that, in certain embodiments, provide a lighted cup, ring or cap that comprises a customizable size and fit, for use in hysterectomy procedures, whereby the ring or cup engages the vaginal fornix and is covered by the vaginal cervical tissue. The lighting allows the surgeon to visualize the location of the lighted cup, ring or cap, thereby quickly and accurately identifying the incision site while providing protection of the associated vasculature and the ureters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Lexion Medical, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Williams, Douglas Ott
  • Patent number: 8696063
    Abstract: A car seat including a base unit securable to the seat of a car and a seat unit mounted to the base unit. First and second pivot mechanisms are provided on opposite sides of the car seat. A release mechanism provided on each of the first and second pivot mechanisms to disengage the first portion of the pivot mechanism from the second portion of the pivot mechanism. When the first portion of the first pivot mechanism is disengaged from the second portion of the first pivot mechanism, the seat unit pivots relative to the base unit about the second pivot mechanism. When the first portion of the second pivot mechanism is disengaged from the second portion of the second pivot mechanism, the seat unit pivots relative to the base unit about the first pivot mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventors: Steven William Rattenbury, Edward Joseph Khoury
  • Publication number: 20140077510
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a first side member having first lower and upper darts. The motor vehicle also includes a second side member parallel with and spaced apart from the first side member, the second side member having second lower and upper darts. The upper darts are positioned between the lower darts and end portions of the respective first or second side members. The motor vehicle further includes first and second bumper brackets coupled to the end portion of the respective first or second side members, a bumper reinforcement member coupled to the first and second bumper brackets, and a counter rotation bracket coupled to the bumper reinforcement member and extending upwards from the bumper reinforcement member. The lower darts and the upper darts form a preferential buckling zone of the first and the second side members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Maria-Antonius Slaats, Kanichi Saito, Paxton Steven Williams, Joseph Charles Walusek, Sagar Vilas Kulkarni
  • Publication number: 20140060072
    Abstract: A method of starting a gas turbine system is provided. The method includes approximating a temperature of at least one turbine system component. Also included is selectively determining a flow rate for a fuel to be delivered to a combustor for combustion therein, wherein the flow rate is dependent upon the temperature of the at least one turbine system component. Further included is delivering the fuel to the combustor at the flow rate selectively determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven William Backman, Michael Bull, Markus Feigl, Stephen Kent Fulcher
  • Patent number: 8667078
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an industrial process control system includes a processor configured to translate a device definition (DD) file, extract device information for a field device from the DD file, and convert the device information into a first format. The process control system also includes a configuration server configured to receive the device information in the first format from the processor, store the device information in a memory, and respond to queries for the device information in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Michael Karaffa, Johnny Stephen Downor, Steven William Smith, David Richard Socky
  • Patent number: 8667380
    Abstract: A transmitter device (110T) for secure communication includes: an encoder (170) configured to apply a non-systematic error correcting code (NS ECC) to a message, thus producing encoded bits with no clear message bits; and a transceiver (720) configured to transmit the encoded bits over a main channel to a receiver. A method for secure communication includes: encoding a message with an NS ECC to produce an encoded message carrying no message bits in the clear; and transmitting the encoded message over a main channel (120). The NS ECC characteristics result in an eavesdropper channel error probability under a security threshold (320) and a main channel error probability over a reliability threshold (310), whenever an eavesdropper (140) listening on an eavesdropper channel (150) is more than distance Z (220) from the transmitter. Unreliable bits in the encoded bits render the eavesdropper unable to reliably decode messages on the main channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
    Inventors: Steven William McLaughlin, Demijan Klinc, Jeongseok Ha
  • Publication number: 20140041738
    Abstract: Apparatus for fluid control device leak detection are disclosed. An example apparatus in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure includes a plurality of ports. One of the ports is to receive a supply pressure to drive an actuator and another of the ports to be fluidly coupled to a purge port of a fluid control device. The apparatus includes a sensor to measure a value at the purge port and a processor to compare the value to a predetermined value or a previously measured value to identify if the value is outside of a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Afton Renee Coleman, Blake Ward Coleman, Steven William Hagen
  • Patent number: 8645706
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a flexible way of accommodating typical user errors when attempting to gain access. One method prevents an error in an access protocol by determining if an access request contains an error that may be forgiveable, such as repeated entry of the same incorrect password or the use of all capital letters. If the access request contains an error, the access request will be classified as invalid. As such, the invalid access request will not count against the number of allowed access requests. Errors may include repeated passwords, obvious typographical error, etc. A message may also be provided or sent to the user that informs the user of their error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven William Parkinson
  • Patent number: 8634410
    Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a method of providing multimedia communication services includes receiving, at an intelligent service switch (ISS) of an integrated wireline-wireless (IWW) network, a service request from a wireline communication device. The method includes receiving contextual information associated with the service request, the contextual information including a time of the service request, a range of times of the service request, a day of the service request, a range of days of the service request, a date of the service request, a range of dates of the service request, a location of the wireline communication device, a type of the wireline communication device, or a combination thereof. At least one multimedia communication service is provided to the wireline communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Hisao M. Chang, Javier B. Arellano, Steven William Frew, Sreenivasa Gorti, Bach Ngoc Hoang