Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Hill

Thomas A. Hill 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: 7860224
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a voicemail notification to a subscriber or customer in a communication network are disclosed. For example, the present method uses a wireless integrated access device (WIAD) to interact with a voicemail server via the Internet. The WIAD determines whether a newly saved voicemail exists for a customer and then interacts with at least one endpoint device that is located at a customer premise to provide a voicemail notification to the customer if a newly saved voicemail exists for the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Thomas Hill, Scott Mollica
  • Publication number: 20100246406
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method of route convergence is provided. In this method, a loss of connectivity is detected along a communication route by way of an Ethernet Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) protocol. Examples of Ethernet OAM protocols include Connectivity Fault Management protocol and Ethernet Local Management Interface protocol. Thereafter, a data link layer identifier associated with the communication route is identified and this data link layer identifier is mapped to a network layer address. Convergence on an alternate communication route can then be based on the mapped network layer address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Craig Thomas Hill, Samer M. Salam
  • Publication number: 20100061525
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for mechanizing the currently manual ADSL loop testing process is disclosed. In one embodiment, an automated loop testing device is disclosed, where the loop testing device has a pair of terminals, e.g., RJ-11 jacks on both sides of the device. The jack on one side connects to inside wiring which, in turn, connects to an ADSL modem. The other jack connects to an outside line which, in turn, connects to a central office of a network provider. In operation, the present device detects a line voltage reversal and then disconnects the input line to the ADSL Modem. When the voltage returns to normal, then the device behaves normally by being closed, essentially acting as a pass through device and again connects the input lines to the output lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Thomas Hill, Scott Mollica
  • Publication number: 20100036168
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for preparing 3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylamine by reacting a feed stream comprising 3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylimine with hydrogen and ammonia over hydrogenation catalysts, wherein the basicity of the reaction mixture is increased during the reaction by bringing the reaction mixture into contact with a basic compound which is not ammonia and/or a basic catalyst after part of the 3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylimine has been reacted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Martin Ernst, Thomas Hill, Piotr Makarczyk, Johann-Peter Melder
  • Publication number: 20090326287
    Abstract: A process for preparing o-xylene comprises the steps of a) dimerizing 2-butenes to 3,4- and/or 2,3-dimethylhexenes and b) aromatizing the 3,4- and/or 2,3-dimethylhexenes under dehydrogenating conditions to give o-xylene and is suitable for the selective preparation of o-xylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Götz-Peter Schindler, Thomas Heidemann, Christian Miller, Godwind Tafara Peter Mabande, Bianca Stäck, Thomas Hill
  • Patent number: 7622412
    Abstract: A process for regenerating a hydrogenation catalyst which has been used in a gas-phase hydrogenation, which comprises stripping at from 50 to 300° C. with a substance or a substance mixture which under the process conditions has no oxidizing action and is present in the gaseous state is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Thomas Hill, Mathias Haake, Harald Dialer
  • Patent number: 7620155
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for mechanizing the currently manual ADSL loop testing process is disclosed. In one embodiment, an automated loop testing device is disclosed, where the loop testing device has a pair of terminals, e.g., RJ-11 jacks on both sides of the device. The jack on one side connects to inside wiring which, in turn, connects to an ADSL modem. The other jack connects to an outside line which, in turn, connects to a central office of a network provider. In operation, the present device detects a line voltage reversal and then disconnects the input line to the ADSL Modem. When the voltage returns to normal, then the device behaves normally by being closed, essentially acting as a pass through device and again connects the input lines to the output lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Thomas Hill, Scott Mollica
  • Publication number: 20090125155
    Abstract: A method is provided for deriving optimized operating parameter settings for industrial furnaces of different designs as commonly used in power generation that will achieve robust and desirable operations (for example, low NOx and low CO emissions while maintaining specific furnace exit gas temperatures). The method includes the application of recursive partitioning algorithms to historical process data to identify critical combinations of ranges of operational parameter (combinations of settings) that will result in robust (low-variability) desirable (optimized) boiler performance, based on empirical evidence in the historical data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Hill, Pawel Lewicki
  • Patent number: 7518024
    Abstract: A process for preparing 1-butene from 1-butane, which includes providing a n-butane-containing feed gas stream; introducing of the n-butane-containing feed gas stream into at least one dehydrogenation zone and nonoxidative catalytic dehydrogenation of n-butane; removing hydrogen, the low-boiling secondary constituents and optionally water vapor to give a C4 product gas stream containing 10-80% by volume of n-butane, 5-40% by volume of 1-butene, 10-50% by volume of 2-butene, 0-40% by volume of butadiene and 0-10% by volume of further gas constituents; introducing the C4 product gas stream containing 10-80% by volume of n-butane, 10-60% by volume of 1-butene, 15-60% by volume of 2-butene, 0-5% by volume of butadiene and 0-10% by volume of further gas constituents, into a selective hydrogenation zone and selective hydrogenation of butadiene to 1- and/or 2-butene to give stream consisting essentially of n-butane, 1-butene and 2-butene; and separating of the stream distillation into a desired product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Götz-Peter Schindler, Andreas Brodhagen, Thorsten Johann, Thomas Hill
  • Publication number: 20090082562
    Abstract: A process for preparing an amine by reacting an aldehyde and/or ketone with hydrogen and a nitrogen compound selected from the group of primary and secondary amines in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst, wherein the catalyst is a coated catalyst which comprises at least one metal of group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements as a hydrogenating metal and additionally a promoter on an oxidic support, at least 80% of the metal of group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements being present in a layer between the surface of the catalyst and a penetration depth which is not more than 80% of the radius of the catalyst, calculated from the surface of the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Jan Eberhardt, Bram Willem Hoffer, Frank Haese, Johann-Peter Melder, Bernd Stein, Michael Stang, Thomas Hill, Ekkehard Schwab
  • Publication number: 20090069590
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing an aminoalkyl nitrile by reaction of a corresponding monoamine with a corresponding alkenyl nitrile in a continuous mode of operation, which comprises the steps (a) introduction of the corresponding monoamine into a continuously conveyed reaction stream; (b) introduction of the corresponding alkenyl nitrite into the reaction stream, with this already comprising the aminoalkyl nitrile on addition; (c) reaction of the reaction stream in a first reaction region; and (d) at least partial transfer of the reaction stream into at least one second reaction region for further reaction. The invention further relates to a process for preparing a diamine from the aminoalkyl nitrile, suitable apparatuses for carrying out the processes and their corresponding use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jan Eberhardt, Thilo Hahn, Johann-Peter Melder, Gerhard Fritz, Volkmar Menger, Thomas Hill
  • Patent number: 7497931
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering 3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trim-ethylcyclohexylamine (isophoronediamine, IPDA) having a fractionally distilled cis/trans isomer ratio of at least 73/27. The process includes the following steps: a) providing IPDA in a cis/trans isomer ratio of <73/27; b) feeding IPDA into the middle region of a distillation column having internals and distilling the IPDA in this distillation column at a temperature of from 5 to 300.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Funke, Thomas Hill, Jobst Rüdiger Von Watzdorf, Wolfgang Mattmann, Wolfgang Harder, Erhard Henkes, Gerd Littmann, Manfred Julius
  • Patent number: 7485761
    Abstract: A process for preparing 1-butene, which includes nonoxidatively, catalytically dehydrogenating n-butane to obtain a product gas stream of n-butane, 1-butene, 2-butene, butadiene, hydrogen, and secondary constituents; removing hydrogen and the secondary constituents to obtain a C4 product gas stream; separating the C4 product stream into a recycle stream of n-butane and a stream of 1-butene, 2-butene and butadiene by extractive distillation, and recirculating the recycle stream to the dehydrogenation zone; introducing the 1 -butene, 2-butene and butadiene stream into a selective hydrogenation zone and selective hydrogenation of butadiene to 1-butene and/or 2-butene to obtain a stream of 1-butene and 2-butene; introducing the 1-butene and 2-butene stream, and a circulating stream of 1-butene and 2-butene into a distillation zone and isolation of a product stream; and introducing the 2-butene-containing stream into an isomerization zone to obtain a circulating stream of 1-butene and 2-butene, and recirculating t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Götz-Peter Schindler, Andreas Brodhagen, Thorsten Johann, Thomas Hill, Marcus Sigl, Regina Benfer
  • Publication number: 20090030250
    Abstract: A catalyst on an oxidic support and processes for selectively hydrogenating unsaturated compounds in hydrocarbon streams comprising them using these catalysts are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: BASF AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Hill, Hermann Petersen, Germain Kons, Henrik Junicke
  • Patent number: 7482500
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for preparing butadiene. The process involves nonoxidatively catalytically dehydrogenating butane to obtain a product gas stream containing butane, 1-butene, 2-butene, butadiene, hydrogen and secondary constituents. The 1-butene and 2-butene of the product gas stream is then oxidatively dehydrogenated to give a second gas stream containing butane,2-butene, butadiene, hydrogen, steam and secondary constituents. Next, the butane,2-butene and butadiene are separated from the second gas stream and the butane and 2-butene are then separated from the butadiene product. The butane and 2-butene are then recycled into the nonoxidative catalytic dehydrogenating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thorsten Johann, Götz-Peter Schindler, Andreas Brodhagen, Sven Crone, Regina Benfer, Thomas Hill, Mark Duda
  • Patent number: 7462277
    Abstract: In a continuous process for fractionating a C4 fraction (C4) by extractive distillation using a selective solvent (LM) in an extractive distillation column (EDK), it is proposed that a dividing wall (TW) is installed in the longitudinal direction in the extractive distillation column (EDK) to form a first region (A), a second region (B) and a lower combined column region (C) and a top stream (C4H10) comprising the butanes is taken off from the first region (A), a top stream (C4H8) comprising the butenes is taken off from the second region (B) and a stream (C4H6) comprising the hydrocarbons from the C4 fraction which are more soluble in the selective solvent (LM) than are the butanes and the butenes is taken off from the lower combined column region (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Till Adrian, Thomas Hill, Klaus Kindler, Bernd Heida
  • Publication number: 20080188696
    Abstract: A C4-olefin mixture having a 1,3-butadiene content of from 100 to 500 ppm and a content of 1,2-dienes of less than 10 ppm is described. The present invention further provides a process for preparing this C4-olefin mixture and provides for its use in a metathesis reaction for preparing 2-pentene and/or 3-hexene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jurgen Stephan, Andreas Brodhagen, Markus Schubert, Frank Poplow, Michael Roper, Thomas Hill
  • Publication number: 20080188703
    Abstract: A process is proposed for obtaining a stream of aliphatic hydrocarbons comprising from 5 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule, with an increased proportion of linear ?-olefins compared to a feed stream of aliphatic hydrocarbons comprising from 5 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule, with a content of linear ?-olefins, linear internal olefins and dienes, wherein the feed stream is fed to a first distillation zone D1 having at least 5 theoretical plates, in which the linear ?-olefins are removed partly or fully as a component of a vapor stream which additionally also comprises the dienes, and at whose lower end a liquid stream is obtained which has been depleted partly or fully of linear ?-olefins, the liquid stream from the lower end of the first distillation zone D1 is introduced into a isomerization unit which is equipped with an isomerization catalyst over which the linear internal olefins are isomerized partly or fully to linear ?-olefins, and the linear ?-olefins formed in this way are removed as a component of
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Hill, Christian Miller
  • Patent number: RE40714
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a content management system for receiving, editing, and distributing data across a network. The method includes accessing the data stored in a database, presenting the data for inspection, and assigning the data to at least one target location for distribution. Another embodiment of the present invention is a user interface operating on a computing device for editing data in the content management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: The Belo Company
    Inventors: Michael Blane Dabney, David Thomas Hill, Lourdes Maria Trujillo, Melda Marie Washington, Ronald Gene Lee, James C. Jennings, III, Christopher J. Feola
  • Patent number: RE41556
    Abstract: A method for removing particles Particles are removed from a high pressure flow stream entails by flowing the high pressure flow stream into an inlet of a high pressure trap and flowing the flow stream from the inlet into a tube in the high pressure trap. The tube is adapted to accelerate the flow stream. The flow stream leaves the tube and de-accelerates as the stream flows into a chamber. The method continues by contacting the The flow stream with contacts a plate wound helically around an outside surface of the tube. The plate creates a cyclonic effect with in the flow stream to remove particles from the flow stream. The particles are collected in a reservoir. The remaining Remaining particles are removed by flowing the flow stream towards a side outlet over the plate. The methods end by collecting the The remaining particles are collected in a the reservoir forming collected particles and dumping the . The collected particles are periodically dumped from the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Schooner Petroleum Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Harvey McGee, Yong Fu Wang, Garry Thomas Hill