Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Kirk

Thomas A. Kirk 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).

  • Publication number: 20230397745
    Abstract: A comfortable inflatable pillow, manufactured to be affordably priced, designed to withstand the weather challenges associated with beaches, and other outdoor settings, by utilizing soft fabric that wicks away water and sheds sand, that has an attached pouch that can be filled with sand, or other weighted objects, to prevent the pillow from being blown around in windy conditions, that contains an internal pocket that can accommodate a tailor-made cooling and heating gel pack for hot or cold external temperatures, and that provides an optional incline position for added comfort when reading or surveying the landscape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventor: Brian Thomas Kirk
  • Patent number: 11784877
    Abstract: An intelligent agent monitors operation of at least one software virtualized network (VN). Context information associated with the VN is used to analyze a state of the VN. At least one configuration change is caused to the VN in response to analysis of the state of the VN. A change is identified to the state of the VN caused by the configuration change. A determination is made as to whether or not the change to the state of the VN is an improvement to operation of the VN. A response to the determination is made by causing at least one other configuration change to the VN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: David Gibbon, Thomas Kirk, Behzad Shahraray, John Murray, Mazin Gilbert
  • Patent number: 11751704
    Abstract: A comfortable inflatable pillow, manufactured to be affordably priced, designed to withstand the weather challenges associated with beaches, and other outdoor settings, by utilizing soft fabric that wicks away water and sheds sand, that has an attached pouch that can be filled with sand, or other weighted objects, to prevent the pillow from being blown around in windy conditions, that contains an internal pocket that can accommodate a tailor-made cooling and heating gel pack for hot or cold external temperatures, and that provides an optional incline position for added comfort when reading or surveying the landscape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Inventor: Brian Thomas Kirk
  • Publication number: 20230179479
    Abstract: An intelligent agent monitors operation of at least one software virtualized network (VN). Context information associated with the VN is used to analyze a state of the VN. At least one configuration change is caused to the VN in response to analysis of the state of the VN. A change is identified to the state of the VN caused by the configuration change. A determination is made as to whether or not the change to the state of the VN is an improvement to operation of the VN. A response to the determination is made by causing at least one other configuration change to the VN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: David Gibbon, Thomas Kirk, Behzad Shahraray, John Murray, Mazin Gilbert
  • Patent number: 11615425
    Abstract: A cloud services composition system allows customers to interactively create service constructs from network function virtualization resources. The network function virtualization primitives are modeled using a standard modeling language. An expert system suggests network function virtualization resources for use in the service construct, based on an expert system learning algorithm. The customer uses a graphical user interface to interconnect the resources and create the service construct. The process may involve collaboration with the network provider. The resulting construct is validated for use in a communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Rittwik Jana, Thomas Kirk, Syed Anwar Aftab, John F. Murray, Mazin E. Gilbert, Shu Shi, Serban Jora, Avi Zahavi
  • Patent number: 11595254
    Abstract: An intelligent agent monitors operation of at least one software virtualized network (VN). Context information associated with the VN is used to analyze a state of the VN. At least one configuration change is caused to the VN in response to analysis of the state of the VN. A change is identified to the state of the VN caused by the configuration change. A determination is made as to whether or not the change to the state of the VN is an improvement to operation of the VN. A response to the determination is made by causing at least one other configuration change to the VN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: David Gibbon, Thomas Kirk, Behzad Shahraray, John Murray, Mazin Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20220092606
    Abstract: A cloud services composition system allows customers to interactively create service constructs from network function virtualization resources. The network function virtualization primitives are modeled using a standard modeling language. An expert system suggests network function virtualization resources for use in the service construct, based on an expert system learning algorithm. The customer uses a graphical user interface to interconnect the resources and create the service construct. The process may involve collaboration with the network provider. The resulting construct is validated for use in a communications network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Rittwik Jana, Thomas Kirk, Syed Anwar Aftab, John F. Murray, Mazin E. Gilbert, Shu Shi, Serban Jora, Avi Zahavi
  • Publication number: 20220084063
    Abstract: A method for determining a condition under which a sign has been viewed includes receiving a uniform resource locator from a user endpoint device, where the uniform resource locator is embedded in a machine-readable code displayed on the sign, and extracting information from the uniform resource locator, where the information describes the condition under which the sign was viewed by a user of the user endpoint device. A method for transmitting information describing a condition under which a sign is currently viewable includes generating the information describing the condition under which the sign is currently viewable and inserting the information in a uniform resource locator, where the uniform resource locator is embedded in a machine-readable code displayed on the sign.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Kirk, Thomas J. Killian, Christopher W. Rice
  • Patent number: 11222343
    Abstract: A cloud services composition system allows customers to interactively create service constructs from network function virtualization resources. The network function virtualization primitives are modeled using a standard modeling language. An expert system suggests network function virtualization resources for use in the service construct, based on an expert system learning algorithm. The customer uses a graphical user interface to interconnect the resources and create the service construct. The process may involve collaboration with the network provider. The resulting construct is validated for use in a communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Rittwik Jana, Thomas Kirk, Syed Anwar Aftab, John F. Murray, Mazin E. Gilbert, Shu Shi, Serban Jora, Avi Zahavi
  • Publication number: 20210383540
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for partial volume estimation (PVE) and correction of PVE of imaging data acquired or provided of a subject, The imaging data can include functional imaging data, in particular functional imaging data acquired using magnetic resonance (MR), arterial spin labeling (ASL), blood-oxygen level dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET) of the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas KIRK, Michael CHAPPELL
  • Patent number: 11188938
    Abstract: A method for determining a condition under which a sign has been viewed includes receiving a uniform resource locator from a user endpoint device, where the uniform resource locator is embedded in a machine-readable code displayed on the sign, and extracting information from the uniform resource locator, where the information describes the condition under which the sign was viewed by a user of the user endpoint device. A method for transmitting information describing a condition under which a sign is currently viewable includes generating the information describing the condition under which the sign is currently viewable and inserting the information in a uniform resource locator, where the uniform resource locator is embedded in a machine-readable code displayed on the sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Kirk, Thomas J. Killian, Christopher W. Rice
  • Publication number: 20210282576
    Abstract: A comfortable inflatable pillow, manufactured to be affordably priced, designed to withstand the weather challenges associated with beaches, and other outdoor settings, by utilizing soft fabric that wicks away water and sheds sand, that has an attached pouch that can be filled with sand, or other weighted objects, to prevent the pillow from being blown around in windy conditions, that contains an internal pocket that can accommodate a tailor-made cooling and heating gel pack for hot or cold external temperatures, and that provides an optional incline position for added comfort when reading or surveying the landscape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventor: Brian Thomas Kirk
  • Patent number: 10973345
    Abstract: A comfortable inflatable pillow, manufactured to be affordably priced, designed to withstand the weather challenges associated with beaches, and other outdoor settings, by utilizing soft fabric that wicks away water and sheds sand, that has an attached pouch that can be filled with sand, or other weighted objects, to prevent the pillow from being blown around in windy conditions, that contains an internal pocket that can accommodate a tailor-made cooling and heating gel pack for hot or cold external temperatures, and that provides an optional incline position for added comfort when reading or surveying the landscape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: Brian Thomas Kirk
  • Publication number: 20210012353
    Abstract: A cloud services composition system allows customers to interactively create service constructs from network function virtualization resources. The network function virtualization primitives are modeled using a standard modeling language. An expert system suggests network function virtualization resources for use in the service construct, based on an expert system learning algorithm. The customer uses a graphical user interface to interconnect the resources and create the service construct. The process may involve collaboration with the network provider. The resulting construct is validated for use in a communications network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Rittwik Jana, Thomas Kirk, Syed Anwar Aftab, John F. Murray, Mazin E. Gilbert, Shu Shi, Serban Jora, Avi Zahavi
  • Publication number: 20210006463
    Abstract: An intelligent agent monitors operation of at least one software virtualized network (VN). Context information associated with the VN is used to analyze a state of the VN. At least one configuration change is caused to the VN in response to analysis of the state of the VN. A change is identified to the state of the VN caused by the configuration change. A determination is made as to whether or not the change to the state of the VN is an improvement to operation of the VN. A response to the determination is made by causing at least one other configuration change to the VN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: David Gibbon, Thomas Kirk, Behzad Shahraray, John Murray, Mazin Gilbert
  • Patent number: 10846706
    Abstract: A cloud services composition system allows customers to interactively create service constructs from network function virtualization resources. The network function virtualization primitives are modeled using a standard modeling language. An expert system suggests network function virtualization resources for use in the service construct, based on an expert system learning algorithm. The customer uses a graphical user interface to interconnect the resources and create the service construct. The process may involve collaboration with the network provider. The resulting construct is validated for use in a communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Rittwik Jana, Thomas Kirk, Syed Anwar Aftab, John F. Murray, Mazin E. Gilbert, Shu Shi, Serban Jora, Avi Zahavi
  • Patent number: 10812329
    Abstract: An intelligent agent monitors operation of at least one software virtualized network (VN). Context information associated with the VN is used to analyze a state of the VN. At least one configuration change is caused to the VN in response to analysis of the state of the VN. A change is identified to the state of the VN caused by the configuration change. A determination is made as to whether or not the change to the state of the VN is an improvement to operation of the VN. A response to the determination is made by causing at least one other configuration change to the VN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: David Gibbon, Thomas Kirk, Behzad Shahraray, John Murray, Mazin Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20200143387
    Abstract: A cloud services composition system allows customers to interactively create service constructs from network function virtualization resources. The network function virtualization primitives are modeled using a standard modeling language. An expert system suggests network function virtualization resources for use in the service construct, based on an expert system learning algorithm. The customer uses a graphical user interface to interconnect the resources and create the service construct. The process may involve collaboration with the network provider. The resulting construct is validated for use in a communications network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Rittwik Jana, Thomas Kirk, Syed Anwar Aftab, John F. Murray, Mazin E. Gilbert, Shu Shi, Serban Jora, Avi Zahavi
  • Patent number: 10617187
    Abstract: An improved mobile device case with an embedded card holder is provided. The mobile device case may include a card slot recessed into the back of the case and fitted for insertion of a card, such as a credit card. A flexural binder formed from opposite-facing surfaces molded as part of the case flexes the card widthwise and lengthwise such that the forces resisting flexure exerted by the flexed card hold the card in place. One opposite-facing surface, a retainer, may be connected to non-recessed areas of the back of the case that extends over the recessed slot. Another opposite-facing surface is a raised edge on the recessed surface of the interior back of the case bordering both sides and the rear of the recessed slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventors: Jacob James Marvin, Thomas Kirk Marvin, Matthew Laurence Arksey, Scott Robert Leatham
  • Patent number: 10580013
    Abstract: A cloud services composition system allows customers to interactively create service constructs from network function virtualization resources. The network function virtualization primitives are modeled using a standard modeling language. An expert system suggests network function virtualization resources for use in the service construct, based on an expert system learning algorithm. The customer uses a graphical user interface to interconnect the resources and create the service construct. The process may involve collaboration with the network provider. The resulting construct is validated for use in a communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Rittwik Jana, Thomas Kirk, Syed Anwar Aftab, John F. Murray, Mazin E. Gilbert, Shu Shi, Serban Jora, Avi Zahavi