Patents by Inventor Thomas Abel

Thomas Abel 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: 20240077186
    Abstract: A system for illuminating a surface has at least one lighting means and a housing. At least one lens is disposed within the housing. The at least one lens is supplied with light rays from the lighting means. The at least one lens for illuminating the surface is exchangeable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Geppert, Elie Assy, Thomas Abel
  • Publication number: 20230157503
    Abstract: A cleaning station for vacuum robots for cleaning floor surfaces, the cleaning station having a housing, the housing having an electrical interface, the interface being designed to contact a vacuum robot approaching the cleaning station for charging, the housing having a suction device, the suction device being designed to empty a vacuum robot approaching the cleaning station for emptying. The housing has at least one status display, the status display being designed to display an operating status of the interface and/or the suction device, wherein the status display comprises at least one projection apparatus. The projection apparatus is designed to project the operating status of the interface and/or the suction device onto the vacuum robot which has approached and/or onto the floor surface and/or onto a wall surface surrounding the cleaning station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Marion Karoline Strauss, Carina Uphoff, Dominik Holz, Nicolas Stroop, Thomas Abel
  • Patent number: 11285869
    Abstract: A decorative part, in particular for a vehicle interior, having a decorative layer with a visible front surface, a support on a reverse side of the decorative layer and a light-conducting layer provided between the support and the decorative layer for backlighting at least part of the decorative layer, which is assigned a light-conducting element for generating light. For more uniform backlighting of the decorative layer, a light-conducting dome is provided on a reverse side of the light-conducting layer facing away from the decorative layer, which protrudes therefrom and is coupled in a light-conducting manner to the light-conducting layer and at its free end to the light element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Joysonquin Automotive Systems GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Abel, Frank Huhnerbein, Ann-Kathrin Diehl, Steffen Daschner
  • Patent number: 11157895
    Abstract: Payment cards and also the systems and methods for securely managing financial transactions using the payment cards are provided. In one implementation, a payment card includes a first component incorporated into a plastic substrate, wherein the first component is configured to provide details of a first substitute account associated with a cardholder's valid credentials. The payment card also includes at least one additional component incorporated into the plastic substrate. Each of the additional components is configured to provide details of at least one additional substitute account associated with the cardholder's valid credentials. Each substitute account includes details that are distinct from the details of each of the other substitute accounts. Also, at least one of the substitute accounts is provided to a merchant for conducting a financial transaction with the merchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: VERRENCY HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: Miller Thomas Abel, Kenneth Mages
  • Publication number: 20200368941
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shaping device (10), which comprises an inductor (14) and one or more shaping half-shells (12, 34), wherein at least one shaping half-shell (12, 34) comprises a bottom shaping element (16) produced from mineral material, and a top shaping element (17), wherein the top shaping element (17) is releasably connected to the bottom shaping element (16) or is formed integrally with it, covers at least parts of an inner surface (16a) of the bottom shaping element (16) and comprises an electrically conductive layer (18), and the inductor (14) is designed to induce eddy currents in the electrically conductive layer (18). The invention further relates to a shaping mould (40) with a part to be formed (38), as well as to a method for heating a shaping surface (17a) of a top shaping element (17) of a shaping half-shell (12, 34) or a shaping surface (38a) of a part to be formed (38).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Abel, Marc Dizdarevic, Gerd-Sebastian Beyerlein
  • Publication number: 20200247314
    Abstract: A decorative part, in particular for a vehicle interior, having a decorative layer with a visible front surface, a support on a reverse side of the decorative layer and a light-conducting layer provided between the support and the decorative layer for backlighting at least part of the decorative layer, which is assigned a light-conducting element for generating light. For more uniform backlighting of the decorative layer, a light-conducting dome is provided on a reverse side of the light-conducting layer facing away from the decorative layer, which protrudes therefrom and is coupled in a light-conducting manner to the light-conducting layer and at its free end to the light element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas ABEL, Frank HUHNERBEIN, Ann-Kathrin DIEHL, Steffen DASCHNER
  • Publication number: 20180295121
    Abstract: Secure element authentication techniques are described. In implementations, a confirmation is received that an identity of a user has been physically verified using one or more physical documents. One or more credentials that are usable to authenticate the user are caused to be stored in a secure element of a mobile communication device of the user, the secure element implemented using tamper-resistant hardware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Anoop Anantha, Murali R. Krishnan, Alan L. Marshall, Kamran Rajabi Zargahi, Miller Thomas Abel
  • Publication number: 20170053267
    Abstract: Payment cards and also the systems and methods for securely managing financial transactions using the payment cards are provided. In one implementation, a payment card includes a first component incorporated into a plastic substrate, wherein the first component is configured to provide details of a first substitute account associated with a cardholder's valid credentials. The payment card also includes at least one additional component incorporated into the plastic substrate. Each of the additional components is configured to provide details of at least one additional substitute account associated with the cardholder's valid credentials. Each substitute account includes details that are distinct from the details of each of the other substitute accounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Miller Thomas Abel, Kenneth Mages
  • Publication number: 20170048232
    Abstract: Secure element authentication techniques are described. In implementations, a confirmation is received that an identity of a user has been physically verified using one or more physical documents. One or more credentials that are usable to authenticate the user are caused to be stored in a secure element of a mobile communication device of the user, the secure element implemented using tamper-resistant hardware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Anoop Anantha, Murali R. Krishnan, Alan L. Marshall, Kamran Rajabi Zargahi, Miller Thomas Abel
  • Patent number: 9536202
    Abstract: Determining geospatial patterns from device data collected from a plurality of computing devices. The devices represent, for example, a plurality of sources providing the device data. The device data describes the computing devices and/or environments thereof. Some embodiments present the determined patterns to users for editing, update maps with the edited patterns, and distribute the maps to the users. The maps are stored to create a searchable map library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Shai Herzog, Jyh-Han Lin, Miller Thomas Abel, Moe Khosravy, Katrika Morris, Karon A. Weber, James Kai Yu Lau
  • Patent number: 9525548
    Abstract: Provisioning techniques are described. In implementations, a particular one of a plurality of public keys are located using an identifier included in a request received via a network. The located public key is communicated via the network, the public key configured to encrypt data that is to be decrypted by a secure element of a mobile communication device, the secure element implemented using hardware and including a private key that is configured to decrypt the data that was encrypted using the public key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Alan L. Marshall, Kamran Rajabi Zargahi, Miller Thomas Abel, Murali Krishnan, Anoop Anantha
  • Patent number: 9509686
    Abstract: Secure element authentication techniques are described. In implementations, a confirmation is received that an identity of a user has been physically verified using one or more physical documents. One or more credentials that are usable to authenticate the user are caused to be stored in a secure element of a mobile communication device of the user, the secure element implemented using tamper-resistant hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Anoop Anantha, Murali R. Krishnan, Alan L. Marshall, Kamran Rajabi Zargahi, Miller Thomas Abel
  • Patent number: 9253280
    Abstract: The present invention includes methods and technologies for defining and administering device manners policy (“DMP”), propagating DMP, reception and recognition of, and compliance with DMP. Such policy may be used to communicate to various mobile and other devices the “manners” with which compliance is expected or required. Similar to some of the social manners honored among people, such as with “no smoking” or “employees only” zones, “no swimming” or “no flash photography” areas, and scenarios for “please wash your hands” or “no talking out loud”, devices may recognize and comply with analogous “device manners” policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Miller Thomas Abel, Shai Guday, Michael Sinclair
  • Patent number: 9237205
    Abstract: The present invention includes methods and technologies for defining and administering device manners policy (“DMP”), propagating DMP, reception and recognition of, and compliance with DMP. Such policy may be used to communicate to various mobile and other devices the “manners” with which compliance is expected or required. Similar to some of the social manners honored among people, such as with “no smoking” or “employees only” zones, “no swimming” or “no flash photography” areas, and scenarios for “please wash your hands” or “no talking out loud”, devices may recognize and comply with analogous “device manners” policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Miller Thomas Abel, Shai Guday, Michael Sinclair
  • Patent number: 9092783
    Abstract: Distributing and tracking electronic coupons based on proximity. Upon detecting recipients proximate to a computing device, one or more electronic coupons are selected and transmitted to the detected recipients. The transmittal occurs via a wireless connection in some embodiments. Coupon properties associated with the transmitted coupons are adjusted (e.g., values decreased, expiration conditions modified, location of transmittal, etc.). Distribution data for the transmitted coupons is stored to maintain a distribution history.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Shai Guday, Miller Thomas Abel
  • Patent number: 8887987
    Abstract: Technology for use with computing devices, particularly mobile devices and wireless networks supporting federation, enabling people, devices, systems, or the like to join together in electronic federations for purposes of voting or the like. The votes in such voting situations may be weighted based on various criteria associated with the voter, the subject of the vote, and/or other criteria relevant to the voting scenario. The technology also enables users to monitor a voting scenario in real-time and tailor their own voting or decisions or the like to the scenario, even as it unfolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dawson Yee, Scott C Forbes, Shai Guday, Miller Thomas Abel
  • Patent number: 8787832
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides for systems and/or methods for a dynamic range wireless access point to initiate deliberate and/or selective communications with one or more wireless devices over a short range radio path. One embodiment of an access point system comprises a processor that transfers one or more wireless devices to a long range radio path once a transition condition has been met. In another embodiment, an access point system may affect transactions between user/customer's smart devices and a commercial place of business where the access point system and the smart devices initiate communications when the smart devices are deliberately placed within the proximity of the access point antenna and/or the smart devices are brought within the vicinity of the access point antenna such as by passing through the entrance or exit to the place of business.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Andrew Herron, Gerald Reuben DeJean, II, Darko Kirovski, Miller Thomas Abel, Craig Scott Brenner, William Thomas Blank
  • Publication number: 20140040179
    Abstract: Determining geospatial patterns from device data collected from a plurality of computing devices. The devices represent, for example, a plurality of sources providing the device data. The device data describes the computing devices and/or environments thereof. Some embodiments present the determined patterns to users for editing, update maps with the edited patterns, and distribute the maps to the users. The maps are stored to create a searchable map library.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shai Herzog, Jyh-Han Lin, Miller Thomas Abel, Moe Khosravy, Katrika Morris, Karon A. Weber, James Kai Yu Lau
  • Patent number: 8620215
    Abstract: An accessory for personalizing a mobile communication device includes an accessory body that is configured to adorn the mobile communication device and at least partially cover its exterior. At least one graphic design is disposed on the exterior surface of the accessory body to convey a theme. A data tag is secured to the accessory. The data tag stores data that facilitates personalization of at least one functionality of the mobile communication device in support of the theme. The data tag being configured so that the data is accessible via a short-range wireless protocol such as the Near-Field Communication (NFC) protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Miller Thomas Abel, Shai Guday
  • Patent number: 8504512
    Abstract: Determining geospatial patterns from device data collected from a plurality of computing devices. The devices represent, for example, a plurality of sources providing the device data. The device data describes the computing devices and/or environments thereof. Some embodiments present the determined patterns to users for editing, update maps with the edited patterns, and distribute the maps to the users. The maps are stored to create a searchable map library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shai Herzog, Jyh-Han Lin, Miller Thomas Abel, Moe Khosravy, Katrika Woodcock, Karon A. Weber, James Kai Yu Lau