Patents by Inventor Thomas Birch

Thomas Birch 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: 20220309529
    Abstract: A system to display information using a display shelf of a retailer may include a first display configured to be attached to a first edge portion of the display shelf and to display information related to a first product. A second display may be configured to be attached to a second edge portion of the display shelf and to display information related to a second product. The first display and the second display can be configured to have a height similar to a height of the first and the second edge portion of the shelf. The first display and the second display may also be configured to display information related to a third product as if the first display is continuously connected to the second display as an extended display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventor: Thomas Birch
  • Patent number: 11250463
    Abstract: A system to display information using a display shelf of a retailer may include a first display configured to be attached to a first edge portion of the display shelf and to display information related to a first product. A second display may be configured to be attached to a second edge portion of the display shelf and to display information related to a second product. The first display and the second display can be configured to have a height similar to a height of the first and the second edge portion of the shelf. The first display and the second display may also be configured to display information related to a third product as if the first display is continuously connected to the second display as an extended display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Birch
  • Patent number: 11175215
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for progressive corrosion detection are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a query generator to query a multiplexer channel to receive an output voltage, the multiplexer channel linked to a fin group of an electrode array, the fin group forming an open circuit in the absence of conductive crystal formation, a quantifier to determine, using a reference voltage, a difference between the reference voltage and the output voltage from the queried multiplexer channel, and a contamination level comparator to identify presence of conductive crystal formation based on the difference between the reference voltage and the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Birch, Barry Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20200167818
    Abstract: A system to display information using a display shelf of a retailer may include a first display configured to be attached to a first edge portion of the display shelf and to display information related to a first product. A second display may be configured to be attached to a second edge portion of the display shelf and to display information related to a second product. The first display and the second display can be configured to have a height similar to a height of the first and the second edge portion of the shelf. The first display and the second display may also be configured to display information related to a third product as if the first display is continuously connected to the second display as an extended display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas Birch
  • Patent number: 10558999
    Abstract: A system to display information using a display shelf of a retailer may include a first display configured to be attached to a first edge portion of the display shelf and to display information related to a first product. A second display may be configured to be attached to a second edge portion of the display shelf and to display information related to a second product. The first display and the second display can be configured to have a height similar to a height of the first and the second edge portion of the shelf. The first display and the second display may also be configured to display information related to a third product as if the first display is continuously connected to the second display as an extended display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Birch
  • Publication number: 20200025671
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for progressive corrosion detection are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a query generator to query a multiplexer channel to receive an output voltage, the multiplexer channel linked to a fin group of an electrode array, the fin group forming an open circuit in the absence of conductive crystal formation, a quantifier to determine, using a reference voltage, a difference between the reference voltage and the output voltage from the queried multiplexer channel, and a contamination level comparator to identify presence of conductive crystal formation based on the difference between the reference voltage and the output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Birch, Barry Kennedy
  • Patent number: 10398130
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for implementing animal control systems are provided herein. A monitoring system for influencing animal behavior includes a processor subsystem to: receive, at the monitoring system, an indication of an animal proximate to a restricted area; determine whether to activate a repellent device and an attractant device to maneuver the animal away from the restricted area; and activate the repellent device and the attractant device when the determination is positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Birch, David I Poisner
  • Publication number: 20180310526
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for implementing animal control systems are provided herein. A monitoring system for influencing animal behavior includes a processor subsystem to: receive, at the monitoring system, an indication of an animal proximate to a restricted area; determine whether to activate a repellent device and an attractant device to maneuver the animal away from the restricted area; and activate the repellent device and the attractant device when the determination is positive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas A. Birch, David I. Poisner
  • Publication number: 20180222504
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting train rail and railcar anomalies are disclosed herein. In an example, detecting anomalies includes: receiving measurements from a sensor array coupled to a railcar in a train; obtaining baseline measurements from the sensor array; obtaining, in near real time, measurements from the sensor array while the railcar is operating; and detecting a railcar anomaly based a comparison between the baseline and operating measurements. In an example, the comparison of baseline and operating measurements includes evaluating, over a sequence of time data points, inertia sensor measurements (such as caused by side to side railcar movement) to detect abnormal railcar oscillation. In further examples, the data indexed to a GPS location is stored in a database, and respective alerts are transmitted or outputted to an output device (such as a display device) when an anomaly is detected based on the collected measurements from the railcars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas A. Birch, David I. Poisner
  • Patent number: 10002553
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for determining a location of micro digital signage devices includes generating and transmitting a unique identifier corresponding to each micro digital signage device. Each micro digital signage device is to display its corresponding unique identifier and capture an image of other micro digital signage devices located on an opposite side of an aisle. The captured images are to be stitched together to generate a composite image. The unique identifiers of the micro digital signage devices are to be identified and the location of each micro digital signage device is to be determined using a known location of one of the micro digital signage devices as a reference. Each micro digital signage device identified from the composite image is to clear its corresponding unique identifier from display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Birch, Michael J. Kasper
  • Publication number: 20180167769
    Abstract: Embodiments for implementing public and private geo-fences are generally described herein. A system comprises a geo-fence server adapted to: receive geographical coordinates of a device; determine that the device is located in a geo-fence; determine a type of the geo-fence; and transmit a notification to the device based on the type of the geo-fence. A mobile device for using person-to-person geo-fences is adapted to: receive a geo-fence object; store the geo-fence object at the mobile device; subsequent to storing the geo-fence object, obtain a geographical position of the mobile device; determine whether the mobile device is located in a geo-fence based on the geographical position; determine whether the geo-fence object is associated with the geo-fence; and present the geo-fence object when the geo-fence object is associated with the geo-fence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas A. Birch, Derick Arnold Johnson, Kenneth Wade Reese, Thomas H. Calvert
  • Publication number: 20180130088
    Abstract: A system to display information using a display shelf of a retailer may include a first display configured to be attached to a first edge portion of the display shelf and to display information related to a first product. A second display may be configured to be attached to a second edge portion of the display shelf and to display information related to a second product. The first display and the second display can be configured to have a height similar to a height of the first and the second edge portion of the shelf. The first display and the second display may also be configured to display information related to a third product as if the first display is continuously connected to the second display as an extended display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventor: THOMAS BIRCH
  • Patent number: 9785964
    Abstract: A system to display information using a display shelf of a retailer may include a first display configured to be attached to a first edge portion of the display shelf and to display information related to a first product. A second display may be configured to be attached to a second edge portion of the display shelf and to display information related to a second product. The first display and the second display can be configured to have a height similar to a height of the first and the second edge portion of the shelf. The first display and the second display may also be configured to display information related to a third product as if the first display is continuously connected to the second display as an extended display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Birch
  • Publication number: 20170289755
    Abstract: Embodiments for geo-fence notification management are generally described herein. A mobile device for geo-fence notification management may include a geo-location module to: determine a geographical location of the mobile device; and determine whether the mobile device is located in a geo-fenced area for longer than a threshold period of time; and a presentation module to present a notification on the mobile device when the mobile device is located in the geo-fenced area for longer than the threshold period of time. A server and mobile device may work cooperatively to obtain a position of a mobile device; determine whether the mobile device is located in a geo-fenced area; determine whether the geo-fenced area has a software application associated with it; and present the software application to the mobile device when the geo-fenced area has a software application associated with it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas A. Birch, Derick Arnold Johnson, Michael J. Kasper
  • Patent number: 9712962
    Abstract: Embodiments for implementing public and private geo-fences are generally described herein. A system comprises a geo-fence server adapted to: receive geographical coordinates of a device; determine that the device is located in a geo-fence; determine a type of the geo-fence; and transmit a notification to the device based on the type of the geo-fence. A mobile device for using person-to-person geo-fences is adapted to: receive a geo-fence object; store the geo-fence object at the mobile device; subsequent to storing the geo-fence object, obtain a geographical position of the mobile device; determine whether the mobile device is located in a geo-fence based on the geographical position; determine whether the geo-fence object is associated with the geo-fence; and present the geo-fence object when the geo-fence object is associated with the geo-fence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Birch, Derick Arnold Johnson, Kenneth W. Reese, Thomas H. Calvert
  • Patent number: 9659272
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for attending to a supply of product at a position on a store shelf involves receiving an electronic image of the position on a store shelf and comparing the electronic image to a previous electronic image of the position on the store shelf. Depending of the difference, if any, between the two images, generating an indication to attend to the supply of product at the position on the store shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Birch, Michael J. Kasper
  • Publication number: 20170048667
    Abstract: Methods and systems may provide for associating content in a cloud computing infrastructure with geo-panes and sending it to a location aware device based on user gaze. The content may be restricted by rules, including distance from user to the geo-pane. The geo-panes may be static or mobile in space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Derick A. Johnson, Thomas A. Birch
  • Patent number: 9549286
    Abstract: Embodiments for geo-fence notification management are generally described herein. A mobile device for geo-fence notification management may include a geo-location module to: determine a geographical location of the mobile device; and determine whether the mobile device is located in a geo-fenced area for longer than a threshold period of time; and a presentation module to present a notification on the mobile device when the mobile device is located in the geo-fenced area for longer than the threshold period of time. A server and mobile device may work cooperatively to obtain a position of a mobile device; determine whether the mobile device is located in a geo-fenced area; determine whether the geo-fenced area has a software application associated with it; and present the software application to the mobile device when the geo-fenced area has a software application associated with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Birch, Derick Arnold Johnson, Michael J. Kasper
  • Patent number: 9535586
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for creating geo-fences on touch-enabled devices are described herein. In an example, a map is displayed on a touch screen interface of a mobile device. User input is received from the touch screen interface, the user input resulting from a user touching the touch screen interface. An enclosed area is derived using the user input and the enclosed area is presented as a geo-fence object on the touch screen interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Derick Arnold Johnson, Thomas A. Birch
  • Patent number: 9398408
    Abstract: Methods and systems may provide for associating content in a cloud computing infrastructure with geo-panes and sending it to a location aware device based on user gaze. The content may be restricted by rules, including distance from user to the geo-pane. The geo-panes may be static or mobile in space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Derick A. Johnson, Thomas A. Birch