Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Cowling

Thomas J. Cowling 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: 9185155
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a first interface of a switch interconnects with a broadband modem within a wide area network (WAN), while a second interface of the switch interconnects with a WAN interface of a router, where the router provides a gateway between the WAN and a local area network (LAN). Additionally, a web server is provided at the switch, where the web server is reachable to the WAN on the first interface and to the LAN on the second interface. The switch may then inspect traffic received at the first and second interfaces, and determines, based on inspecting, whether to transparently forward the traffic between the first and second interfaces or to redirect the traffic to the web server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen J. Huotari, Kendra S. Harrington, Thomas J. Cowling, Stephen Kelly
  • Patent number: 8781423
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for minimizing signal interference for a network device is provided. The apparatus includes a receiver configured to detect an interference signal. The apparatus also includes a signal analyzer that is configured to analyze the detected interference signal. The apparatus further includes an interface. The interface is configured to advertise detection of the interference signal as a service offered by the apparatus to the network device. The interface is configured to accept a request from the network device to subscribe to the service. The interface is also configured to alert the network device when the interference signal is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cowling, Allen J. Huotari
  • Publication number: 20140071849
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a first interface of a switch interconnects with a broadband modem within a wide area network (WAN), while a second interface of the switch interconnects with a WAN interface of a router, where the router provides a gateway between the WAN and a local area network (LAN). Additionally, a web server is provided at the switch, where the web server is reachable to the WAN on the first interface and to the LAN on the second interface. The switch may then inspect traffic received at the first and second interfaces, and determines, based on inspecting, whether to transparently forward the traffic between the first and second interfaces or to redirect the traffic to the web server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen J. Huotari, Kendra S. Harrington, Thomas J. Cowling, Stephen Kelly
  • Publication number: 20110258678
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for minimizing signal interference for a network device is provided. The apparatus includes a receiver configured to detect an interference signal. The apparatus also includes a signal analyzer that is configured to analyze the detected interference signal. The apparatus further includes an interface. The interface is configured to advertise detection of the interference signal as a service offered by the apparatus to the network device. The interface is configured to accept a request from the network device to subscribe to the service. The interface is also configured to alert the network device when the interference signal is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cowling, Allen J. Houtari
  • Publication number: 20040189987
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a reformer tube for chemical processing for damage such as creep and metal dusting. The method includes the steps of focusing a coherent light beam onto an interior of a tube or piping and detecting at least a portion of a reflection of the light beam from the tubing by converting the detected light beam into an electrical signal and the processing of the electrical signal to determine a radius of tube under-going in situ inspection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: QUEST INTEGRATED INC.
    Inventors: Phillip D. Bondurant, Ronald C. Lilley, Richard D. Roberts, Thomas J. Cowling
  • Publication number: 20040114793
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for processing a signal obtain, from an in situ reformer tube inspection, that includes X, Y, and intensity data sets for each pixel of a sensor from an image sensor receiving a substantially ring shaped image. The method converts a signal having an X position, a Y position, and an intensity component to a signal having an angle, a radius, and an intensity and filtering out all signal sets that do not have a radius greater than a predetermined radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: QUEST INTEGRATED, INC.
    Inventors: Phillip D. Bondurant, Ronald C. Lilley, Richard D. Roberts, Thomas J. Cowling
  • Patent number: 6318194
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting an conduit such as a furnace tube comprising at least first and second module shells, each shell having an axially contoured exterior, and a flexible, non-jointed intermodule connector joining the first and second shells. Preferably, each module has a length that is 1.0 to 2.4 times its outer diameter and the connector has a length that is 0.5 to 2.0 times the outer module diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark H. Marvin, David H. Bothell, Steven Robert Lalumandier, John William Hoose, Thomas J. Cowling