Patents by Inventor Thomas Kiernan

Thomas Kiernan 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: 20220279386
    Abstract: A resource upgrade predictor can be operable to receive, from a first network node device, traffic information. Based on the traffic information, the resource upgrade predictor can obtain network utilization data related to other network node devices having a similar interference characteristic (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio) to the first network node device. The resource upgrade predictor can use this network utilization data to determine a demand (e.g., demand level, demand point) at which at least a defined value related to a transmission link capacity associated with transmissions between the first network node device and the user equipment, is attained (e.g., a percentage of physical resource block loading).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Sheldon Meredith, Zachary Meredith, Thomas Kiernan
  • Patent number: 11272402
    Abstract: A resource upgrade predictor can be operable to receive, from a first network node device, traffic information. Based on the traffic information, the resource upgrade predictor can obtain network utilization data related to other network node devices having a similar interference characteristic (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio) to the first network node device. The resource upgrade predictor can use this network utilization data to determine a demand (e.g., demand level, demand point) at which at least a defined value related to a transmission link capacity associated with transmissions between the first network node device and the user equipment, is attained (e.g., a percentage of physical resource block loading).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: AT&T INIELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P., AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventors: Sheldon Meredith, Zachary Meredith, Thomas Kiernan
  • Publication number: 20200359267
    Abstract: A resource upgrade predictor can be operable to receive, from a first network node device, traffic information. Based on the traffic information, the resource upgrade predictor can obtain network utilization data related to other network node devices having a similar interference characteristic (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio) to the first network node device. The resource upgrade predictor can use this network utilization data to determine a demand (e.g., demand level, demand point) at which at least a defined value related to a transmission link capacity associated with transmissions between the first network node device and the user equipment, is attained (e.g., a percentage of physical resource block loading).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Sheldon Meredith, Zachary Meredith, Thomas Kiernan
  • Patent number: 10764786
    Abstract: A resource upgrade predictor can be operable to receive, from a first network node device, traffic information. Based on the traffic information, the resource upgrade predictor can obtain network utilization data related to other network node devices having a similar interference characteristic (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio) to the first network node device. The resource upgrade predictor can use this network utilization data to determine a demand (e.g., demand level, demand point) at which at least a defined value related to a transmission link capacity associated with transmissions between the first network node device and the user equipment, is attained (e.g., a percentage of physical resource block loading).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignees: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC, AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon Meredith, Zachary Meredith, Thomas Kiernan
  • Publication number: 20200187055
    Abstract: A resource upgrade predictor can be operable to receive, from a first network node device, traffic information. Based on the traffic information, the resource upgrade predictor can obtain network utilization data related to other network node devices having a similar interference characteristic (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio) to the first network node device. The resource upgrade predictor can use this network utilization data to determine a demand (e.g., demand level, demand point) at which at least a defined value related to a transmission link capacity associated with transmissions between the first network node device and the user equipment, is attained (e.g., a percentage of physical resource block loading).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Sheldon Meredith, Zachary Meredith, Thomas Kiernan
  • Publication number: 20180295800
    Abstract: Vertically oriented modular systems and methods for horticulture using stackable, removable containers dimensioned according to the Fibonacci Sequence and configured to hold plants with or without sub-containers with roots wholly or partially submerged in aqueous nutrient solution for aerohydroponic growth with intake and outtake apertures and at least one conduit to deliver, air, and/or aqueous nutrient solution in fluid communication with other stacked containers, and adjustable baffling to control nutrient solution delivery. The containers are releasably divisible across the face of the container to promote removal, harvest and transplantation without disrupting or damaging plant roots. The containers can also be configured with sensors paired or connected to a computing system to monitor, measure, and store data related to monitoring plant growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: PHIDRO LLC
    Inventor: John Thomas Kiernan
  • Patent number: 9714712
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic mating ring of the present disclosure may include a sealing face, a hydrodynamic groove disposed in the sealing face, an impeller portion, and an inlet conduit configured to provide fluid communication between the hydrodynamic groove and the impeller portion. A method of sealing may include providing a mating ring having a sealing face, a plurality of hydrodynamic grooves disposed in the sealing face, a plurality of impeller portions, and a plurality of inlet conduits configured to provide fluid communication between respective ones of the plurality of hydrodynamic grooves and the plurality of impeller portions. The method may include rotating the mating ring, and increasing at least one of a pressure, a volume, and a flow rate of fluid to the hydrodynamic grooves via the plurality of impeller portions drawing said fluid into the plurality of inlet conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory Thomas Kiernan
  • Patent number: 9445263
    Abstract: In some embodiments, authentication, confidentiality, and privacy are enhanced for a wireless network of cognitive radios by encryption of network management and control messages as well as data traffic, thereby protecting information pertaining to node identification, node location, node-sensed incumbent transmissions, CRN frequency channel selections, and such like. During initial network registration, a temporary ID can be issued to a node, and then replaced once encrypted communication has been established. This prevents association of initial, clear-text messages with later encrypted transmissions. Elliptic curve cryptography can be used for mutual authentication between subscribers and the base station. ECC-based implicit digital certificates can be embedded in co-existence beacons used by CRN nodes to coordinate use of frequency channels, thereby preventing denial of service attacks due to transmitting of falsified beacons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Ranga Reddy, Thomas Kiernan, Apurva N. Mody
  • Patent number: 9420454
    Abstract: In some embodiments, authentication, confidentiality, and privacy are enhanced for a wireless network of cognitive radios by encryption of network management and control messages as well as data traffic, thereby protecting information pertaining to node identification, node location, node-sensed incumbent transmissions, CRN frequency channel selections, and such like. During initial network registration, a temporary ID can be issued to a node, and then replaced once encrypted communication has been established. This prevents association of initial, clear-text messages with later encrypted transmissions. Elliptic curve cryptography can be used for mutual authentication between subscribers and the base station. ECC-based implicit digital certificates can be embedded in co-existence beacons used by CRN nodes to coordinate use of frequency channels, thereby preventing denial of service attacks due to transmitting of falsified beacons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Ranga Reddy, Thomas Kiernan, Apurva N. Mody
  • Publication number: 20160047476
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic mating ring of the present disclosure may include a sealing face, a hydrodynamic groove disposed in the sealing face, an impeller portion, and an inlet conduit configured to provide fluid communication between the hydrodynamic groove and the impeller portion. A method of sealing may include providing a mating ring having a sealing face, a plurality of hydrodynamic grooves disposed in the sealing face, a plurality of impeller portions, and a plurality of inlet conduits configured to provide fluid communication between respective ones of the plurality of hydrodynamic grooves and the plurality of impeller portions. The method may include rotating the mating ring, and increasing at least one of a pressure, a volume, and a flow rate of fluid to the hydrodynamic grooves via the plurality of impeller portions drawing said fluid into the plurality of inlet conduits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventor: Gregory Thomas Kiernan
  • Patent number: 9239385
    Abstract: In a method of producing isotopes in a light water power reactor, one or more targets within the reactor may be irradiated under a neutron flux to produce one or more isotopes. The targets may be assembled into one or more fuel bundles that are to be loaded in a core of the reactor at a given outage. Power operations in the reactor irradiate the fuel bundles so as to generate desired isotopes, such as one or more radioisotopes at a desired specific activity or stable isotopes at a desired concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Russell Morgan Fawcett, Randy Peter Gonzales, Russell Patrick Higgins, Robert Bryant James, Michael Thomas Kiernan, William Earl Russell, II, Steven Bruce Shelton, David Grey Smith, Russell Edward Stachowski, Lukas Trosman
  • Publication number: 20150348663
    Abstract: In a method of producing isotopes in a light water power reactor, one or more targets within the reactor may be irradiated under a neutron flux to produce one or more isotopes. The targets may be assembled into one or more fuel bundles that are to be loaded in a core of the reactor at a given outage. Power operations in the reactor irradiate the fuel bundles so as to generate desired isotopes, such as one or more radioisotopes at a desired specific activity or stable isotopes at a desired concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Russell Morgan Fawcett, Randy Peter Gonzales, Russell Patrick Higgins, Robert Bryant James, Michael Thomas Kiernan, William Earl Russell, II, Steven Bruce Shelton, David Grey Smith, Russell Edward Stachowski, Lukas Trosman
  • Publication number: 20150063570
    Abstract: In some embodiments, authentication, confidentiality, and privacy are enhanced for a wireless network of cognitive radios by encryption of network management and control messages as well as data traffic, thereby protecting information pertaining to node identification, node location, node-sensed incumbent transmissions, CRN frequency channel selections, and such like. During initial network registration, a temporary ID can be issued to a node, and then replaced once encrypted communication has been established. This prevents association of initial, clear-text messages with later encrypted transmissions. Elliptic curve cryptography can be used for mutual authentication between subscribers and the base station. ECC-based implicit digital certificates can be embedded in co-existence beacons used by CRN nodes to coordinate use of frequency channels, thereby preventing denial of service attacks due to transmitting of falsified beacons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Ranga Reddy, Thomas Kiernan, Apurva N. Mody
  • Publication number: 20150050917
    Abstract: In some embodiments, authentication, confidentiality, and privacy are enhanced for a wireless network of cognitive radios by encryption of network management and control messages as well as data traffic, thereby protecting information pertaining to node identification, node location, node-sensed incumbent transmissions, CRN frequency channel selections, and such like. During initial network registration, a temporary ID can be issued to a node, and then replaced once encrypted communication has been established. This prevents association of initial, clear-text messages with later encrypted transmissions. Elliptic curve cryptography can be used for mutual authentication between subscribers and the base station. ECC-based implicit digital certificates can be embedded in co-existence beacons used by CRN nodes to coordinate use of frequency channels, thereby preventing denial of service attacks due to transmitting of falsified beacons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Ranga Reddy, Thomas Kiernan, Apurva N. Mody
  • Patent number: 8953731
    Abstract: In a method of producing isotopes in a light water power reactor, one or more targets within the reactor may be irradiated under a neutron flux to produce one or more isotopes. The targets may be assembled into one or more fuel bundles that are to be loaded in a core of the reactor at a given outage. Power operations in the reactor irradiate the fuel bundles so as to generate desired isotopes, such as one or more radioisotopes at a desired specific activity or stable isotopes at a desired concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Russell Morgan Fawcett, Randy Peter Gonzales, Russell Patrick Higgins, Robert Bryant James, Michael Thomas Kiernan, William Earl Russell, II, Steven Bruce Shelton, David Grey Smith, Russell Edward Stachowski, Lukas Trosman
  • Patent number: 8898468
    Abstract: In some embodiments, authentication, confidentiality, and privacy are enhanced for a wireless network of cognitive radios by encryption of network management and control messages as well as data traffic, thereby protecting information pertaining to node identification, node location, node-sensed incumbent transmissions, CRN frequency channel selections, and such like. During initial network registration, a temporary ID can be issued to a node, and then replaced once encrypted communication has been established. This prevents association of initial, clear-text messages with later encrypted transmissions. Elliptic curve cryptography can be used for mutual authentication between subscribers and the base station. ECC-based implicit digital certificates can be embedded in co-existence beacons used by CRN nodes to coordinate use of frequency channels, thereby preventing denial of service attacks due to transmitting of falsified beacons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Ranga Reddy, Thomas Kiernan, Apurva N. Mody
  • Patent number: 8842801
    Abstract: A rod assembly for a fuel bundle of a nuclear reactor may include an upper end piece, lower end piece and a plurality of rod segments attached between the upper and lower end pieces and to each other so as to form an axial length of the rod assembly. The rod assembly may include an adaptor subassembly provided at given connection points for connecting adjacent rod segments or a given rod segment with one of the upper and lower end pieces. The connection points along the axial length of the rod assembly may be located where the rod assembly contacts a spacer in the fuel bundle. One (or more) of the rod segments may include an irradiation target therein for producing a desired isotope when a fuel bundle containing one (or more) rod assemblies is irradiated in a core of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Russell Morgan Fawcett, Randy Peter Gonzales, Russell Patrick Higgins, Robert Bryant James, Michael Thomas Kiernan, William Earl Russell, II, Steven Bruce Shelton, David Grey Smith, Russell Edward Stachowski, Lukas Trosman
  • Patent number: 8442445
    Abstract: Various cognitive communications system architectures and their corresponding Protocol Reference Models (PRMs) are disclosed. Such PRMs incorporate a Cognitive Plane in addition to conventional Data and Management Planes. The additional Cognitive Plane functionality may include, for example, spectrum sensing, spectrum management, geolocation, and security functions. The Cognitive Plane may further include a Policy Engine and a Learning and Reasoning Module. In some embodiments, Management Plane functions may be effectively combined to form a database of primitives (and their respective values) called a Management Information Base (MIB). In addition, techniques are provided by which various components of cognitive and non-cognitive, as well as mesh-enabled and non-mesh-enabled nodes in a network, inter-operate with each other. The architectures allow a Spectrum Manager (or Signal Space Manager) to combine information from various network layers (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Apurva N. Mody, Matthew J. Sherman, Ranga Reddy, Thomas Kiernan
  • Patent number: 8437700
    Abstract: Various cognitive communications system architectures and their corresponding Protocol Reference Models (PRMs) are disclosed. Such PRMs incorporate a Cognitive Plane in addition to conventional Data and Management Planes. The additional Cognitive Plane functionality may include, for example, spectrum sensing, spectrum management, geolocation, and security functions. The Cognitive Plane may further include a Policy Engine and a Learning and Reasoning Module. In some embodiments, Management Plane functions may be effectively combined to form a database of primitives (and their respective values) called a Management Information Base (MIB). In addition, techniques are provided by which various components of cognitive and non-cognitive, as well as mesh-enabled and non-mesh-enabled nodes in a network, inter-operate with each other. The architectures allow a Spectrum Manager (or Signal Space Manager) to combine information from various network layers (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Apurva N. Mody, Matthew J. Sherman, Kevin McNeil, Phong Khuu, Dan E. Dudgeon, Ranga Reddy, Thomas Kiernan
  • Publication number: 20110138183
    Abstract: In some embodiments, authentication, confidentiality, and privacy are enhanced for a wireless network of cognitive radios by encryption of network management and control messages as well as data traffic, thereby protecting information pertaining to node identification, node location, node-sensed incumbent transmissions, CRN frequency channel selections, and such like. During initial network registration, a temporary ID can be issued to a node, and then replaced once encrypted communication has been established. This prevents association of initial, clear-text messages with later encrypted transmissions. Elliptic curve cryptography can be used for mutual authentication between subscribers and the base station. ECC-based implicit digital certificates can be embedded in co-existence beacons used by CRN nodes to coordinate use of frequency channels, thereby preventing denial of service attacks due to transmitting of falsified beacons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicants: BAE SYSTEMS Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Ranga Reddy, Thomas Kiernan, Apurva N. Mody