Patents by Inventor Thomas Southward

Thomas Southward 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: 11972180
    Abstract: A method and computing system operable for displaying a first routing diagram on a display. The first routing diagram is a member of a first set of routing diagrams that includes multiple different routing diagrams. Displaying the first routing diagram includes displaying a user-selectable control and a first portion of a particular routable component within the first routing diagram. The user-selectable control corresponds to a location of the display where a first terminal connected to the particular routable component or a second terminal connected or connectable to the first terminal is displayed. An additional function include determining, by a processor, a selection of the user-selectable control occurs while the first routing diagram is displayed on the display. A further function includes displaying, on the display in response to determining the selection of the user-selectable control occurs, the second routing diagram with a second portion of the particular routable component highlighted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC
    Inventors: Michel B. Alberry, Lester B. Johnson, Thomas A. Southward, Thomas W. Tipps, Michael S. Knize, John P. McGraw, Robert Pilz, Bryan Keithley Romero
  • Publication number: 20240119753
    Abstract: A method includes transmitting a request for a computer-readable routing diagram, such as a wiring diagram, a pneumatic or hydraulic line diagram, or an optical cable diagram. The method also includes receiving, in response to the request, a routing diagram including a connectable component and at least a portion of a routing set. The connectable component is associated with both a connectable component identifier and the routing set. The routing set contains one or more routable components, such as electrical circuits, pneumatic or hydraulic lines, or optical cables. Further, the method includes displaying, on a display, the routing diagram and at least the portion of the routing set highlighted. Displaying at least the portion of the routing set highlighted occurs in response to an occurrence of the connectable component being selected from the routing diagram displayed on the display or in response to the request including the connectable component identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Michel B. Alberry, Lester B. Johnson, Michael S. Knize, John P. McGraw, Robert Pilz, Thomas W. Tipps, Eric J. Wade, Patrick S. Merg, Roy Steven Brozovich, Todd Mercer, Thomas A. Southward
  • Patent number: 11681989
    Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying information sets in determined orders are described. The information sets comprise vehicle service information. An order of information set identifiers associated with the information sets is based on vehicle identifying information of a subset of vehicles, and an additional search term comprising a symptom identifier and/or a vehicle component identifier of a component located on the vehicles. The information set identifiers of the group can be arranged according to a hierarchy of information set identifiers. The information sets are output to a vehicle service tool (VST) that displays the information sets. The VST can provide feedback data indicative of whether any aspect of an information set was selected while displayed. A server can aggregate feedback data received from multiple instances of displaying the information sets and determine a modified order for at least some of the information set identifiers of the previously determined group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Todd Mercer, Joshua C. Covington, Kahlil H. Cacabelos, Thomas Southward, Roy S. Brozovich
  • Publication number: 20220374114
    Abstract: A method and computing system operable for displaying a first routing diagram on a display. The first routing diagram is a member of a first set of routing diagrams that includes multiple different routing diagrams. Displaying the first routing diagram includes displaying a user-selectable control and a first portion of a particular routable component within the first routing diagram. The user-selectable control indicates that the particular routable component continues on a second routing diagram. An additional function include determining, by one or more processors, a selection of the user-selectable control occurs while the first routing diagram is displayed on the display. A further function includes displaying the second routing diagram on the display in response to determining the selection of the user-selectable control occurs while the first routing diagram is displayed on the display. Displaying the second routing diagram includes displaying a second portion of the particular routable component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Michel B. Alberry, Lester B. Johnson, Thomas A. Southward, Thomas W. Tipps, Michael S. Knize, John P. McGraw, Robert Pilz
  • Publication number: 20220374564
    Abstract: A method and computing system operable for displaying a first routing diagram on a display. The first routing diagram is a member of a first set of routing diagrams that includes multiple different routing diagrams. Displaying the first routing diagram includes displaying a user-selectable control and a first portion of a particular routable component within the first routing diagram. The user-selectable control corresponds to a location of the display where a first terminal connected to the particular routable component or a second terminal connected or connectable to the first terminal is displayed. An additional function include determining, by a processor, a selection of the user-selectable control occurs while the first routing diagram is displayed on the display. A further function includes displaying, on the display in response to determining the selection of the user-selectable control occurs, the second routing diagram with a second portion of the particular routable component highlighted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Michel B. Alberry, Lester B. Johnson, Thomas A. Southward, Thomas W. Tipps, Michael S. Knize, John P. McGraw, Robert Pilz, Bryan Keithley Romero
  • Publication number: 20220358471
    Abstract: A method and system for generating a displayable page with a display card is described. A computer server receives data indicating a vehicle symptom and searches a computer-readable database to determine a most-likely cause of the vehicle symptom, a most-probable component associated with the most-likely cause, a component-type identifier associated with the most-probable component, a subset of information categories from among a set of information categories associated with at least one component-type identifier, and data to populate the display card. The server generates the displayable page including the display card and the data to populate in the display card. The server transmits the displayable page to a display device for displaying the displayable page on a display screen. The server receives data indicating selection of an action trigger in the display card occurred and responsively provides the display device with data to update the display card or another displayable page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Todd Mercer, Joshua C. Covington, Kahlil H. Cacabelos, Thomas Southward
  • Patent number: 11429936
    Abstract: A method and system for generating a displayable page with a display card is described. A computer server receives data indicating a vehicle symptom and searches a computer-readable database to determine a most-likely cause of the vehicle symptom, a most-probable component associated with the most-likely cause, a component-type identifier associated with the most-probable component, a subset of information categories from among a set of information categories associated with at least one component-type identifier, and data to populate the display card. The server generates the displayable page including the display card and the data to populate in the display card. The server transmits the displayable page to a display device for displaying the displayable page on a display screen. The server receives data indicating selection of an action trigger in the display card occurred and responsively provides the display device with data to update the display card or another displayable page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Todd Mercer, Joshua C. Covington, Kahlil H. Cacabelos, Thomas Southward
  • Patent number: 11386401
    Abstract: A computing system could have access to mapping data that maps each of a plurality of procedures to respective component identifier(s) used in collision-repair estimates, each procedure including information for repair of vehicle component(s) represented by the respective component identifier(s). Given this, the computing system could instruct a display device to display a visual identifier of a particular collision-repair estimate, could receive input indicative of selection of the visual identifier, and could responsively instruct the display device to display visual indicators representative of vehicle component(s) associated with the particular collision-repair estimate. Moreover, the computing system could receive input indicative of selection of one or more of the visual indicators representative of selected vehicle component(s), and could responsively determine, according to the mapping data, particular procedure(s) based on component identifier(s) representative of the selected vehicle component(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC
    Inventors: Lester B. Johnson, Todd Mercer, Thomas Southward
  • Publication number: 20210004585
    Abstract: A method includes transmitting a request for a computer-readable routing diagram, such as a wiring diagram, a pneumatic or hydraulic line diagram, or an optical cable diagram. The method also includes receiving, in response to the request, a routing diagram including a connectable component and at least a portion of a routing set. The connectable component is associated with both a connectable component identifier and the routing set. The routing set contains one or more routable components, such as electrical circuits, pneumatic or hydraulic lines, or optical cables. Further, the method includes displaying, on a display, the routing diagram and at least the portion of the routing set highlighted. Displaying at least the portion of the routing set highlighted occurs in response to an occurrence of the connectable component being selected from the routing diagram displayed on the display or in response to the request including the connectable component identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Michel B. Alberry, Lester B. Johnson, Michael S. Knize, John P. McGraw, Robert Pilz, Thomas A. Southward, Thomas W. Tipps, Eric J. Wade, Patrick S. Merg, Roy Steven Brozovich, Todd Mercer
  • Publication number: 20200279230
    Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying information sets in determined orders are described. The information sets comprise vehicle service information. An order of information set identifiers associated with the information sets is based on vehicle identifying information of a subset of vehicles, and an additional search term comprising a symptom identifier and/or a vehicle component identifier of a component located on the vehicles. The information set identifiers of the group can be arranged according to a hierarchy of information set identifiers. The information sets are output to a vehicle service tool (VST) that displays the information sets. The VST can provide feedback data indicative of whether any aspect of an information set was selected while displayed. A server can aggregate feedback data received from multiple instances of displaying the information sets and determine a modified order for at least some of the information set identifiers of the previously determined group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Todd Mercer, Joshua C. Covington, Kahlil H. Cacabelos, Thomas Southward, Roy S. Brozovich
  • Publication number: 20200234252
    Abstract: A computing system could have access to mapping data that maps each of a plurality of procedures to respective component identifier(s) used in collision-repair estimates, each procedure including information for repair of vehicle component(s) represented by the respective component identifier(s). Given this, the computing system could instruct a display device to display a visual identifier of a particular collision-repair estimate, could receive input indicative of selection of the visual identifier, and could responsively instruct the display device to display visual indicators representative of vehicle component(s) associated with the particular collision-repair estimate. Moreover, the computing system could receive input indicative of selection of one or more of the visual indicators representative of selected vehicle component(s), and could responsively determine, according to the mapping data, particular procedure(s) based on component identifier(s) representative of the selected vehicle component(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Lester B. Johnson, Todd Mercer, Thomas Southward
  • Patent number: 10692051
    Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying information sets in determined orders are described. The information sets comprise vehicle service information. An order of information set identifiers associated with the information sets is based on vehicle identifying information of a subset of vehicles, and an additional search term comprising a symptom identifier and/or a vehicle component identifier of a component located on the vehicles. The information set identifiers of the group can be arranged according to a hierarchy of information set identifiers. The information sets are output to a vehicle service tool (VST) that displays the information sets. The VST can provide feedback data indicative of whether any aspect of an information set was selected while displayed. A server can aggregate feedback data received from multiple instances of displaying the information sets and determine a modified order for at least some of the information set identifiers of the previously determined group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Todd Mercer, Joshua C. Covington, Kahlil H. Cacabelos, Thomas Southward, Roy S. Brozovich
  • Publication number: 20180225341
    Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying information sets in determined orders are described. The information sets comprise vehicle service information. An order of information set identifiers associated with the information sets is based on vehicle identifying information of a subset of vehicles, and an additional search term comprising a symptom identifier and/or a vehicle component identifier of a component located on the vehicles. The information set identifiers of the group can be arranged according to a hierarchy of information set identifiers. The information sets are output to a vehicle service tool (VST) that displays the information sets. The VST can provide feedback data indicative of whether any aspect of an information set was selected while displayed. A server can aggregate feedback data received from multiple instances of displaying the information sets and determine a modified order for at least some of the information set identifiers of the previously determined group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Todd Mercer, Joshua C. Covington, Kahlil H. Cacabelos, Thomas Southward, Roy S. Brozovich
  • Publication number: 20170098200
    Abstract: A method and system for generating a displayable page with a display card is described. A computer server receives data indicating a vehicle symptom and searches a computer-readable database to determine a most-likely cause of the vehicle symptom, a most-probable component associated with the most-likely cause, a component-type identifier associated with the most-probable component, a subset of information categories from among a set of information categories associated with at least one component-type identifier, and data to populate the display card. The server generates the displayable page including the display card and the data to populate in the display card. The server transmits the displayable page to a display device for displaying the displayable page on a display screen. The server receives data indicating selection of an action trigger in the display card occurred and responsively provides the display device with data to update the display card or another displayable page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Todd Mercer, Joshua C. Covington, Kahlil H. Cacabelos, Thomas Southward