Patents by Inventor Tim Johnston

Tim Johnston 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: 7190797
    Abstract: A telephone headset utilizing a foldable microphone boom that is operable in both noise canceling and omnidirectional modes is disclosed. The headset generally comprises a main body, a boom extending between a pivoting end and a microphone housing for housing a two-port microphone, and a pivoting hinge coupling the pivoting end of the boom to the main body and enabling the boom to rotate about the pivoting hinge relative to the main body. The boom is adapted to be positioned in a first extended position in which the microphone is located away from the main body and both ports are open and a second folded position in which the microphone housing is at least partially in contact with the main body to generally close one of the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Johnston, Kwangsee Allen Woo
  • Publication number: 20020128881
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating liability in an accident. In one embodiment, liability estimation in a vehicle accident may be based on a plurality of characteristics that describe the accident. The liability may be determined from characteristics including: conditions of vehicles in the accident, conditions of drivers in the accident, actions of drivers in the accident, and/or environmental conditions in the accident. The characteristics from an actual accident may be compared to those in a past or theoretical accident. Liability may be estimated from a preassigned liability associated with a nearest matching past or theoretical accident.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020091504
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing vehicle accident information to a computer system are provided. In one embodiment, an impact point of a vehicle accident may be provided to the computer system via a graphical user interface. The computer system may include a memory. The memory may have sets of characteristics regarding one or more past or theoretical accidents. In an embodiment, at least one characteristic in the sets of characteristics may be an impact point. The computer system may display one or more of the impact points in the memory as a graphical image on the graphical user interface. A user may select an impact point of the vehicle accident from the graphical user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020087363
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing vehicle accident information to a computer system are provided. In one embodiment, a roadway configuration of a vehicle accident may be provided to the computer system via a graphical user interface. The computer system may include a memory. The memory may have sets of characteristics regarding one or more past or theoretical accidents. In an embodiment, at least one characteristic in the sets of characteristics may be a roadway configuration. The computer system may display one or more of the roadway configurations in the memory as a graphical image on the graphical user interface. A user may select a roadway configuration of the vehicle accident from the graphical user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020082873
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating liability and right of way in an accident. In one embodiment, liability estimation in a vehicle accident may be based on a plurality of characteristics that describe the accident. In addition, right of way estimation in a vehicle accident may be based on the plurality of characteristics that describe the accident. These characteristics may include: the configuration of the roadway, the type of accident, the traffic controls at the vehicle accident scene, and impact points of each vehicle. The characteristics from an actual accident may be compared to those in a past or theoretical accident. Liability may be estimated from a preassigned liability associated with a nearest matching past or theoretical accident. Right of way may be estimated from a predetermined right of way associated with the nearest matching past or theoretical accident. The liability estimate may include a base liability and one or more adjustments due to various factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020069091
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating liability in an accident. In one embodiment, liability estimation in a vehicle accident may be based on a plurality of characteristics that describe the accident. These characteristics may include: the configuration of the roadway, the type of accident, right of way, and impact points of each vehicle. The characteristics from an actual accident may be compared to those in a past or theoretical accident. Liability may be estimated from a preassigned liability associated with a nearest matching past or theoretical accident. The liability estimate may include a base liability and one or more adjustments due to various factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020069092
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating liability in an accident. In an embodiment, the liability estimate may include a base liability and one or more adjustments due to various factors. The base liability may be determined from characteristics including: the configuration of the roadway, the type of accident, right of way, and impact points of each vehicle. The adjustments due to various factors may be determined from conditions of vehicles in the accident, conditions of drivers in the accident, actions of drivers in the accident, and/or environmental conditions in the accident. In one embodiment, liability estimation in a vehicle accident may be based on a plurality of characteristics that describe the accident. The characteristics from an actual accident may be compared to those in a past or theoretical accident. Liability may be estimated from a preassigned liability associated with a nearest matching past or theoretical accident.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020062234
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating liability in an accident. In an embodiment, a liability estimate may include an upper bound of liability and a lower bound of liability. In one embodiment, liability estimation in a vehicle accident may be based on a plurality of characteristics that describe the accident. These characteristics may include: the configuration of the roadway, the type of accident, right of way, and impact points of each vehicle. The characteristics from an actual accident may be compared to those in a past or theoretical accident. Liability may be estimated from a preassigned liability associated with a nearest matching past or theoretical accident. The liability estimate may include a base liability and one or more adjustments due to various factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020062233
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating liability in an accident. In one embodiment, liability estimation in a vehicle accident may be based on a plurality of characteristics that describe the accident. These characteristics may include: the configuration of the roadway, the type of accident, right of way, and impact points of each vehicle. In an embodiment, impact points may be grouped into impact groups. A base liability may be assigned to each impact group. The characteristics from an actual accident may be compared to those in a past or theoretical accident. Liability may be estimated from a preassigned liability associated with a nearest matching past or theoretical accident. The liability estimate may include a base liability and one or more adjustments due to various factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020062235
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assigning liability estimates to past or theoretical accidents. Embodiments may be used in association with methods and systems for estimating liability in a vehicle accident. In one embodiment, liability estimation in a vehicle accident may be based on a plurality of characteristics that describe the accident. The characteristics from an actual accident may be compared to those in a past or theoretical accident. Liability may be estimated from the assigned liability associated with a nearest matching past or theoretical accident.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020062232
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining inconsistencies between two or more sets of characteristics relating to an accident. In an embodiment, sets of characteristics relating to an accident may be used to determine liability in the accident. The at least one of the sets of characteristics may be determined from witness statements. The at least one set of characteristics determined from witness statements may be compare to other sets of characteristics determined from witness statements or to other sets of characteristics determined in other ways. The comparison may determine if there are inconsistencies in the sets of characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020059087
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing claims data to a liability assesment program are provided. In one embodiment, data regarding a vehicle accident may be provided to a liability assessment program via a graphical user interface. The data may include information regarding one or more vehicles in the accident and an assessment of the vehicle accident. The data may be stored in a memory associated with the liability assessment program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020059097
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing vehicle accident information to a computer system are provided. In one embodiment, an accident type of a vehicle accident may be provided to the computer system via a graphical user interface. The computer system may include a memory. The memory may have sets of characteristics regarding one or more past or theoretical accidents. In an embodiment, at least one characteristic in the sets of characteristics may be an accident type. The computer system may display one or more of the accident types in the memory as a graphical image on the graphical user interface. A user may select an accident type of the vehicle accident from the graphical user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020059083
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating liability in an accident. In an embodiment, the liability estimate may include a base liability and one or more adjustments due to various factors. The base liability may be determined from characteristics including: the configuration of the roadway, the type of accident, right of way, and impact points of each vehicle. The adjustments due to various factors may be determined from conditions of vehicles in the accident, conditions of drivers in the accident, actions of drivers in the accident, and/or environmental conditions in the accident. In one embodiment, a base liability adjusted due to the various factors may exceed a predefined upper or lower bound of liability. In such a case, an absolute liability value may be assigned as the liability estimate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020059086
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting estimates of liability associated with past or theoretical accidents. In an embodiment, the characteristics from an actual accident may be compared to those in a past or theoretical accident. Liability may be estimated from a preassigned liability associated with a nearest matching past or theoretical accident. In one embodiment, liability estimates associated with past or theoretical accidents or characteristics of past or theoretical accidents may be adjusted The characteristics may include: conditions of vehicles in the accident, conditions of drivers in the accident, actions of drivers in the accident, and/or environmental conditions in the accident.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020059084
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting liability estimates associated with past or theoretical accidents. Embodiments may be used in association with methods and systems for estimating liability in a vehicle accident. In an embodiment, liability estimates may be associated with past or theoretical accidents. The liability estimates associated with the past or theoretical accidents may be used in methods and systems for estimating liability in a vehicle accident. The liability estimates associated with the past or theoretical accidents may be tested to determine if they yield a desired or expected liability estimate for a real accident. If the liability estimates associated with the past or theoretical accidents do not yield the desired or expected liability estimate for the real accident they may be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020059085
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a credible real set of characteristics relating to an accident. In an embodiment, sets of characteristics relating to an accident may be used to determine liability in the accident. At least one real set of characteristics may be determined from witness statements. A credible set of characteristics may be determined from physical measurements of the accident. The at least one real set of characteristics may be compare to the credible set of characteristics to determine if there are inconsistencies in the at least one real set of characteristics. A credible real set of characteristics relating to the accident may be determined from the at least one real set of characteristics and the credible set of characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020055860
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating right of way in an accident. In one embodiment, right of way estimation in a vehicle accident may be based on a plurality of characteristics that describe the accident. The characteristics from an actual accident may be compared to those in a past or theoretical accident.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020049619
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining inconsistencies between at least one real set of characteristics relating to an accident and a credible set of characteristics relating to the accident. In an embodiment, sets of characteristics relating to an accident may be used to determine liability in the accident. The at least one real set of characteristics may be determined from witness statements. The credible set of characteristics may be determined from physical measurements of the accident. The at least one real set of characteristics may be compare to the credible set of characteristics to determine if there are inconsistencies in the at least one real set of characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Wahlbin, Tim Johnston