Patents by Inventor Timothy A. Barnes

Timothy A. Barnes 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: 20230348201
    Abstract: A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Charles R. Combs, James P. Knapke, Dimitar Ivanov Petrov, Timothy A. Barnes, David W. Sellers
  • Patent number: 11724888
    Abstract: A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Insight Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Combs, James P. Knapke, Dimitar Ivanov Petrov, Timothy A. Barnes, David W. Sellers
  • Patent number: 11403571
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for a team-based approach to skills-based agent assignment in task routing systems. According to one embodiment, performing skills-based task assignments in a task routing system can comprise identifying a team of agents. The team of agents can comprise a plurality of agents handling a currently assigned task but expected to become available for assignment of a new task. Each agent of the team of agents can be earmarked to one of a plurality of new tasks selected from a queue of tasks. At some point, one of the agents of the team can be detected as being available and the agent detected as being available can be assigned to one of the plurality of new tasks based at least in part on consideration of the earmarking of the agents of the team to the plurality of new tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Victor Chung-Wai Chan, W. Scott Seebauer, Timothy Barnes, Dana Allison
  • Publication number: 20220162015
    Abstract: A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Charles R. Combs, James P. Knapke, Dimitar Ivanov Petrov, Timothy A. Barnes, David W. Sellers
  • Patent number: 11247846
    Abstract: A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Insight Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Combs, James P. Knapke, Dimitar Ivanov Petrov, Timothy A. Barnes, David W. Sellers
  • Publication number: 20200277145
    Abstract: A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Charles R. Combs, James P. Knapke, Dimitar Ivanov Petrov, Timothy A. Barnes, David W. Sellers
  • Patent number: 10654659
    Abstract: A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Insight Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Combs, James P. Knapke, Dimitar Ivanov Petrov, Timothy A. Barnes, David W. Sellers
  • Publication number: 20200012992
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for a team-based approach to skills-based agent assignment in task routing systems. According to one embodiment, performing skills-based task assignments in a task routing system can comprise identifying a team of agents. The team of agents can comprise a plurality of agents handling a currently assigned task but expected to become available for assignment of a new task. Each agent of the team of agents can be earmarked to one of a plurality of new tasks selected from a queue of tasks. At some point, one of the agents of the team can be detected as being available and the agent detected as being available can be assigned to one of the plurality of new tasks based at least in part on consideration of the earmarking of the agents of the team to the plurality of new tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Victor Chung-Wai CHAN, W. Scott SEEBAUER, Timothy BARNES, Dana ALLISON
  • Patent number: 10445670
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for a team-based approach to skills-based agent assignment in task routing systems. According to one embodiment, performing skills-based task assignments in a task routing system can comprise identifying a team of agents. The team of agents can comprise a plurality of agents handling a currently assigned task but expected to become available for assignment of a new task. Each agent of the team of agents can be earmarked to one of a plurality of new tasks selected from a queue of tasks. At some point, one of the agents of the team can be detected as being available and the agent detected as being available can be assigned to one of the plurality of new tasks based at least in part on consideration of the earmarking of the agents of the team to the plurality of new tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Victor Chung-Wai Chan, W. Scott Seebauer, Timothy Barnes, Dana Allison
  • Publication number: 20190210814
    Abstract: A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Charles R. Combs, James P. Knapke, Dimitar Ivanov Petrov, Timothy A. Barnes, David W. Sellers
  • Patent number: 10233028
    Abstract: A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether a another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Insight Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Combs, James P. Knapke, Dimitar Ivanov Petrov, Timothy A. Barnes, David W. Sellers
  • Publication number: 20170137230
    Abstract: A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether a another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Charles R. Combs, James P. Knapke, Dimitar Ivanov Petrov, Timothy A. Barnes, David W. Sellers
  • Patent number: 9555977
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and program products for controlling a conveyor. One embodiment of the method includes operating a motorized roller of the conveyor to rotate in a first direction corresponding to a direction of travel, and in response to detecting that a jam has occurred, operating the motorized roller to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction. Another embodiment of the method includes sending a message to a second controller controlling a downstream conveyor requesting data to determine whether the downstream conveyor is occupied by an article. In response to determining the downstream conveyor is not occupied by the article, operating a motorized roller of an upstream conveyor to convey an incoming article at a target speed, and in response to determining the downstream conveyor is occupied by the article, operating the motorized roller to convey the incoming article at an adjusted target speed slower than the target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Insight Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Combs, James P. Knapke, Dimitar I. Petrov, Timothy A. Barnes, David W. Sellers
  • Publication number: 20160036977
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for handling a customer contact in a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system by defining one or more channel models, each channel model mapping one or more contact purposes or one or more contact types to one or more of the plurality of channels. Real-time information about a received customer contact can be collected and one or more of a plurality of channels can be selected to handle the customer contact based at least in part on a predictive analysis of the collected real-time information. A contact purpose or a contact type for the received customer contact can be determined based on the collected real-time information. In such cases, selecting one or more of the plurality of channels can be further based on the determined contact purpose or contact type for the received customer contact and the defined one or more channel models.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: VICTOR CHUNG-WAI CHAN, W. SCOTT SEEBAUER, TIMOTHY BARNES
  • Publication number: 20150127400
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for a team-based approach to skills-based agent assignment in task routing systems. According to one embodiment, performing skills-based task assignments in a task routing system can comprise identifying a team of agents. The team of agents can comprise a plurality of agents handling a currently assigned task but expected to become available for assignment of a new task. Each agent of the team of agents can be earmarked to one of a plurality of new tasks selected from a queue of tasks. At some point, one of the agents of the team can be detected as being available and the agent detected as being available can be assigned to one of the plurality of new tasks based at least in part on consideration of the earmarking of the agents of the team to the plurality of new tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: VICTOR CHUNG-WAI CHAN, W. SCOTT SEEBAUER, TIMOTHY BARNES, DANA ALLISON
  • Publication number: 20140244030
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and program products for controlling a conveyor. One embodiment of the method includes operating a motorized roller of the conveyor to rotate in a first direction corresponding to a direction of travel, and in response to detecting that a jam has occurred, operating the motorized roller to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction. Another embodiment of the method includes sending a message to a second controller controlling a downstream conveyor requesting data to determine whether the downstream conveyor is occupied by an article. In response to determining the downstream conveyor is not occupied by the article, operating a motorized roller of an upstream conveyor to convey an incoming article at a target speed, and in response to determining the downstream conveyor is occupied by the article, operating the motorized roller to convey the incoming article at an adjusted target speed slower than the target speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Insight Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Combs, James P. Knapke, Dimitar I. Petrov, Timothy A. Barnes, David W. Sellers
  • Patent number: 8757363
    Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and program products that are used to control at least a portion of a conveyor, determine information about an article conveyed by the conveyor, or otherwise operate a conveyor are provided. One method includes detecting whether a second conveyor controller is connected to the first conveyor controller and, in response to detecting that there is a second conveyor controller connected to the first conveyor controller, identifying whether the second conveyor controller is connected to a predetermined network interface of the first conveyor controller. The method further includes configuring the first conveyor controller to rotate a motorized roller in a first predetermined direction if a second conveyor controller is connected to the predetermined network interface and configuring the first conveyor controller to rotate the motorized roller in a second predetermined direction if a second conveyor controller is not connected to the predetermined network interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Insight Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Combs, James P. Knapke, Dimitar I. Petrov, Timothy A. Barnes, David W. Sellers
  • Publication number: 20120290126
    Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and program products that are used to control at least a portion of a conveyor, determine information about an article conveyed by the conveyor, or otherwise operate a conveyor are provided. One method includes detecting whether a second conveyor controller is connected to the first conveyor controller and, in response to detecting that there is a second conveyor controller connected to the first conveyor controller, identifying whether the second conveyor controller is connected to a predetermined network interface of the first conveyor controller. The method further includes configuring the first conveyor controller to rotate a motorized roller in a first predetermined direction if a second conveyor controller is connected to the predetermined network interface and configuring the first conveyor controller to rotate the motorized roller in a second predetermined direction if a second conveyor controller is not connected to the predetermined network interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: INSIGHT AUTOMATION, INC.
    Inventors: Charles R. Combs, James P. Knaple, Dimitar ivanov Petrov, Timothy A. Barnes, David W. Sellers
  • Patent number: 8231222
    Abstract: A heliostat having a frame structure for supporting a mirror. The frame structure is pivotable about at least one axis of rotation. A liquid ballast system is mounted on a side of the frame structure that is remote from the reflective surface of the mirror. The liquid ballast system includes at least two tanks, and an imaginary line between the tanks extends at an angle or perpendicular to the axis of rotation. An arrangement is provided for moving ballast liquid between the tanks in an actively controlled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: New Mexico Technical Research Foundation
    Inventors: Timothy Barnes, Warren Ostergren, David Petersen, Robert Slingsby
  • Publication number: 20100207630
    Abstract: In a method and an arrangement for shimming a cylindrical magnet system, that has a cylindrical magnet having a bore therein with an axis extending therethrough, and a gradient coil assembly located within the bore, shimming is accomplished by stacking a number of planar pieces of shim material in each of said tubes, with each of the tubes having an axis parallel to the axis of the cylindrical magnet, and with the planar pieces of shim material and stacked in the tubes in respective planes that are perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Timothy Barnes, Benjamin John Catmull, John Hedley Toyer, Ian Wilkinson