Patents by Inventor Todd Nix

Todd Nix 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: 9894439
    Abstract: A computing device includes a first housing and a second housing attached by a hinge. The first housing includes a first microphone and the second housing includes a second microphone. After determining that an angle between the first and second housing has changed to a current angle, the computing device may determine a distance between the first microphone and the second microphone based on the current angle. A first audio signal from the first microphone and a second audio signal from the second microphone may each be modified (e.g., using a beamforming algorithm) to create first and second modified audio signals. The first and second modified audio signals may include less noise than the first and second audio signals. The first and second modified audio signals may be sent to an output jack or to an audio application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Peeler, Lawrence E. Knepper, William D. Todd Nix
  • Patent number: 9596493
    Abstract: A multimedia content container storing multimedia content in plural formats has a portion of the multimedia content transmuxed in a selected one of the plural formats to a delivery container for communication from a server information handling system to a client information handling system in response to a request for the content. Only the format supported by the client information handling system is provided from the plural formats of the multimedia container to the client information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventor: William Dale Todd Nix
  • Patent number: 9594581
    Abstract: A simple to customize IT infrastructure architecture. The IT infrastructure architecture includes a general-purpose virtualized architecture platform. The IT infrastructure architecture is well suited for delivering simple pre-packaged software solutions to the small business segment as plug and play type appliances. In certain preferred embodiments, the IT infrastructure architecture includes a virtual appliance memory device such as a virtual appliance universal serial bus (USB) key. The IT infrastructure architecture uses embedded server virtualization technology to host business applications as a virtual appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Gary Douglas Huber, Kevin A. Kettler, Yuan-Chang Lo, William Dale Todd Nix
  • Patent number: 9348420
    Abstract: Projected input and output devices adapt to a desktop environment by sensing objects at the desktop environment and altering projected light in response to the sensed objects. For instance, projection of input and output devices is altered to limit illumination against and end user's hands or other objects disposed at a projection surface. End user hand positions and motions are detected to provide gesture support for adapting a projection work space, and configurations of projected devices are stored so that an end user can rapidly recreate a projected desktop. A projector scan adjusts to limit traces across inactive portions of the display surface and to increase traces at predetermined areas, such as video windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Erin K. Walline, Karthikeyan Krishnakumar, Mark R. Ligameri, Rocco Ancona, Michiel Sebastiaan Emanuel Petrus Knoppert, William Dale Todd Nix
  • Publication number: 20150268732
    Abstract: Projected input and output devices adapt to a desktop environment by sensing objects at the desktop environment and altering projected light in response to the sensed objects. For instance, projection of input and output devices is altered to limit illumination against and end user's hands or other objects disposed at a projection surface. End user hand positions and motions are detected to provide gesture support for adapting a projection work space, and configurations of projected devices are stored so that an end user can rapidly recreate a projected desktop. A projector scan adjusts to limit traces across inactive portions of the display surface and to increase traces at predetermined areas, such as video windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Erin K. Walline, Karthikeyan Krishnakumar, Mark R. Ligameri, Rocco Ancona, Michiel Sebastiaan Emanuel Petrus Knoppert, William Dale Todd Nix
  • Publication number: 20150255070
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing wake-on-voice buffer quality based on system boot profiling. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include at least one logic circuit and at least one memory circuit coupled to the at least one logic circuit, the at least one memory including program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the at least one logic circuit, cause the IHS to: determine an expected time duration of a future wake event; receive a verbal command from a user, the verbal command configured to trigger the future wake event; capture the verbal command as an audio signal; adjust at least one of: a quality of the audio signal or a duration of the audio signal, where the adjustment is based, at least in part, upon the expected time duration; and store the adjusted audio signal in a fixed-size buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Richard W. Schuckle, Rocco Ancona, William Dale Todd Nix
  • Publication number: 20140108098
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system for managing the entitlement of digital assets may include a storage medium and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive digital asset usage information regarding usage of a digital asset within an enterprise. The processor may also be configured to receive entitlement information regarding existing entitlements for usage of the digital asset within the enterprise. The processor may further configured to receive available entitlement information regarding entitlements other than the existing entitlements that may be acquired for usage of the digital asset within the enterprise. The processor may additionally be configured to determine based on a comparison of the digital asset usage information to the available entitlement information, whether acquisition of entitlements other than the existing entitlements is more cost efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Michael Haze, Clint H. O'Connor, Todd Nix
  • Publication number: 20140108616
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system for managing the entitlement of digital assets, may include a storage medium comprising a catalog of digital assets and a processor. The processor may be configured to communicate from the information handling system identities of one or more of the digital assets in the catalog to a user at a target system remote from the information handling system. The processor may also be configured to receive from the user a request for a particular digital asset to be entitled for use on the target system. The processor may further be configured to responsive to approval of the request, cause the digital asset to be downloaded to the target system and entitle the digital asset for use on the target system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Michael Haze, Clint H. O'Connor, Todd Nix
  • Publication number: 20140108332
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system for migrating digital assets may include a storage medium and a processor. The storage medium may be configured to store information regarding digital assets to be migrated from a source system to a target system. The processor may be configured to, for each of one or more digital assets associated with the source system, identify whether the digital asset is duplicated. The processor may also be configured to, for each digital asset identified as having a duplicate, migrate the digital asset to the target system such that fewer instances of the digital asset are associated with the target system than were associated with the source system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Michael Haze, Todd Nix
  • Publication number: 20130198337
    Abstract: A multimedia content container storing multimedia content in plural formats has a portion of the multimedia content transmuxed in a selected one of the plural formats to a delivery container for communication from a server information handling system to a client information handling system in response to a request for the content. Only the format supported by the client information handling system is provided from the plural formats of the multimedia container to the client information handling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventor: William Dale Todd Nix
  • Patent number: 8325148
    Abstract: A secured communication channel is established between two or more information handling systems by defining attributes for encrypting information with physical inputs made at touch devices of the information handling systems. Inputting the physical gesture at a touch device of each information handling system allows evaluation of one or more attributes at each information handling system so that the shared secret of the physical gesture form the basis for encrypted communications. The touch device includes touch screens or touch pads and the attributes include gesture speed, plural distinct gesture touch points, movement of touch points relative to each other, or other attributes that are determinable from physical gesture inputs at each information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Douglas Anson, Gary Douglas Huber, Yuan-Chang Lo, William Dale Todd Nix, Roy Stedman
  • Patent number: 8161201
    Abstract: A method for configuring a peripheral device in communication with an information handling system (IHS) is disclosed, wherein the method includes receiving visual data associated with the peripheral device and mapping configuration data to the peripheral device based on the visual data. The method further includes utilizing the configuration data to configure the peripheral device in communication with the IHS. An information handling system (IHS) in communication with an image capturing device is further disclosed including a storage device operable to store a database, the database configured to store a standard image of a peripheral device, wherein the standard image is associated with configuration data for the peripheral device. The system further includes a memory coupled to the storage device and a processor to receive visual data associated with the peripheral device from the image capturing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Douglas M. Anson, Yuan-Chang Lo, William Dale Todd Nix, Clint H. O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20100306418
    Abstract: A method for configuring a peripheral device in communication with an information handling system (IHS) is disclosed, wherein the method includes receiving visual data associated with the peripheral device and mapping configuration data to the peripheral device based on the visual data. The method further includes utilizing the configuration data to configure the peripheral device in communication with the IHS. An information handling system (IHS) in communication with an image capturing device is further disclosed including a storage device operable to store a database, the database configured to store a standard image of a peripheral device, wherein the standard image is associated with configuration data for the peripheral device. The system further includes a memory coupled to the storage device and a processor to receive visual data associated with the peripheral device from the image capturing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Douglas M. Anson, Yuan-Chang Lo, William Dale Todd Nix, Clint H. O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20100259486
    Abstract: A secured communication channel is established between two or more information handling systems by defining attributes for encrypting information with physical inputs made at touch devices of the information handling systems. Inputting the physical gesture at a touch device of each information handling system allows evaluation of one or more attributes at each information handling system so that the shared secret of the physical gesture form the basis for encrypted communications. The touch device includes touch screens or touch pads and the attributes include gesture speed, plural distinct gesture touch points, movement of touch points relative to each other, or other attributes that are determinable from physical gesture inputs at each information handling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Douglas Anson, Gary Douglas Huber, Yuan-Chang Lo, William Dale Todd Nix, Roy Stedman
  • Patent number: 7738569
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for ultra-wideband (UWB) secure wireless device pairing. Secure pairing between devices for secure UWB communications is conducted over in-band UWB communications to provide secure pairing without requiring a visual confirmation through a graphical user interface (GUI), in particular, for wireless personal area network (WPAN) communications. The secure in-band pairing of wireless UWB devices over a UWB radio link provides considerable advantages over prior secure pairing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Liam B. Quinn, Douglas M. Anson, William Dale Todd Nix
  • Publication number: 20100031255
    Abstract: A simple to customize IT infrastructure architecture. The IT infrastructure architecture includes a general-purpose virtualized architecture platform. The IT infrastructure architecture is well suited for delivering simple pre-packaged software solutions to the small business segment as plug and play type appliances. In certain preferred embodiments, the IT infrastructure architecture includes a virtual appliance memory device such as a virtual appliance universal serial bus (USB) key. The IT infrastructure architecture uses embedded server virtualization technology to host business applications as a virtual appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Gary Douglas Huber, Kevin A. Kettler, Yuan-Chang Lo, William Dale Todd Nix
  • Publication number: 20070242729
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for ultra-wideband (UWB) secure wireless device pairing. Secure pairing between devices for secure UWB communications is conducted over in-band UWB communications to provide secure pairing without requiring a visual confirmation through a graphical user interface (GUI), in particular, for wireless personal area network (WPAN) communications. The secure in-band pairing of wireless UWB devices over a UWB radio link provides considerable advantages over prior secure pairing techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Liam Quinn, Douglas Anson, William Todd Nix
  • Patent number: 6550062
    Abstract: A system and method for installing and/or testing software for a build-to-order computer system having a plurality of components includes a plurality of elements. The computer system has an associated step sequence. The step sequence includes a plurality of steps where each step includes at least one command and a step is associated with a respective software component descriptor. The at least one command can be in more than one computer software language. A software component descriptor corresponds to installing a respective software component on the computer system. The method includes accessing the at least one command within the step sequence; determining a corresponding computer software language associated with the at least one command; executing the at least one command in the corresponding computer software language to install the respective software component; and repeating the accessing, determining and executing for the plurality of steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Dell USA, LP
    Inventors: Gaston M. Barajas, Todd Nix
  • Patent number: 6543047
    Abstract: A build-to-order manufacturing method for producing a custom configured computer system includes obtaining a customer order. Hardware for the custom configured computer system is assembled in accordance with the customer order. The assembled hardware is then tested using software tools and utilities. Next, software is downloaded to the computer system in accordance with the customer order, the software including an operating system (OS). Lastly, a fully integrated system test is performed, the fully integrated system test including the execution of an OS setup for fully integrating the hardware and software of the custom configured computer system and testing of the fully integrated hardware and software from the OS' perspective prior to shipment to a customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Vrhel, Jr., Gaston M. Barajas, Paul J. Maia, W. D. Todd Nix
  • Patent number: 6535231
    Abstract: A method of controlling a multi-state process in a computer system includes displaying a series of icons having corresponding titles representing phases in a build process. A main action message bar displays a title indicating an action which corresponds to the title of one of the icons. When the bar is activated the action indicated is performed, and the icon title corresponding to the last performed action is highlighted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Dell Computer Corporation
    Inventor: Todd Nix