Patents by Inventor W. Howard

W. Howard 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: 11644871
    Abstract: An information handling system may be implemented as a notebook, comprising a first assembly, a second assembly, a hinge mechanically coupling the first assembly to the second assembly wherein the hinge comprises a surface having an apparent reflectivity of light which is variable from a first location of the surface to a second location of the surface, a source of light configured to project light onto a surface of the hinge, and a sensor configured to detect an intensity of light reflected from the surface of the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Kened Li-Diaz, Anthony W. Howard
  • Publication number: 20230123993
    Abstract: A client device operates by: receiving a ticket transaction request for a ticket transaction having a ticket NFT associated therewith; generating, in response to the ticket transaction request, transaction metadata that includes user identification data; sending the transaction metadata to a wallet associated with a user of a client device, the wallet containing a private key associated with the ticket NFT; receiving, from the wallet, a transaction response that is generated based on the private key; generating, based on the transaction response, ownership check data; sending the ownership check data to a blockchain system that stores the ticket NFT; receiving, from the blockchain system, an ownership validation response; and indicating approval of the ticket transaction when ownership of the ticket NFT is verified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Galiant Arts, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Meyers, Bruce E. Stuckman, John W. Howard, Brian G. Howard, Gregory Meador
  • Publication number: 20230119838
    Abstract: A game system operates by receiving a start game request for game corresponding to a game application having a player token NFT associated therewith; generating launch metadata; sending the launch metadata to a wallet associated with a user of a client device, the wallet containing a private key associated with the player token NFT; receiving, from the wallet, a launch response that is generated based on the private key; generating, based on the launch response, ownership check data; sending the ownership check data to a blockchain system that stores the player token NFT; receiving, from the blockchain system, an ownership validation response; enabling, via the game application, play of a game associated with the game application when the ownership validation response indicates ownership of the player token NFT is verified; and preventing, via the game application, the play of the game when the ownership validation response indicates the ownership of the player token NFT is not verified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Galiant Arts, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Meyers, Bruce E. Stuckman, John W. Howard, Brian G. Howard, Gregory Meador
  • Publication number: 20230122552
    Abstract: An NFT system operates by receiving an application launch request for a game application having a game non-fungible token (NFT) associated therewith; generating, via the game application and in response to the application launch request, launch metadata; sending the launch metadata to an NFT wallet, the NFT wallet containing a private key associated with the game NFT; receiving, from the NFT wallet, a launch response that is generated based on the private key; generating, via the game application and based on the launch response, an ownership check; sending the ownership check to a blockchain system that stores the game NFT; receiving, from the blockchain system, an ownership validation response; and enabling, via the game application, play of the game when the ownership validation response indicates ownership of the game NFT is verified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Galiant Arts, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Meyers, Bruce E. Stuckman, John W. Howard, Brian G. Howard, Gregory Meador
  • Publication number: 20230125021
    Abstract: A game system operates by: receiving character attribute selection data to be associated with a game character, wherein the character attribute selection data indicates a unique subset of a set of character attributes of a character attribute database; generating, based on the character attribute selection data, display data associated with the game character; facilitating, based on the display data associated with the game character, generation of a player token NFT associated with the game character; and preventing use of the unique subset of character attributes of the character attribute database in generating other game characters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Galiant Arts, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Meyers, Bruce E. Stuckman, John W. Howard, Brian G. Howard, Gregory Meador
  • Publication number: 20230119641
    Abstract: A non-fungible token (NFT) platform operates by: accessing, via a network interface, a plurality of game NFTs, each of the plurality of game NFTs including a playable instance of an associated game that is accessible by a user of a client device; generating, via a processor, display data associated with a customized collection display that contains the plurality of game NFTs; sending, via the network interface, the display data associated with a customized collection display to the client device for display via a graphical user interface associated with the client device; receiving, via the graphical user interface, a selection of one the plurality of game NFTs for play of the associated game; and facilitating, via the network interface, play of the associated game in conjunction with the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Galiant Arts, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Meyers, Bruce E. Stuckman, John W. Howard, Brian G. Howard, Gregory Meador
  • Patent number: 11631186
    Abstract: Systems and methods for image recognition are provided. A style-transfer neural network is trained for each real image to obtain a trained style-transfer neural network. The texture or style features of the real images are transferred, via the trained style-transfer neural network, to a target image to generate styled images which are used for training an image-recognition machine learning model (e.g., a neural network). In some cases, the real images are clustered and representative style images are selected from the clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Muhammad J. Afridi, Elisa J. Collins, Jonathan D. Gandrud, James W. Howard, Arash Sangari, James B. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20230012256
    Abstract: Techniques regarding vacuum bags are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a vacuum bag comprising a spunbond meltblown spunbond (SMS) liner layer adhered to a carrier layer of non-woven material. The vacuum bag can also comprise a seam comprising an adhesive layer bonding a first end of the carrier layer directly to a second end of the carrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventor: Mark W. Howard
  • Publication number: 20220382334
    Abstract: An information handling system may include a battery, a circuit board, an enclosure, and a control circuit. The circuit board may include at least one electric component, a first electrically conductive pad, and a second electrically conductive pad in proximity to the first electrically conductive pad. The enclosure may be configured to house components of the information handling system including the battery and the circuit board, and the enclosure may include a first member, a second member configured to be mechanically coupled to the first member, and a mechanical component comprising conductive material and configured to electrically short the first electrically conductive pad to the second electrically conductive pad when the first member is mechanically coupled to the second member, and cause electrical isolation of the first electrically conductive pad from the second electrically conductive pad when the first member is mechanically decoupled from the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Isaac Q. WANG, Anthony W. HOWARD
  • Patent number: 11500427
    Abstract: An information handling system may include a battery, a circuit board, an enclosure, and a control circuit. The circuit board may include at least one electric component, a first electrically conductive pad, and a second electrically conductive pad in proximity to the first electrically conductive pad. The enclosure may be configured to house components of the information handling system including the battery and the circuit board, and the enclosure may include a first member, a second member configured to be mechanically coupled to the first member, and a mechanical component comprising conductive material and configured to electrically short the first electrically conductive pad to the second electrically conductive pad when the first member is mechanically coupled to the second member, and cause electrical isolation of the first electrically conductive pad from the second electrically conductive pad when the first member is mechanically decoupled from the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Isaac Q. Wang, Anthony W. Howard
  • Patent number: 11429803
    Abstract: In some examples, a method includes selecting, by a coding computing device, a particular identifier from a set of identifiers generated by an identifier allocation authority, wherein the set of identifiers are included within a global set of identifiers maintained by the identifier allocation authority; coding, by the coding computing device, the particular identifier from the set of identifiers into an optical element set that represents an optical code comprising a plurality of finder optical elements arranged in a pattern to localize the optical code within an image, a plurality of context optical elements representing context information, and a plurality of content optical elements representing content information; and generating a visual output of the optical code that is decodable to the particular identifier which, in combination with at least one other parameter associated with the optical element set, comprises a globally unique identifier in a set of globally unique identifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James W. Howard, James B. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20220248182
    Abstract: A wireless device includes a user interface that generates a pairing signal in response to an indication from a user to pair the wireless device to at least one remote device and generates a first location request signal in response to a second indication from a user to locate the at least one remote device. A short-range wireless transceiver communicates RF signals to pair the wireless device to the at least one remote device and that transmits a first RF paging signal to the at least one remote device in response to the location request signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: THL Holding Company, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Howard, Richard Cutler, Robert M. Kennard
  • Publication number: 20220215665
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for a personal protective equipment (PPE) management system (PPEMS) that uses images of optical patterns embodied on articles of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to identify safety conditions that correspond to usage of the PPEs. In one example, an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) includes a first optical pattern embodied on a surface of the article of PPE; a second optical pattern embodied on the surface of the article of PPE, wherein a spatial relation between the first optical pattern and the second optical pattern is indicative of an operational status of the article of PPE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Caroline M. Ylitalo, Kui Chen-Ho, Paul L. Acito, Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, James B. Snyder, Travis L. Potts, James W. Howard, James L.C. Werness, Jr., Suman K. Patel, Charles A. Shaklee, Katja Hansen, Glenn E. Casner, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Steven T. Awiszus, Neeraj Sharma
  • Patent number: 11361562
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an article, such as a pathway article or a sheeting. The article includes a physical surface having a code embodied thereon. The code is associated with pathway information in transaction data stored by a blockchain managed by a consensus network of node. The pathway information indicates one or more characteristics of a vehicle pathway, wherein the pathway information provides at least one of: information descriptive of at least a portion of the vehicle pathway, or vehicle operation instructions associated with the portion of the vehicle pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: James B. Snyder, Justin M. Johnson, James W. Howard
  • Patent number: 11350246
    Abstract: A wireless device includes a user interface that generates a pairing signal in response to an indication from a user to pair the wireless device to at least one remote device and generates a first location request signal in response to a second indication from a user to locate the at least one remote device. A short-range wireless transceiver communicates RF signals to pair the wireless device to the at least one remote device and that transmits a first RF paging signal to the at least one remote device in response to the location request signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: THL Holding Company, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Howard, Richard Cutler, Robert M. Kennard
  • Publication number: 20220163388
    Abstract: An optical system is disclosed and includes an optical sensor, a plurality of photosensitive pixels disposed on the optical sensor, a wavelength-selective optical filter in optical communication with the photosensitive pixels, the wavelength-selective optical filter being disposed remotely from the optical sensor, an area disposed in the wavelength-selective optical filter, the area having a transmission spectrum different from a transmission spectrum of a portion of the wavelength-selective optical filter not in the area and a reflector, the wavelength-selective optical filter and a measurement subject each being disposed between the reflector and the optical sensor along an optical path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Mark A. Roehrig, Del R. Lawson, Tony J. Kaufman, James W. Howard, Kevin W. Gotrik, Claire R. Donoghue, Joshua M. Fishman, Jonah Shaver
  • Patent number: 11324421
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring impairment indicators. The method comprises, during a first time window, measuring a first movement signal related to movement of a person with a movement sensor associated with the person, and measuring a first environmental signal with an environmental sensor. The method further comprises electronically storing at least one numerical descriptor derived from the first movement signal and the first environmental signal as reference data for the person. The method further includes, during a second time window, measuring a second movement signal related to movement of the person with the movement sensor and measuring a second environmental signal with the environmental sensor; and comparing at least one numerical descriptor derived from the second movement signal and the second environmental signal to the reference data to identify an impairment indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James W. Howard, Eric C. Lobner, Jennifer F. Schumacher
  • Publication number: 20220141624
    Abstract: A wireless device includes a user interface that generates a pairing signal in response to an indication from a user to pair the wireless device to at least one remote device and generates a first location request signal in response to a second indication from a user to locate the at least one remote device. A short-range wireless transceiver communicates RF signals to pair the wireless device to the at least one remote device and that transmits a first RF paging signal to the at least one remote device in response to the location request signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: THL Holding Company, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Howard, Richard Cutler, Robert M. Kennard
  • Patent number: 11314971
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for a personal protective equipment (PPE) management system (PPEMS) that uses images of optical patterns embodied on articles of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to identify safety conditions that correspond to usage of the PPEs. In one example, an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) includes a first optical pattern embodied on a surface of the article of PPE; a second optical pattern embodied on the surface of the article of PPE, wherein a spatial relation between the first optical pattern and the second optical pattern is indicative of an operational status of the article of PPE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Caroline M. Ylitalo, Kui Chen-Ho, Paul L. Acito, Tien Yi T. H. Whiting, James B. Snyder, Travis L. Potts, James W. Howard, James L. C. Werness, Jr., Suman K. Patel, Charles A. Shaklee, Katja Hansen, Glenn E. Casner, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Steven T. Awiszus, Neeraj Sharma
  • Patent number: D962717
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventor: Derek W. Howard