Patents by Inventor William A. May

William A. May 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: 20140143388
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for real-time or near real-time streaming of content using transfer protocols such as an HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method includes dividing a stream of data, representing the contiguous time based content of a program (e.g. a live video broadcast), into a plurality of distinct media files, and generating a playlist file having a plurality of tags and Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) indicating an order of presentation of the plurality of distinct media files. The plurality of media files and the playlist file can be made available for transmission to a client device which can retrieve the media files using the playlist file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Biderman, William May, JR., Alan Tseng, Roger Pantos, James David Batson
  • Publication number: 20140104112
    Abstract: A system and method for determining geo position of a target by an aircraft, including: (a). electronically receiving navigation data related to the aircraft and multilateration information related to the target; (b). electronically calculating a locus of emitter positions (LEP) curve from the received navigation data and multilateration information; (c). repeating steps (a) and (b), as the aircraft moves toward or away from the target; (d). electronically accumulating, in a computer storage medium, the calculated LEP curves; and (e). electronically determining a position that is closest to all the accumulated LEP curves to establish a position of the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: RATHEON APPLIED SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: William May
  • Publication number: 20140057487
    Abstract: Repositionable cord mounts which have sufficient yield strength to support an electronic device in a desired orientation so that, for example, the screen of a smartphone can be elevated and/or positioned at any desired elevated position and inclined angle while being supported entirely by a cord mount. The cord mounts comprise plugs having plug bodies, typically formed of a polymeric material, from which electrical connectors extend. The surface of the plug body from which the conductive portions extend is referred to herein as the “protrusion surface”. All support for an electronic device connected to a plug is provided by one or more male portions and the protrusion surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventor: William May
  • Patent number: 8650192
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for real-time or near real-time streaming of content using transfer protocols such as an HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method includes dividing a stream of data, representing the contiguous time based content of a program (e.g. a live video broadcast), into a plurality of distinct media files, and generating a playlist file having a plurality of tags and Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) indicating an order of presentation of the plurality of distinct media files. The plurality of media files and the playlist file can be made available for transmission to a client device which can retrieve the media files using the playlist file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Biderman, William May, Jr., Alan Tseng, Roger Pantos, James David Batson
  • Patent number: 8639832
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses provide real-time or near real-time streaming of content using transfer protocols such as an HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method includes providing multiple redundant locations that provide media content to client devices using alternative streams. To implement failover protection, a first server device or first content distribution service creates a stream, or multiple alternate bandwidth streams and generates playlist file(s). A second server device or second content distribution service creates a parallel stream, or set of streams. A client attempts to download the playlist file(s) from a first uniform resource locator (URL) using a first stream associated with the first server device or the first content distribution service. If a client is unable to download the playlist file(s) from the first URL, the client attempts to switch to an alternate stream associated with another URL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Biderman, William May, Jr., Alan Tseng, Roger Pantos, James David Batson
  • Patent number: 8560642
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses provide real-time or near real-time streaming of content, specified in one or more playlists, using transfer protocols such as on HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method can execute a user application on a client device to present media files and to control presentation of the media files. The method can further run a media serving process on the client device to retrieve a playlist specifying the media files and a media source at which the media files arc available, to retrieve the media files from the media source, and to decode the media files retrieved. While the media serving process is separate from the user application, they may share the same privileges with respect to memory control, memory space, memory allocation, file system control, and network control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Pantos, William May, Jr., David Biderman
  • Patent number: 8383691
    Abstract: This invention improves prior methods of making cobalt-molybdenum-sulfide catalysts for alcohol production from syngas. In one aspect, improved methods are provided for making preferred cobalt-molybdenum-sulfide compositions. In another aspect, processes utilizing these catalysts for producing at least one C1-C4 alcohol, such as ethanol, from syngas are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: Karl Kharas, Jason P. Durand, William A. May
  • Publication number: 20130046861
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses provide real-time or near real-time streaming of content using transfer protocols such as an HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method includes providing multiple redundant locations that provide media content to client devices using alternative streams. To implement failover protection, a first server device or first content distribution service creates a stream, or multiple alternate bandwidth streams and generates playlist file(s). A second server device or second content distribution service creates a parallel stream, or set of streams. A client attempts to download the playlist file(s) from a first uniform resource locator (URL) using a first stream associated with the first server device or the first content distribution service. If a client is unable to download the playlist file(s) from the first URL, the client attempts to switch to an alternate stream associated with another URL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: David Biderman, William May, JR., Alan Tseng, Roger Pantos, James David Batson
  • Patent number: 8354357
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the chemical conversion of syngas to alcohols. The invention includes catalyst compositions, methods of making the catalysts, and methods of using the catalysts including techniques to maintain catalyst stability. Certain embodiments teach compositions for catalyzing the conversion of syngas into products comprising at least one C1-C4 alcohol, such as ethanol. These compositions generally include cobalt, molybdenum, and sulfur, and avoid metal carbides both initially and during reactor operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: Karl Kharas, William A. May
  • Publication number: 20120324058
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for real-time or near real-time streaming of content using transfer protocols such as an HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method includes dividing a stream of data, representing the contiguous time based content of a program (e.g. a live video broadcast), into a plurality of distinct media files, and generating a playlist file having a plurality of tags and Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) indicating an order of presentation of the plurality of distinct media files. The plurality of media files and the playlist file can be made available for transmission to a client device which can retrieve the media files using the playlist file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: David Biderman, William May, JR., Alan Tseng, Roger Pantos, James David Batson
  • Publication number: 20120311094
    Abstract: Methods, systems and machine readable storage medium for allowing playback of streaming media at playback rates of other than 1× are described. In one embodiment, a method can determine different sets of I-frames that are available before a display deadline, where each set can have a different cadence, and one of the sets can be selected for download and display to achieve playback at other than 1×. Byte range requests from a client device can be used to retrieve each of the I-frames. Other methods, system and media are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: David Biderman, William May, JR., Rogers Pantos, James David Batson, John Samuel Bushell
  • Publication number: 20120311075
    Abstract: A content streaming system, such as an HTTP streaming system, can use a variant audio playlist that identifies different audio playlists, such as one playlist in English and one playlist in Spanish, for the same program such as a video program which is specified by a video playlist which can be separate from the variant audio playlist. A client can use the variant audio playlist to select a particular audio content for the same program, and the particular audio content can be referred to by one URL in the variant audio playlist, among a set of alternative URLs, in the variant audio playlist, for alternative audio content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Roger Pantos, David Biderman, William May, JR., Christopher Flick, John Samuel Bushell, John Kevin Calhoun
  • Patent number: 8301725
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for real-time or near real-time streaming of content using transfer protocols such as an HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method includes dividing a stream of data, representing the contiguous time based content of a program (e.g. a live video broadcast), into a plurality of distinct media files, and generating a playlist file having a plurality of tags and Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) indicating an order of presentation of the plurality of distinct media files. The plurality of media files and the playlist file can be made available for transmission to a client device which can retrieve the media files using the playlist file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Biderman, William May, Jr., Alan Tseng, Roger Pantos, James David Batson
  • Patent number: 8260877
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses provide real-time or near real-time streaming of content using transfer protocols such as an HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method includes providing multiple redundant locations that provide media content to client devices using alternative streams. To implement failover protection, a first server device or first content distribution service creates a stream, or multiple alternate bandwidth streams and generates playlist file(s). A second server device or second content distribution service creates a parallel stream, or set of streams. A client attempts to download the playlist file(s) from a first uniform resource locator (URL) using a first stream associated with the first server device or the first content distribution service. If a client is unable to download the playlist file(s) from the first URL, the client attempts to switch to an alternate stream associated with another URL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Biderman, William May, Jr., Alan Tseng, Roger Pantos, James David Batson
  • Publication number: 20120110141
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for real-time or near real-time streaming of content using transfer protocols such as an HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method includes dividing a stream of data, representing the contiguous time based content of a program (e.g. a live video broadcast), into a plurality of distinct media files, and generating a playlist file having a plurality of tags and Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) indicating an order of presentation of the plurality of distinct media files. The plurality of media files and the playlist file can be made available for transmission to a client device which can retrieve the media files using the playlist file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: David Biderman, William May, JR., Alan Tseng, Roger Pantos, James David Batson
  • Patent number: 8168158
    Abstract: A base-facilitated process for producing hydrogen. Hydrogen is produced from a reaction of carbonaceous matter with a base and water, preferably through the formation of a bicarbonate or carbonate by-product. The base-facilitated hydrogen-producing reactions are thermodynamically more spontaneous and are able to produce hydrogen gas at less extreme reaction conditions than conventional reformation or gasification reactions of carbonaceous matter. In another embodiment, the instant reactions permit the production of hydrogen from carbonaceous matter without the production of carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide. In a preferred embodiment, the carbonaceous matter is coal or a derivative thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Reichman, William Mays
  • Patent number: 8099473
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for real-time or near real-time streaming of content using transfer protocols such as an HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method includes dividing a stream of data, representing the contiguous time based content of a program (e.g. a live video broadcast), into a plurality of distinct media files, and generating a playlist file having a plurality of tags and Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) indicating an order of presentation of the plurality of distinct media files. The plurality of media files and the playlist file can be made available for transmission to a client device which can retrieve the media files using the playlist file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Biderman, William May, Jr., Alan Tseng, Roger Pantos, James David Batson
  • Patent number: 8099476
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for real-time or near real-time streaming of content using transfer protocols such as an HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method includes dividing a stream of data, representing the contiguous time based content of a program (e.g. a live video broadcast), into a plurality of distinct media files, and generating a playlist file having a plurality of tags and Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) indicating an order of presentation of the plurality of distinct media files. The plurality of media files and the playlist file can be made available for transmission to a client device which can retrieve the media files using the playlist file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Biderman, William May, Jr., Alan Tseng, Roger Pantos, James David Batson
  • Publication number: 20110252118
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses provide real-time or near real-time streaming of content, specified in one or more playlists, using transfer protocols such as an HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method can execute a user application on a client device to present media files and to control presentation of the media files. The method can further run a media serving process on the client device to retrieve a playlist specifying the media files and a media source at which the media files are available, to retrieve the media files from the media source, and to decode the media files retrieved. The media serving process can call the user application to process a custom URL in order to obtain an object referred to by the custom URL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Roger Pantos, Alan Tseng, William May, JR., James David Batson
  • Publication number: 20110246622
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses provide real-time or near real-time streaming of content, specified in one or more playlists, using transfer protocols such as an HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method can adaptively determine a minimum overlap for an overlap in time between two streams being received concurrently in order to determine when to switch between the two streams, and the minimum overlap can be determined based on connection speed. In another embodiment, a minimum playlist duration can be set as a multiple of a target duration which specifies a maximum duration of a media file specified in a playlist. In another embodiment, a method can enforce a start point for playback at a client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Roger Pantos, William May, JR., David Biderman, Alan Tseng