Patents by Inventor William J. Walker

William J. Walker 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: 11934860
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing network experience shifting, and, in particular embodiments, using either a roaming or portable hypervisor associated with a user or a local hypervisor unassociated with the user. In some embodiments, a network node in a first network might receive, via a first network access device in a second network, a request from a user device to establish roaming network access, and might authenticate a user associated with the user device, the user being unassociated with the first network access device. Based on a determination that the user is authorized to access data, content, profiles, and/or software applications that are accessible via a second network access device, the network node might establish a secure private connection through a hypervisor or container communicatively coupled to the first network access device to provide the user with access to her data, content, profiles, and/or software applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Charles I. Cook, Kevin M. McBride, Matthew J. Post, William R. Walker
  • Patent number: 11870221
    Abstract: A spark plug and method of manufacturing, where the spark plug meets particular geometric relationships to maintain and potentially improve dielectric performance while downsizing other plug dimensions. The spark plug includes an insulator that can withstand higher voltages while having areas with a reduced cross-sectional thickness. In some embodiments, the insulator has a dielectric strength of 42 kV/mm or more with a radial thickness at the internal seal of 1.5 to 1.6 mm, inclusive, and a radial thickness at a gasket of 0.6 to 0.9 mm, inclusive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC
    Inventor: William J. Walker, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230348298
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques described herein relate to iron-based desalination of water. In some cases, an inflow of water including chlorine and sodium can be received. A plurality of iron nanoparticles may capture the chlorine and the sodium. The iron nanoparticles may at least partially include Zero Valent Iron (ZVI). An outflow of the water may be emitted. The chlorine and the sodium may be omitted from the outflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventor: William J. Walker
  • Patent number: 11673814
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques described herein relate to iron-based desalination of water. In some cases, an inflow of water including chlorine and sodium can be received. A plurality of iron nanoparticles may capture the chlorine and the sodium. The iron nanoparticles may at least partially include Zero Valent Iron (ZVI). An outflow of the water may be emitted. The chlorine and the sodium may be omitted from the outflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Badwater Alchemy Holdings LLC
    Inventor: William J. Walker
  • Patent number: 11643287
    Abstract: Systems and methods for conveying non-dry frac proppant are described herein. The system generally includes at least one hopper having at least one moisture sensor, a slide gate that is fluidly connected to the at least one hopper, a conveyor assembly having at least one conveyor belt configured to convey the non-dry frac proppant from the at least one hopper to a blender, and at least one load sensor, and a control device configured to regulate a discharge rate of the non-dry frac proppant and a load rate of the non-dry frac proppant. The method generally includes providing the system at a well site to convey a non-dry frac proppant from a source point the at least one hopper, the conveyor assembly at a discharge rate determined by the control device, and the blender at a load rate determined by the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Walker-Dawson Interests, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard F. Dawson, William J. Walker, Robert D. Harper
  • Publication number: 20230116256
    Abstract: A spark plug and method of manufacturing, where the spark plug meets particular geometric relationships to maintain and potentially improve dielectric performance while downsizing other plug dimensions. The spark plug includes an insulator that can withstand higher voltages while having areas with a reduced cross-sectional thickness. In some embodiments, the insulator has a dielectric strength of 42 kV/mm or more with a radial thickness at the internal seal of 1.5 to 1.6 mm, inclusive, and a radial thickness at a gasket of 0.6 to 0.9 mm, inclusive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventor: William J. Walker, JR.
  • Publication number: 20220140575
    Abstract: A spark plug insulator comprising a ceramic body with a photopolymerized and sintered microstructure. The spark plug insulator can have one or more complex geometries, such as dual axial bores, channels or grooves for wiring or the like, or internal wells. In one embodiment, an internal well is situated in the nose portion of the axial bore. The internal well has a terminal end, a base, and a ceramic bounding ring that is diametrically reduced with respect to a diameter at the base of the internal well. In some embodiments, there is a center electrode shield portion adjacent the internal well, where a diameter of the center electrode shield portion is diametrically reduced with respect to the diameter at the base of the internal well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: William J. Walker, JR., Michael E. Saccoccia
  • Patent number: 11106788
    Abstract: Securing data exchanged between components such as hardware sub-systems of a computing device (e.g., internal communications) during a request-response cycle is desirable. In some implementations, methods and systems as disclosed to secure computing devices against attackers attempting to take physical control of a computer system (or portion thereof) to compromise the system or steal data managed by the computer system. In one example, data transmission request from sender to a receiver may be identified and associated with a unique identifier to individually identify the data transmission request (e.g., a request internal to the computer system). The request may then be provided to the receiver and a later response may be identified and validated prior to returning the response data to the requestor. The validation may include ensuring an associated tag (e.g., unique identifier) is provided with the response to tie it to the request for which the response is being sent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: William J. Walker, Michael T. Gill
  • Publication number: 20210238059
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques described herein relate to iron-based desalination of water. In some cases, an inflow of water including chlorine and sodium can be received. A plurality of iron nanoparticles may capture the chlorine and the sodium. The iron nanoparticles may at least partially include Zero Valent Iron (ZVI). An outflow of the water may be emitted. The chlorine and the sodium may be omitted from the outflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventor: William J. Walker
  • Patent number: 10919784
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques described herein relate to iron-based desalination of water. In some cases, an inflow of water including chlorine and sodium can be received. A plurality of iron nanoparticles may capture the chlorine and the sodium. The iron nanoparticles may at least partially include Zero Valent Iron (ZVI). An outflow of the water may be emitted. The chlorine and the sodium may be omitted from the outflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Badwater Alchemy Holdings LLC
    Inventor: William J. Walker
  • Patent number: 10770967
    Abstract: A predictive power factor control system for an electronic system which includes a power supply providing power at a power supply output to a load having at least one component operable in a plurality of operating states. A load controller selectively determines the operating state of the load. A power factor control (PFC) circuit is coupled to the power supply and cooperates with the power supply to maintain the power factor of the power supply output within desired ranges. The load controller may provide the PFC circuit with a pending load change notification prior to a pending change in the operating state of the controlled load or prior to the activation of additional loads on the power supply output, enabling the PFC circuit to predictively adjust operation to avoid or minimize power factor fluctuations arising from changes in operating state of the load or activation of an additional loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventor: William J. Walker
  • Publication number: 20200151324
    Abstract: Securing data exchanged between components such as hardware sub-systems of a computing device (e.g., internal communications) during a request-response cycle is desirable. In some implementations, methods and systems as disclosed to secure computing devices against attackers attempting to take physical control of a computer system (or portion thereof) to compromise the system or steal data managed by the computer system. In one example, data transmission request from sender to a receiver may be identified and associated with a unique identifier to individually identify the data transmission request (e.g., a request internal to the computer system). The request may then be provided to the receiver and a later response may be identified and validated prior to returning the response data to the requestor. The validation may include ensuring an associated tag (e.g., unique identifier) is provided with the response to tie it to the request for which the response is being sent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: William J. Walker, Michael T. Gill
  • Publication number: 20200153329
    Abstract: A predictive power factor control system for an electronic system which includes a power supply providing power at a power supply output to a load having at least one component operable in a plurality of operating states. A load controller selectively determines the operating state of the load. A power factor control (PFC) circuit is coupled to the power supply and cooperates with the power supply to maintain the power factor of the power supply output within desired ranges. The load controller may provide the PFC circuit with a pending load change notification prior to a pending change in the operating state of the controlled load or prior to the activation of additional loads on the power supply output, enabling the PFC circuit to predictively adjust operation to avoid or minimize power factor fluctuations arising from changes in operating state of the load or activation of an additional loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventor: William J. Walker
  • Publication number: 20200055748
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques described herein relate to iron-based desalination of water. In some cases, an inflow of water including chlorine and sodium can be received. A plurality of iron nanoparticles may capture the chlorine and the sodium. The iron nanoparticles may at least partially include Zero Valent Iron (ZVI). An outflow of the water may be emitted. The chlorine and the sodium may be omitted from the outflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventor: William J. Walker
  • Patent number: 10418789
    Abstract: A spark plug suppressor and a method of producing a spark plug suppressor from a suppressor precursor liquid that may be cured at a temperature below 300° C. The spark plug suppressor may include particles or grains dispersed in a matrix of electrically conducting material, electrically semiconducting material, or electrically non-conducting material. The suppressor may include a conductive glass seal component and a resistive suppressor component. The resistive suppressor component may be at least partially embedded in the glass seal component, and the glass seal component may seal a center electrode of the spark plug, a terminal of the spark plug, or both the center electrode and the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition LLC
    Inventors: Shuwei Ma, Keith Firstenberg, William J. Walker, Jr., Michael Saccoccia
  • Publication number: 20190144216
    Abstract: Systems and methods for conveying non-dry frac proppant are described herein. The system generally includes at least one hopper having at least one moisture sensor, a slide gate that is fluidly connected to the at least one hopper, a conveyor assembly having at least one conveyor belt configured to convey the non-dry frac proppant from the at least one hopper to a blender, and at least one load sensor, and a control device configured to regulate a discharge rate of the non-dry frac proppant and a load rate of the non-dry frac proppant. The method generally includes providing the system at a well site to convey a non-dry frac proppant from a source point the at least one hopper, the conveyor assembly at a discharge rate determined by the control device, and the blender at a load rate determined by the control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Richard F. Dawson, William J. Walker, Robert D. Harper
  • Patent number: 10289408
    Abstract: Techniques are described for managing firmware versions for a storage device. In one example, a storage device includes a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to execute a first version of a firmware, receive information for a second version of a firmware that is different from the first version, determine, based on the information for the second version of the firmware, whether the version of the second version of the firmware is stored in a system area of the memory, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is stored in the system area, load the second version of the firmware, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is not stored in the system area, store the second version of the firmware in the system area, update an active firmware index, and execute the second version of the firmware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darin E. Gerhart, Cory Lappi, Phillip Peterson, William J. Walker
  • Patent number: 10270226
    Abstract: An extruded insulator for a spark plug that is made in a manner that minimizes pores, relics and/or other defects in the insulator microstructure so that the overall dielectric strength or performance of the insulator is improved. The extruded insulator avoids many of the drawbacks associated with such defects, but also has a stepped internal bore for receiving a center electrode. In one embodiment, the extruded insulator is made with a method that uses a multi-phase extrusion process to extrude a ceramic paste around an elongated arbor and form an extruded section, and then removes the arbor from the extruded section to reveal a stepped internal bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY
    Inventor: William J. Walker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10177539
    Abstract: Methods of making an insulator for a condition sensing spark plug and tooling that can be used to perform the various methods, the tooling and methods involving machining one or more channels in the insulator body. The machined channels can be used to accommodate one or more wires from a sensing, display, or processing device. In one particular example, the wires are thermocouple wires used to sense temperature in an internal combustion engine while the spark plug is in use. The methods and tooling may result in channels that are formed more precisely, economically, and efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul William Phillips, William J. Walker, Jr., Michael E. Saccoccia
  • Patent number: 9893495
    Abstract: An electrically conductive glass seal for providing a hermetic bond between an electrically conductive component and an insulator of a spark plug is provided. The glass seal is formed by mixing glass frits, binder, expansion agent, and electrically conductive metal particles. The glass frits can include silica (SiO2), boron oxide (B2O3), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), and zinc oxide (ZnO); the binder can include sodium bentonite or magnesium aluminum silicate, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and dextrin; the expansion agent can include lithium carbonate; and the electrically conductive particles can include copper. The finished glass seal includes the glass in a total amount of 50.0 to 90.0 weight (wt. %), and electrically conductive metal particles in an amount of 10.0 to 50.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the glass seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventors: Keith Firstenberg, William J. Walker, Jr.