Patents by Inventor William Shields

William Shields 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: 10562555
    Abstract: Controlling a level crossing of a railway track by providing a train having an onboard processor communicating with a wayside processor associated to a level crossing, said train having a forward end and a rear end; moving the train forward along the railway track lowering down gates of the level crossing when train is at a predetermined distance upon detection of the train approaching the level crossing; when the forward end passes over a first reference point defining the beginning of an island area of the level crossing, sending a first message from the onboard safety processor towards the wayside processor informing that the train is approaching the level crossing; maintaining down gates; when the rear end passes over a second reference point defining the end of the island area, sending a second message from the onboard safety processor to the wayside processor informing that the train has left the level crossing; and lifting the gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Jeffrey Fries, Chris Schuchmann, William Shields
  • Patent number: 10479381
    Abstract: A system for controlling a level crossing comprising one or more transceivers located in proximity of a level crossing area on a first side of a railway track; one or more corresponding passive reflective targets located in proximity of the level crossing area on a second side opposite to the first side where each transceiver is located; a control unit connected to each transceiver; wherein each target receives RF signals coming from each transceiver and sends back corresponding reflected signals; each transceiver is arranged to elaborate said reflected signals so as to calculate predetermined parameters values; the control unit acquires said parameters values from each transceiver and elaborates them so as to detect the presence of a train in an area around the level crossing area and, in case of presence of said train, to send a warning message and/or close bars of the level crossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Jeffrey Fries, William Shields
  • Patent number: 10479383
    Abstract: A system for controlling a level crossing between a railway track and a road, the system comprising a first couple of transmitters and a second couple of transmitters in proximity of a level crossing area; a first couple of receivers and a second couple of receivers opposite to the transmitters with respect to the railway track, the first couple of transmitters and receivers located on a first side of the road and the second couple of transmitters and receivers located opposite to the first side, a control unit sending and receiving signals from said transmitters and receivers, wherein each couple of transmitters transmits a first beam from a first transmitter towards a corresponding first receiver, and a second beam from a second transmitter towards an opposite second receiver, the control unit activates sending at least one second beam and sends a warning message and/or close bars of the level crossing upon interruption of at least one first beam due to the presence of the train on the railway track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Jeffrey Fries, William Shields
  • Patent number: 10471978
    Abstract: Controlling a level crossing includes one or more transceivers located in proximity of a level crossing area on a first side of a railway track; corresponding passive reflective targets located in proximity of the level crossing area on a second side of the railway track opposite to the first side where each transceiver is located and a control unit connected to each transceiver. Each target is arranged to receive RF signals coming from each transceiver and to send back corresponding reflected signals. Each transceiver is arranged to elaborate said reflected signals to calculate predetermined parameters values. Also, the control unit is arranged to acquire said parameters values from each transceiver and to elaborate them to detect the presence of a train in an area around the level crossing area and, in case of presence of said train, to send a warning message and/or close bars of the level crossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Jeffrey Fries, William Shields
  • Publication number: 20180273062
    Abstract: A system for controlling a level crossing comprising one or more transceivers located in proximity of a level crossing area on a first side of a railway track; one or more corresponding passive reflective targets located in proximity of the level crossing area on a second side opposite to the first side where each transceiver is located; a control unit connected to each transceiver; wherein each target receives RF signals coming from each transceiver and sends back corresponding reflected signals; each transceiver is arranged to elaborate said reflected signals so as to calculate predetermined parameters values; the control unit acquires said parameters values from each transceiver and elaborates them so as to detect the presence of a train in an area around the level crossing area and, in case of presence of said train, to send a warning message and/or close bars of the level crossing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Jeffrey FRIES, William SHIELDS
  • Publication number: 20180273068
    Abstract: Controlling a level crossing of a railway track by providing a train having an onboard processor communicating with a wayside processor associated to a level crossing, said train having a forward end and a rear end; moving the train forward along the railway track lowering down gates of the level crossing when train is at a predetermined distance upon detection of the train approaching the level crossing; when the forward end passes over a first reference point defining the beginning of an island area of the level crossing, sending a first message from the onboard safety processor towards the wayside processor informing that the train is approaching the level crossing; maintaining down gates; when the rear end passes over a second reference point defining the end of the island area, sending a second message from the onboard safety processor to the wayside processor informing that the train has left the level crossing; and lifting the gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Jeffrey FRIES, Chris SCHUCHMANN, William SHIELDS
  • Publication number: 20180273069
    Abstract: Controlling a level crossing includes one or more transceivers located in proximity of a level crossing area on a first side of a railway track; corresponding passive reflective targets located in proximity of the level crossing area on a second side of the railway track opposite to the first side where each transceiver is located and a control unit connected to each transceiver. Each target is arranged to receive RF signals coming from each transceiver and to send back corresponding reflected signals. Each transceiver is arranged to elaborate said reflected signals to calculate predetermined parameters values. Also, the control unit is arranged to acquire said parameters values from each transceiver and to elaborate them to detect the presence of a train in an area around the level crossing area and, in case of presence of said train, to send a warning message and/or close bars of the level crossing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Jeffrey FRIES, William SHIELDS
  • Publication number: 20180273067
    Abstract: A system for controlling a level crossing between a railway track and a road, the system comprising a first couple of transmitters and a second couple of transmitters in proximity of a level crossing area; a first couple of receivers and a second couple of receivers opposite to the transmitters with respect to the railway track, the first couple of transmitters and receivers located on a first side of the road and the second couple of transmitters and receivers located opposite to the first side, a control unit sending and receiving signals from said transmitters and receivers, wherein each couple of transmitters transmits a first beam from a first transmitter towards a corresponding first receiver, and a second beam from a second transmitter towards an opposite second receiver, the control unit activates sending at least one second beam and sends a warning message and/or close bars of the level crossing upon interruption of at least one first beam due to the presence of the train on the railway track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Jeffrey FRIES, William SHIELDS
  • Patent number: 9420038
    Abstract: A videoconferencing system in which multiple browsers are utilized to present content and control functions for a server based videoconference. The content of the videoconference (e.g., video and audio streams) is presented on a display device driven by a local computer running a browser. The local computer also runs a separate browser that presents control functions on a different display device (e.g., a touch screen). The system can be scaled to include additional monitors and browsers running on the local computer. A local server is provided on the local computer for facilitating communications among the locally running browsers. In this manner, the browsers can communicate with each other via the local server executing on the local computer. The need to send traffic to a remote server to effectuate the browser-to-browser communication is eliminated. This provides for reduced latency and lowers the demands on the remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: James Deyerle, Alan Savage, Xiaohui Chen, Christopher Lane, Antonio Petruzziello, William Shields
  • Publication number: 20160140499
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide engineering process and document management to a mobile fleet of users. A server computer and a relational database form at least part of a process and document management system. The server computer processes information from the relational database to predictably identify workflow information and engineering document information that may be needed by one or more users in the field to service field assets. The server computer may push the identified information to one or more mobile devices of the one or more users in the field via one or more communication networks. The mobile devices allow users to mark-up engineering documents in the field and provide the modified documents back to the server computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: AARON R. MITTI, JEFFREY FRIES, RICHARD L. LAWSON, ARIC WEINGARTNER, CURTIS D. MECHLING, MARTIN PAGET, WILLIAM SHIELDS
  • Patent number: 9126609
    Abstract: A system includes a timing determination module configured to be disposed onboard an approaching vehicle system during travel of the approaching vehicle system along a first route toward a crossing between the first route and a second route. The timing determination module is configured to determine one or more arrival times of the approaching vehicle system to reach the crossing and to repeatedly communicate notification messages having the one or more arrival times to a remote crossing system that is configured to activate one or more warning devices disposed at or near the crossing to notify other vehicles on the second route that the approaching vehicle system is approaching the crossing along the first route. The timing determination module is configured to determine the one or more arrival times at different respective locations along the first route as the approaching vehicle system travels toward the crossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Steffen, II, Jeffrey Michael Fries, Aric Albert Weingartner, William Shields, Sherri Boyd
  • Patent number: 9026360
    Abstract: A system includes a determination module and a communication module. The determination module is configured to be located onboard a first vehicle configured to travel along a first route including a crossing corresponding to an intersection of the first route with a second route. The determination module is configured to be communicatively coupled with a remote crossing module. The determination module is configured to determine, based on a speed of the first vehicle, timing information corresponding to a time at which the first vehicle will travel proximate to the crossing on the first route. The communication module is configured to transmit the timing information to the remote crossing module. The timing information includes a reference time configured as an absolute time corresponding to a time for impeding travel of a second vehicle along the second route through the crossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Jeffrey Baker, Aric Albert Weingartner, Michael Steffen, II, Jesse Lee Herlocker, William Shields
  • Publication number: 20150106436
    Abstract: A videoconferencing system in which multiple browsers are utilized to present content and control functions for a server based videoconference. The content of the videoconference (e.g., video and audio streams) is presented on a display device driven by a local computer running a browser. The local computer also runs a separate browser that presents control functions on a different display device (e.g., a touch screen). The system can be scaled to include additional monitors and browsers running on the local computer. A local server is provided on the local computer for facilitating communications among the locally running browsers. In this manner, the browsers can communicate with each other via the local server executing on the local computer. The need to send traffic to a remote server to effectuate the browser-to-browser communication is eliminated. This provides for reduced latency and lowers the demands on the remote server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: James Deyerle, Alan Savage, Xiaohui Chen, Christopher Lane, Antonio Petruzziello, William Shields
  • Patent number: 8937637
    Abstract: A videoconferencing system in which multiple browsers are utilized to present content and control functions for a server based videoconference. The content of the videoconference (e.g., video and audio streams) is presented on a display device driven by a local computer running a browser. The local computer also runs a separate browser that presents control functions on a different display device (e.g., a touch screen). The system can be scaled to include additional monitors and browsers running on the local computer. A local server is provided on the local computer for facilitating communications among the locally running browsers. In this manner, the browsers can communicate with each other via the local server executing on the local computer. The need to send traffic to a remote server to effectuate the browser-to-browser communication is eliminated. This provides for reduced latency and lowers the demands on the remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: James Deyerle, Alan Savage, Xiaohui Chen, Christopher Lane, Antonio Petruzziello, William Shields
  • Publication number: 20140367526
    Abstract: A system includes a timing determination module configured to be disposed onboard an approaching vehicle system during travel of the approaching vehicle system along a first route toward a crossing between the first route and a second route. The timing determination module is configured to determine one or more arrival times of the approaching vehicle system to reach the crossing and to repeatedly communicate notification messages having the one or more arrival times to a remote crossing system that is configured to activate one or more warning devices disposed at or near the crossing to notify other vehicles on the second route that the approaching vehicle system is approaching the crossing along the first route. The timing determination module is configured to determine the one or more arrival times at different respective locations along the first route as the approaching vehicle system travels toward the crossing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael STEFFEN, II, Jeffrey Michael FRIES, Aric Albert WEINGARTNER, William SHIELDS, Sherri BOYD
  • Publication number: 20140361125
    Abstract: A system includes a determination module and a communication module. The determination module is configured to be located onboard a first vehicle configured to travel along a first route including a crossing corresponding to an intersection of the first route with a second route. The determination module is configured to be communicatively coupled with a remote crossing module. The determination module is configured to determine, based on a speed of the first vehicle, timing information corresponding to a time at which the first vehicle will travel proximate to the crossing on the first route. The communication module is configured to transmit the timing information to the remote crossing module. The timing information includes a reference time configured as an absolute time corresponding to a time for impeding travel of a second vehicle along the second route through the crossing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Jeffrey Baker, Aric Albert Weingartner, Michael Steffen, II, Jesse Lee Herlocker, William Shields
  • Publication number: 20140028784
    Abstract: A videoconferencing system in which multiple browsers are utilized to present content and control functions for a server based videoconference. The content of the videoconference (e.g., video and audio streams) is presented on a display device driven by a local computer running a browser. The local computer also runs a separate browser that presents control functions on a different display device (e.g., a touch screen). The system can be scaled to include additional monitors and browsers running on the local computer. A local server is provided on the local computer for facilitating communications among the locally running browsers. In this manner, the browsers can communicate with each other via the local server executing on the local computer. The need to send traffic to a remote server to effectuate the browser-to-browser communication is eliminated. This provides for reduced latency and lowers the demands on the remote server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: James DEYERLE, Alan SAVAGE, Xiaohui CHEN, Christopher LANE, Antonio PETRUZZIELLO, William SHIELDS
  • Patent number: 7451643
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for testing the tendency of a paper to curl. The paper is cut from a paper making machine and rapidly humidified to standard TAPPI conditions, and is thereafter run through an apparatus having a substantially vertically oriented nip. The paper is measured for curl, all data are tabulated and fed back into a data acquisition or paper machine control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: International Paper Co.
    Inventors: Kapil Mohan Singh, William Shields, Frederick Karsa
  • Patent number: 7059181
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for testing the tendency of a paper to curl. The paper is cut from a paper making machine and rapidly humidified to standard TAPPI conditions, and is thereafter run through an apparatus having a substantially vertically oriented nip. The paper is measured for curl, all data are tabulated and fed back into a data acquisition or paper machine control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: International Paper Co.
    Inventors: Kapil Mohan Singh, William Shields, Frederick Karsa
  • Publication number: 20060112762
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for testing the tendency of a paper to curl. The paper is cut from a paper making machine and rapidly humidified to standard TAPPI conditions, and is thereafter run through an apparatus having a substantially vertically oriented nip. The paper is measured for curl, all data are tabulated and fed back into a data acquisition or paper machine control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Kapil Singh, William Shields, Frederick Karsa