Patents by Inventor William T. O'Grady

William T. O'Grady 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: 8793114
    Abstract: A method and system dynamically generates virtualized configurations of sensors and signals used in drilling system equipment. The virtualized configurations may be used for novel operational testing of automation systems on drilling rigs. The methods and systems may be configured to virtualize actual drill floor equipment in order to have enhanced fault coverage of the automation systems. A control network that is a component of the automation systems may implement a testing loop that accommodates virtualized equipment in a manner substantially similar to actual equipment. In this manner, the testing loop may be configured to control elements specific to the equipment under control, and generate testing results for those specific control elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Athens Group Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Donald F. Shafer, Mark Price, William T. O'Grady, Jr., Nestor Fesas
  • Publication number: 20120173218
    Abstract: A method and system dynamically generates virtualized configurations of sensors and signals used in drilling system equipment. The virtualized configurations may be used for novel operational testing of automation systems on drilling rigs. The methods and systems may be configured to virtualize actual drill floor equipment in order to have enhanced fault coverage of the automation systems. A control network that is a component of the automation systems may implement a testing loop that accommodates virtualized equipment in a manner substantially similar to actual equipment. In this manner, the testing loop may be configured to control elements specific to the equipment under control, and generate testing results for those specific control elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: ATHENS GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Donald F. Shafer, Mark Price, William T. O'Grady, JR., Nestor Fesas
  • Patent number: 7031783
    Abstract: An interface between an automation host and a plurality of tools is used to perform a processing step. The interface includes a single communications and process behavioral connection interface to the automation host. The interface also includes a plurality of virtual host interfaces. Each virtual host interface from the plurality of virtual host interfaces provides a communications and process behavioral interface to one of the tools in the plurality of tools. The automation host can control and coordinate operation of all tools in the plurality of tools via the single communications and process behavioral connection interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. O'Grady, Joel Taylor, Ryo Takeda, Nobuhiko Yoshimura, John D. McNeill, Donald F. Shafer, Janet Gilmore, Patrick Doane
  • Patent number: 6665650
    Abstract: Intelligent logic activity resolution (ILAR) is provided for a process. Upon a first trigger event being received, a first subset of conditions of the process is detected. The first subset of conditions is selected based on the first trigger event. When the first subset of conditions match predetermined values, a first state is entered. When the first subset conditions do not match the predetermined values, additional conditions are checked. On the basis of the checked additional conditions, a new state is selected for entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. O'Grady, Jr., Pierre Gauthier, Donald F. Shafer, John D. McNeill
  • Publication number: 20030004586
    Abstract: An interface between an automation host and a plurality of tools is used to perform a processing step. The interface includes a single communications and process behavioral connection interface to the automation host. The interface also includes a plurality of virtual host interfaces. Each virtual host interface from the plurality of virtual host interfaces provides a communications and process behavioral interface to one of the tools in the plurality of tools. The automation host can control and coordinate operation of all tools in the plurality of tools via the single communications and process behavioral connection interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: William T. O'Grady, Joel Taylor, Ryo Takeda, Nobuhiko Yoshimura, John D. McNeill, Donald F. Shafer, Janet Gilmore, Patrick Doane