Having Protection Or Reliability Feature Patents (Class 700/79)
  • Patent number: 10020151
    Abstract: A safety relay configuration system for configuring safety functions to be carried out by a safety relay is provided. The configuration system comprises a number of features that facilitate intuitive and simplified configuration of an industrial safety relay, including but not limited to features that guide the user through the configuration process using an intuitive sequential procedure that provides feedback and prompts based on user interaction, enforce design consistency throughout the configuration project by intelligently limiting user selections, and visually organize configuration and status information in a manner that efficiently utilizes display space and allows the user to quickly evaluate available configuration options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley A. Prosak, Thomas Helpenstein, Rudolf Papenbreer, Dirk Lorenz, Oliver Heckel
  • Patent number: 9999973
    Abstract: According to a method according to the invention for controlling at least one manipulator, in particular a robot, a plurality of control commands (P, B, F) are worked through, in that in a state machine (ZM) the respective command runs through an active state (-A), wherein in a state machine at least one control command runs through a preliminary state (-E) that is placed ahead of its active state and/or a post-operational state (-P) that is placed after its active state, and/or a plurality of control commands are processed at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Finkemeyer
  • Patent number: 9983876
    Abstract: A non-deterministic finite state machine module for use in a regular expression matching system. The system includes a computational unit implementing a non-deterministic finite state machine representing a regular expression, wherein the computational unit is configured to: receive an input data stream, wherein an occurrence of the regular expression is determined, and an activation signal; process the input data stream with respect to the non-deterministic finite state machine depending on the activation signal; and provide at least one branch data output for initializing an additional non-deterministic finite state machine module if the processing of an element of the input data stream according to the non-deterministic finite state machine results in a branching of a processing thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kubilay Atasu, Christoph Hagleitner, Raphael Polig, Frederick R Reiss
  • Patent number: 9946981
    Abstract: A method and information handling system for obtaining information handling system wear parameter values representative of wear of the information handling system, the information handling system wear parameter sensors comprising a motherboard event wear parameter sensor for obtaining motherboard event wear parameter values, a component event wear parameter sensor for obtaining component event wear parameter values, and a usage wear parameter sensor for obtaining usage wear parameter values, for calculating client information handling system wear based on the information handling system wear parameter values and the statistical model of wear estimation, and for providing a service life indication for the client information handling system, the service life indication indicative of a disposition suitability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Michael S. Gatson, Joseph Kozlowski, Yuan-Chang Lo, Nikhil M. Vichare
  • Patent number: 9927797
    Abstract: Techniques for making a physical area safe for a human to enter when mobile drive units (e.g., robots) are operating in the physical area are described. A management device may send an activity message to the mobile drive units instructing the mobile drive units to perform a set of activities. If a human is detected in the physical area, the management device may stop sending the activity command. If the mobile drive units do not receive the activity command, the mobile drive units may stop performing the set of activities. After the management device determines that the human has left the physical area, the management device may resume sending the activity message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Matthew David Verminski, Michael T. Barbehenn, Andrew Brenden Tinka, Peter K. Mansfield, Peter R. Wurman
  • Patent number: 9912737
    Abstract: A distributed control system (DCS) for controlling an industrial process using a plurality of distributed control nodes (DCNs) can include a plurality of Device DCNs, each Device DCN including an I/O interface coupled with a field device for single channel input or output, a plurality of Application DCNs, and one or more Ethernet switches. The plurality of Device DCNs and the plurality of Application DCNs can be adapted to host a software runtime and communicatively coupled via the one or more Ethernet switches. The DCS architecture can include of two types of DCNs; Application DCNs and Device DCNs. The software runtime can be configured to selectively provide control application level communication and function block execution services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: David Lloyd Patin, Saleem Stephen Bitar, Raymond Donald Bartusiak, Dennis J. Foltz, Andrew J. Thake, David L. DeBari, Richard J. Caro, Dennis Lee Brandl
  • Patent number: 9898366
    Abstract: A tool for redundancy and recovery for a mobile device. The tool probes for one or more available resources on the mobile device, wherein probing for the one or more available resources includes gathering diagnostic information related to the one or more available resources. The tool determines a device functionality for the mobile device, wherein the device functionality is an energy conscious recovery plan including one or more features available on the mobile device. The tool scavenges for at least one resource to support the device functionality for the mobile device. The tool restores the device functionality for the mobile device, wherein restoring the device functionality includes utilizing the at least one resource and one or more energy conscious techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rajaram B. Krishnamurthy, Daniel A. Rogers
  • Patent number: 9891997
    Abstract: A tool for redundancy and recovery for a mobile device. The tool probes for one or more available resources on the mobile device, wherein probing for the one or more available resources includes gathering diagnostic information related to the one or more available resources. The tool determines a device functionality for the mobile device, wherein the device functionality is an energy conscious recovery plan including one or more features available on the mobile device. The tool scavenges for at least one resource to support the device functionality for the mobile device. The tool restores the device functionality for the mobile device, wherein restoring the device functionality includes utilizing the at least one resource and one or more energy conscious techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rajaram B. Krishnamurthy, Daniel A. Rogers
  • Patent number: 9886357
    Abstract: An approach is provided in which a system selects a first processor as a master Time of Day (TOD) processor in a first TOD topology. The system then assigns a second processor as an alternate master TOD processor to a second TOD topology based upon determining that the second processor is on a different node than the first processor. The system configures to the first TOD topology and, when the system detects a TOD failure requiring a topology switch, the system re-configures to the second TOD topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Manish Kumar Chowdhary, Deepak Kodihalli
  • Patent number: 9873414
    Abstract: A parking brake system for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, includes two control units, by means of which two actuators, which are designed to actuate respective wheel brakes, can be controlled. The control units are connected to a power source via separate lines, wherein exclusively one of the control units is connected to an operating device which is designed to transmit signals to the control unit for actuation of the wheel brakes. The control unit is designed to control at least one of the actuators, dependent on the signals for actuation of the wheel brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Kilian Förster, Uwe Henrich, Timo Strutz, Christof Michenthaler
  • Patent number: 9804938
    Abstract: An approach is provided in which a system selects a first processor as a master Time of Day (TOD) processor in a first TOD topology. The system then assigns a second processor as an alternate master TOD processor to a second TOD topology based upon determining that the second processor is on a different node than the first processor. The system configures to the first TOD topology and, when the system detects a TOD failure requiring a topology switch, the system re-configures to the second TOD topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Manish Kumar Chowdhary, Deepak Kodihalli
  • Patent number: 9778652
    Abstract: A system and method for capturing automation data from an automated system uses a multi-array populated by an automation controller with automation data including timing data defined by a controller clock. The multi-array includes at least one member corresponding to a sensor sensing a state of the member and a plurality of member-defined data elements, which may correspond to a start time and end time of the member state. Automation data is captured from the controller multi-array by a computing device in communication with the controller including a first data table corresponding with the controller multi-array for efficient collection of the automation data from the controller memory, and a second data table for associating each data element with its defining member and storing the associated data in a historical database which may be used for analysis of cycle time data of a member, device or operation of the automated system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: BEET, LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Richard Nausley, Jeremy Philip Epple, Kusmady Susanto, David Jingqiu Wang
  • Patent number: 9703672
    Abstract: In order to provide simple, fast, and reliable verification of the functioning and processing of an automation task in the form of software in a multi-channel safety-oriented automation component (1), the software (SW1) is run in one channel (K1) of the automation component (1) in an active unit (P1) of the hardware of the channel (K1), and first diversity software (SW3) redundant relative to the software (SW1) is run in a verification unit (V1) in this channel (K1), wherein in a processing step (Z1) input data (Ez) associated with the software (SW1) and first output data (Az) computed by the software (SW1) in this processing step (Z1) are temporarily stored in a memory unit (M1), and the diversity software (SW3) in the verification unit (V1) computes second output data (Az?) based on the stored input data (Ez) independently of the processing of the software (SW1) in the active unit (P1), and the second output data (Az?) computed by the diversity software (SW3) is compared with the stored first output data (A
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: BERNECKER + RAINER INDUSTRIE-ELEKTRONIK Ges.m.b.H
    Inventors: Franz Kaufleitner, Alois Holzleitner
  • Patent number: 9699022
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first controller having at least one interface and at least one processing device. The at least one interface is configured to communicate with a second controller and with a controlled network having multiple EtherNet/IP-compatible input/output (I/O) modules and multiple EtherNet/IP-compatible controlled devices. The at least one processing device is configured to detect a fault associated with the second controller while the second controller is in communication with at least one of the I/O modules and at least one of the controlled devices. The at least one processing device is also configured, upon detection of the fault associated with the second controller, to resume the communication with the at least one I/O module and the at least one controlled device without the at least one I/O module updating the at least one controlled device to a failsafe condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil Bale, Srinivas Atukuri, Joseph Felix
  • Patent number: 9690947
    Abstract: Method of processing a guest event in a hypervisor-controlled system, which includes: triggering a first firmware service specific for the guest event; the firmware processing information associated with the guest event, and presenting only a subset of the information of a guest state and memory in decrypted form to a hypervisor, where the subset of the information is selected to allow the hypervisor to process the guest event; the firmware retaining a part of the information of the guest state and memory not sent to the hypervisor; the hypervisor processing the guest event based on the received subset of the information, and sending a process result to the firmware, triggering a second firmware service; the firmware processing the received process result together with the part of the information of the guest state and memory not sent to the hypervisor, and generates and performs a state and/or memory modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Utz Bacher, Reinhard Buendgen, Einar Lueck
  • Patent number: 9665072
    Abstract: For determining a safety step in an automation network with subscribers the data and process-specific links between the subscribers in the automation network are automatically determined by means of a configuration-detecting module. Further the subscriber-specific safety parameters are determined. The safety step in the automation network is calculated by means of an algorithm which connects the determined data and process-specific links of the subscribers in the automation network and the determined subscriber-specific safety parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: BECKHOFF AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Jens Sachs, Guido Beckmann
  • Patent number: 9658852
    Abstract: A processing unit includes a first storage entity being updated at a first clock cycle (CLK1) for holding a master copy of processing unit state. The processing unit further includes at least two shadow storage entities being updated with update information of the first storage entity. A shadow storage entity running at a second clock cycle (CLK2) is slower than the first clock cycle (CLK1). The first storage entity is coupled with the shadow storage entities via an intermediate storage entity, and the intermediate storage entity provides multiple storage stages for buffering consecutive update information of the first storage entity. Selection circuitry is adapted to provide one update information contained in one storage stage to the shadow storage entity with the active clock edge of the second clock cycle (CLK2) in order to update said shadow storage entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Koehler, Frank Lehnert
  • Patent number: 9646111
    Abstract: A process monitoring system may include: a storage unit configured to store time-sequence data, which is output from a field device located in a plant for measuring a state quantity, and log data, which includes handing procedures performed in past; a prediction unit configured to predict a time variation of the state quantity by using the time-sequence data output from the field device; and an extraction unit configured to extract the time-sequence data similar to the time variation of the state quantity, which has been predicted by the prediction unit, from the time-sequence data, which has been stored in the storage unit, the extraction unit being configured to extract the handling procedures, which has been performed at a time, when the time-sequence data that has been extracted is obtained, from the log data that has been stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9626267
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and product for test generation. The method comprises generating a first set of instructions for a hardware component, that are to be executed when operating in a first mode of operation; in response to a parsed template statement being a marker statement, generating an intermediary set of one or more instructions to cause the hardware component to change the mode of operation to a second mode in accordance with the marker instruction, and modifying the expected mode of the hardware component to a second mode; and generating a second set of instructions for the hardware component, that are to be executed when operating in the second mode of operation. The generation of instructions comprises determining the expected mode and generating instructions in accordance with the expected mode of the hardware component. The generation is performed without having an expected full state of the hardware component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sung-Boem Park, Amir Nahir, Vitali Sokhin, Wisam Kadry, Jin Sung Park, Ara Cho
  • Patent number: 9575738
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods relating to the deployment of an application. A plurality of nodes in one or more clusters of nodes may be identified. Inventory information for each of the plurality of nodes may be retrieved. The inventory information may provide configuration and state information associated with each node. For example, the inventory information retrieved from the plurality of nodes may include an internet protocol address or a hostname associated with each the plurality of nodes, and a version of software installed on each of the plurality of nodes. An order for deploying the software application may be determined based on the retrieved inventory information. The order may identify a sequence in which the software application is deployed to at least one of the plurality of nodes. The software application may be deployed to at least one of the plurality of nodes based on the determined order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
    Inventors: Shelesh Chopra, Vladimir Mandic, Sudha Narayanan, Preeti Varma
  • Patent number: 9547328
    Abstract: A computing system includes at least a first division and a second division. The first division has a first clock rate and the second division has a second clock rate. The computing system includes a first processor configured to execute a task on the first division and a second processor configured to execute the task of the second division. The task executed on the first division operates according to the first clock rate, and the task executed on the second division operates according to the second clock rate. A method of executing a task in order to reduce common mode failures in a computing system includes varying a program speed of each of the plurality of divisions such that the task, when executed on a corresponding one of the plurality of divisions, operates at a clock rate according to the corresponding one of the plurality of divisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Bishara E. Kakunda, Gregory S. Droba, Oscar L. Meek
  • Patent number: 9519565
    Abstract: A method for automatic monitoring of at least one component of a physical system, includes checking data of a data record for errors caused by a preceding data processing, checking the data in the physical context of the at least one sensor for errors resulting from infringements of assumptions of physical and/or system-related factors in elements of the measurement chain, the context of the component for errors resulting from infringements of the physical and/or system-related factors of the component, and—checking the individually asserted errors against one another and then either rejecting the error or outputting the error as an error message with reference to the error source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Stefan Hainzl
  • Patent number: 9501345
    Abstract: Access to first log data from a first log data source and second log data from a second log data source is obtained. Trigger event log data is defined and the second log data from the second log data source is monitored to detect the defined trigger event log data in the second log data. If the defined trigger event log data is detected in the second log data from the second log data source, the detected trigger event log data in the second log data from the second log data source is correlated with the first log data from the first log data source, and/or at least part of the second log data from the second log data source is inserted into the first log data from the first log data source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: M. Shannon Lietz, Luis Felipe Cabrera
  • Patent number: 9456731
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes an input element configured to select a first wash cycle from a plurality of wash cycles, a controller configured to control a cycle parameter, a turbidity sensor configured to measure a soil level of a wash liquid, and a display device configured to at least temporarily display the soil level measured by the turbidity sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: MIELE & CIE. KG
    Inventors: Erik Berends, Guenther Ennen, Seyfettin Kara
  • Patent number: 9459619
    Abstract: Continuous equipment operation is facilitated despite disablement of an automation controller for controlling the equipment. A safe state in which equipment is to be maintained upon disablement of the automation controller is determined. Safe state data is provided for configuring an I/O module, through which the automation controller controls the equipment, with the safe state data to facilitate maintaining the equipment in the safe state during disablement of the automation controller. In one embodiment, upon subsequent enablement of the automation controller, a current state of the I/O module is evaluated and an automatic control state into which the equipment is to be transitioned is determined. The equipment is then transitioned to the determined automatic control state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: MEGA FLUID SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan Henry Fletcher, James Andrew Graves, Quay Isaac Gene Williams, David Peter Allen
  • Patent number: 9405278
    Abstract: A safety control device for safely controlling a hazardous installation has a first and a second calculation unit and an output unit for driving at least one actuator. The control device acquires an input signal and determines a floating point value depending on the input signal. The first and second calculation units each determine an input interval as a function of the floating point value. The first and second calculation units each further determine a result interval as a function of the input interval by applying a first calculation algorithm to the input interval. The first calculation algorithm is based on interval arithmetic. The result intervals from the first and second calculation units are compared and an output value is determined as a function of the result intervals. An output signal is determined as a function of the output value. The output signal drives the at least one actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: PILZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Simon Stegmaier, Timo Nawratil, Juergen Wuellrich
  • Patent number: 9389658
    Abstract: A method of powering on a plurality of devices includes identifying a plurality of power distribution units disposed in a rack, wherein each power distribution units is connected to receive power from a main power source, and wherein each power distribution unit includes a circuit breaker. The method further includes identifying a plurality of devices disposed in the rack, wherein each device is connected to receive power from one of the power distribution units, and wherein the plurality of devices are selected from server nodes, network switches and external data storage devices. For each of the power distribution units, the plurality of devices that are connected to the power distribution unit are powered on in a sequence to prevent an inrush current from tripping the circuit breaker within the power distribution unit. The sequence powers on the devices identified as network switches and external data storage devices prior to powering on the devices identified as server nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Shareef F. Alshinnawi, Gary D. Cudak, Edward S. Suffern, J. Mark Weber
  • Patent number: 9377960
    Abstract: A data storage method, comprising, receiving host data to be written to a plurality of flash storage devices, allocating the host data to one or more data units of a plurality of data units, allocating pad data to one or more data units of the plurality of data units that have not been filled with host data and generating redundant data in a redundant data unit based on the plurality of data units. The method further comprises steps for writing the plurality of data units and the redundant data unit to a stripe across the plurality of flash storage devices, wherein each of the plurality of data units and the redundant data unit is written in the respective flash storage devices at a common physical address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: HGST TECHNOLOGIES SANTA ANA, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Moshayedi, William Calvert
  • Patent number: 9360908
    Abstract: A computer program product includes computer usable program code embodied on a tangible computer usable storage medium for: identifying a plurality of power distribution units (PDUs) disposed in a rack, wherein each PDU receives power from a main power source, and wherein each PDU includes a circuit breaker; identifying a plurality of devices disposed in the rack, wherein each device receives power from one of the PDUs, and wherein the plurality of devices are selected from server nodes, network switches and external data storage devices; and powering on, for each of the PDU, the plurality of devices that are connected to the PDU in a sequence to prevent an inrush current from tripping the circuit breaker within the PDU, wherein the sequence powers on the devices identified as network switches and external data storage devices prior to powering on the devices identified as server nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Shareef F. Alshinnawi, Gary D. Cudak, Edward S. Suffern, J. Mark Weber
  • Patent number: 9348562
    Abstract: Approaches presented herein enable correction of source code that fails to comply with an established coding standard in a code base within an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Specifically, a non-compliant segment of code, which requires correction, and that was coded by a first developer, is assembled into a stand-alone artifact that is dispatched to a second developer. The code segment is then corrected by the second developer, and the artifact containing the corrected segment is merged back into the code base from whence the segment originated. In one approach, the artifact comprises the code segment, dependent code classes of the segment, unit tests results, and test data. In another approach, the second developer is identified utilizing a skill-matching algorithm. In yet another approach, the corrected segment is unit-tested prior to being merged back into the code base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Swaminathan Balasubramanian, Radha M. De, Brian M. O'Connell, Keith R. Walker
  • Patent number: 9292303
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for suspend profiles and hinted suspending. Exemplary embodiments include a suspend mode management method, including determining a task to perform in the computer system during a suspend period of the computer system, detecting a suspend event in the computer system, the suspend event initiating the suspend period and performing the task during the suspend period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Browne, Eli M. Dow, Marie R. Laser, Jessie Yu
  • Patent number: 9280617
    Abstract: A system may include a model library configured to model a system, wherein the model library includes a plurality of subsystem models, and each of the plurality of subsystem models is configured to derive a reliability measure. The system further includes a fault tolerance input and a maintenance policy input. The system further includes a dynamic risk calculation engine (DRCE) configured to use a user-defined set of the plurality of subsystem models, the fault tolerance input and the maintenance policy input, to derive a system risk for an apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Maria Cecilia Mazzaro, Frederick William Block, Pablo Enrique Acevedo Giraldi, Charles Scott Sealing, Atanu Talukdar, Mark Andrew Runkle
  • Patent number: 9268329
    Abstract: An interface device is interposed between a control server and a controlled device to facilitate communications between the control server and the controlled device. The interface device receives control signals from the control server and relays those signals to the controlled device. Furthermore, the interface device receives sensor readings from the controlled device and forwards them in suit to the server. The control signals may be input into the interface device over a digital connection (e.g., USB connection) and output over an analog channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Jasmine Louise Strong
  • Patent number: 9268713
    Abstract: A method for securely storing password information in a memory of a computer device. The stored password information is protected by a master password. The method includes receiving a text string corresponding to password information. The method also includes converting the text string to a media file. When the media file is passed to an output the password information is presented to a user. The method also includes storing the media file in the memory such that it is protected by the master password.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: F-Secure Corporation
    Inventor: Juha Torkkel
  • Patent number: 9268343
    Abstract: A method of operating a cooling system for a hardware component is disclosed. The cooling system comprises one or more cooling devices and the method comprising the steps of monitoring commands that result in one or more operations for the hardware component, detecting a command that will result in a processing intensive operation for the hardware component, and operating a cooling device to cool the hardware component, in response to the detected operation. In a preferred embodiment, following the detection of a command that will result in a processing intensive operation for the hardware component, a predefined profile for the specific operation is accessed, and the operation of the cooling device to cool the hardware component, in response to the detected operation, comprises operating the cooling device according to predefined profile. The profile can be created automatically following previous operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gaurav Mehrotra, Abhinay R. Nagpal, Madlen Niekammer
  • Patent number: 9261868
    Abstract: A process control system performing control of an industrial process implemented in a plant, may include: a network provided in the plant; a plurality of field devices connected to the network, each of the plurality of field devices is configured to perform at least one of measurement and actuation required for control of the industrial process; and a controller, connected to the network, having a virtual part configured to operate in hardware in place of hardware, and a control unit configured to operate in the virtual part and to control operations of the field devices via the network, the controller being configured to enable replacement of hardware without changing the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Torigoe
  • Patent number: 9251298
    Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for maintaining an electrical network model describing an electrical network. A fault detection, fault isolation, and load restoration (FDIR) component, a voltage/var control (VVC) component, and/or other components may be provided with access to the electrical network model so that the components may have access to relatively up-to-date and/or accurate information describing the electrical network when executing functionality for the electrical network. For example, the FDIR component and the VVC component may be synchronized based upon the electrical network model so that the FDIR component may have notice of network changes by the VCC component, and/or the VCC component have may have notice of network changes by the FDIR component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Wei Huang, Douglas A. Voda, David C. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 9230761
    Abstract: An emergency stop system for a hybrid excavator is provided, which includes an emergency switch and an emergency stop unit. In a normal operation state, a power supply that is applied from a power supply unit is provided to a hybrid controller and an engine controller, while when the emergency switch is pressed, the input power supply is intercepted to effectively stop the operation of the hybrid system in the case where equipment abnormality or an emergency situation occurs. Also, when the emergency switch is pressed, the power supply is applied to an emergency alarm unit and an energy discharge unit to notify an operator and neighboring persons of the equipment abnormality and emergency situation occurrence, and a hybrid power source vanishes completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventors: Ji-Yun Kim, Eui-Chul Kim, Dong-Uk Choi
  • Patent number: 9223470
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a technical installation with a plurality of installation components connected to one another for transmitting data in order to perform process steps is provided. Status messages, each status message containing a plurality of individual messages, are displayed on a display unit. Upon initiation of the display of a status message, it is determined which individual messages assigned to the status message are to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Uwe Frye, Eckhard Seibert, Horst Walz
  • Patent number: 9221428
    Abstract: A system for developing a digital signature identifying a specific person operating a vehicle uses a computerized appliance and software or firmware executing from a non-transitory medium on the computerized appliance and providing a first function collecting raw data regarding vehicle operation from sensors implemented in the vehicle during operation by the specific person, a second function analyzing the raw data and identifying at least one pattern of behavior associated with the specific person; and a third function developing a digital signature from the analyzed data for that specific person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Automatic Labs Inc.
    Inventors: Thejovardhana S. Kote, Jerald Jariyasunant
  • Patent number: 9208037
    Abstract: The present invention provides a duplexed operation processor control system that includes operation processors, an I/O device, and at least one communication path that couples the operation processors to the I/O device, and at least one communication path that couples the operation processors with each other. The duplexed operation processor control system switches over either of the operation processors to be a primary operation processor that executes a control operation for a control target, and the other to be a secondary operation processor that is in a stand-by state, and the secondary operation processor snoops control data synchronously when the primary operation processor acquires the control data from the control target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignees: HITACHI, LTD., HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiki Shimizu, Akira Bando, Yusaku Otsuka, Yasuhiro Kiyofuji, Eiji Kobayashi, Akihiro Onozuka, Satoru Funaki, Masakazu Ishikawa, Hideaki Masuko, Yusuke Seki, Wataru Sasaki, Naoya Mashiko, Akihiro Nakano, Shin Kokura, Shoichi Ozawa, Yu Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9195847
    Abstract: A storage system that enables the use of a plurality of keys respectively stored in a plurality of storage units of a storage device is provided. The storage system includes a storage device including a first storage unit and a second storage unit that are recognized as a single storage device, wherein the first storage unit is configured to store a first key, the second storage unit is configured to store a second key different from the first key, and a controller is configured to transmit to the storage device one of a first key-read control signal that includes information about the first storage unit and a second key-read control signal that includes information about the second storage unit and receive the first key and the second key as identification information of the storage device in response to the first key-read control signal and the second key-read control signal, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae-Bum Lee
  • Patent number: 9170569
    Abstract: A method includes electing an item of active master equipment from two redundant primary and secondary master items of equipment (10, 20), the primary and secondary master items of equipment (10, 20) being directly connected to a fieldbus (1) and linked together by a terminal cable (30) and each having an active operating mode and a standby mode. Each of the primary and secondary master items of equipment (10, 20) also has one and the same state machine (12, 22) for designating one of the primary and secondary master items of equipment (10, 20) as the active master item of equipment, and the terminal cable (30) used for establishing a directional relation of the primary master item of equipment (10, 20) to the secondary master item of equipment (10, 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Gerard Gomez, Jean Jacques Adragna
  • Patent number: 9160798
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards managing within a cluster environment having a plurality of indexers for data storage using redundancy the data being managed using a generation identifier, such that a primary indexer is designated for a given generation of data. When a master device for the cluster fails, data may continue to be stored using redundancy, and data searches performed may still be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Splunk, Inc.
    Inventors: Vishal Patel, Mitchell Neuman Blank, Jr., Sundar Rengarajan Vasan, Stephen Phillip Sorkin
  • Patent number: 9152364
    Abstract: Media processing devices, media processing device control methods, and computer-readable recording mediums storing programs that can be executed by control units that control media processing devices are provided. In one embodiment, a media processing device has a plurality of operation units that process roll paper and checks as a plurality of recording media, and a central processing unit (CPU) that controls the operation units by executing commands received from a host computer. When the CPU detects during a normal operating mode that commands for any of the operation units cannot be executed, the CPU switches to a limited operation mode in which commands for that operation unit cannot be executed, but commands from the host computer can be received and commands for other operation units can be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoharu Kifuku
  • Patent number: 9152491
    Abstract: A job continuation management apparatus according to an exemplary aspect of the invention includes, job execution units that carrying out jobs; a job management information memory unit storing job identification information, identification information on the job execution unit, job execution information and job continuing execution priority in unit of the job; and a job continuation management unit referring to the job management information memory unit when a failure occurs in the job execution units, and, about records having identification information of the job execution unit identical with identification information of the failed job execution, sends the job identification information and the job execution information to one of the job execution units except for the failed unit sequentially in a order starting from a job having highest the job continuing execution priority to lowest, and making the job execution unit of a receiving party perform continuation execution of the job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Haruki Katou
  • Patent number: 9110805
    Abstract: In some implementations, a system controller of a computing device can be configured to receive a power-on signal and prevent the computing device from providing power to components of the computing device. In some implementations, upon receiving a power-on signal, the system controller can retrieve fault data from a power supply unit. The fault data can be analyzed to determine whether the power supply unit detected an unrecoverable failure. When an unrecoverable failure is detected, the system controller can prevent the power supply unit from providing power to other components of the computing device. In some implementations, an unrecoverable failure can be detected when the fault data indicates that an overcurrent, an overvoltage, or an over-temperature fault has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Chin-Fu Tsai
  • Patent number: 9094647
    Abstract: A LED television mounting frame assembly comprising: a frame, where the frame holds an aluminum housing; a polyvision glass, where the polyvision glass is stored within the frame; a LED television screen stored within the frame one side of the polyvision glass and placed on a viewing side of the frame; an art piece, where the art piece is stored on the opposite side of the polyvision glass, wherein said art piece is visible when LED television screen is not in used and is revealed through the polyvision glass; a back cover, where the cover is placed upon a back side of the frame; and electronic control systems, where said control systems provide a means for controlling the viewing side of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Inventor: James Williamson
  • Patent number: 9084290
    Abstract: A dual-mode router for conveying process communication packets across a plurality of distinct wireless process communication networks is provided. The router includes wireless communication circuitry and a controller coupled to the wireless communication circuitry. The wireless communication circuitry is configured to interact with signals from each of the plurality of distinct wireless process communication networks. The controller is configured to adapt process communication packets from a first distinct wireless process communication network for transmission over a second distinct wireless process communication network. Methods for configuring the distinct wireless process communication networks and relaying process packets over the distinct wireless process communication networks are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick Enns, Martin Zielinski, Jose Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 9080665
    Abstract: A failsafe device for a vehicle is provided that includes a transmission of a vehicle and a controller configured to operate an oil supply unit and an emergency oil supply unit. The oil supply unit supplies oil to the transmission via a first oil channel and produces hydraulic pressure and the emergency oil supply unit supplies oil to the transmission via a second oil channel and produces the hydraulic pressure when an oil supply system fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Byoung Hoon Choi, Dong Soo Shim, Jae Shin Yi, Seung Ki Kong, Hak Sung Lee