Douglas A Law

US Patent:

7194323, Mar 20, 2007

Filed:

Mar 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/814524

Inventors:

Barry Alan Kritt - Creedmoor NC, US
Douglas A. Law - Chapel Hill NC, US
James Keith MacKenzie - Ayrshire, GB
Pamela Annette Morse - Durham NC, US
Shawn Konrad Sremaniak - Chapel Hill NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

700 97, 706904

Abstract:

A method and system for product fulfillment in an automated manufacturing system is disclosed. The method and system of the present invention includes obtaining requirements for a product from a customer. The method and system further includes creating a plan from the requirements using a descriptive language. The plan is then conveyed to an automated manufacturing system for use in manufacturing the product.

US Patent:

7284120, Oct 16, 2007

Filed:

Nov 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/715961

Inventors:

Eric E. Blouin - Ardmore PA, US
Brian J. Jaeger - Chapel Hill NC, US
Barry A. Kritt - Raleigh NC, US
Douglas A. Law - Chapel Hill NC, US
Kuldip Nanda - Apex NC, US
Paul A. Roberts - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. - Singapore

International Classification:

G06F 9/00
G06F 15/177

US Classification:

713 2, 713100, 709217, 709218, 709219, 709220, 709221, 709222, 717174, 717175, 717176, 717177, 717178

Abstract:

A computer manufacturing system is disclosed. The computer manufacturing system comprises a system under test (SUT), the SUT including a network adapter and a boot loader for loading the appropriate operating system. The SUT further includes a station for receiving customer orders for the SUT, the station including a sequencer. The sequencer obtains a boot selection file for the SUT from a directory. The SUT further retrieves and parses the boot selection file to obtain the operating system image to load and boot until the SUT is configured with the appropriate date. A system and method in accordance with the present invention provides a means for a computer being manufactured (hereinafter called a system under test, or SUT) to boot an operating system without the need for any local media. In addition, it allows the SUT to boot any one of several operating systems as required, depending on the tools being run during that portion of the process. The system in accordance with the present invention allows the operating system to be specified as an attribute of a manufacturing operation.

US Patent:

7359824, Apr 15, 2008

Filed:

Jun 29, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/170353

Inventors:

Eric Erhard Blouin - Ardmore PA, US
Barry Alan Kritt - Raleigh NC, US
Douglas Alan Law - Chapel Hill NC, US
Kuldip Nanda - Apex NC, US
Paul Allen Roberts - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G01M 19/00

US Classification:

702122

Abstract:

Systems, methods and media for providing a distributed execution environment with per-command environment management are disclosed. In one embodiment, a plurality of digital systems are connected to a serving device. The serving device comprises a sequencer to originate environment attributes and commands to be executed within the environment. Each digital system under test and serving device comprises a listener with a queue to receive environment attributes and commands. A listener on a digital system under test or serving device implements the environment attributes and executes the received commands within the specified environment.

US Patent:

7391338, Jun 24, 2008

Filed:

Dec 21, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/314989

Inventors:

Selcuk Suat Eren - Chapel Hill NC, US
Brian Jules Jaeger - Chapel Hill NC, US
Douglas Alan Law - Chapel Hill NC, US
Paul Allen Roberts - Raleigh NC, US
Shawn Konrad Sremaniak - Chapel Hill NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G08B 21/00

US Classification:

3406861, 3405723, 3405722, 3405391, 34053913, 3405721, 3405728, 340684, 3406862

Abstract:

Apparatus and method is provided for using low cost, passive RF sensor technology such as RFID tags, to determine whether containers or other objects are in a right-side-up orientation. A useful embodiment of the invention is directed to sensor apparatus for use in detecting an improper orientation of a conventional box or container with respect to a substantially horizontal surface. The apparatus includes a structure having two sides formed of plastic in spaced apart relationship, to define an enclosed space within the structure. Selected shielding material attached to the structure shields a specified region of the enclosed space against RF signals, the shielded region being located in the lowest portion of the enclosed space when the structure is in a reference orientation with respect to the horizontal surface. An RFID tag embedded in a disk is positioned in the enclosed space, the disk being sized to move freely within the space. A guide element guides the disk in moving between the shielded region and an unshielded region, when the structure is correspondingly moved between its reference orientation and an improper orientation corresponding to an improper orientation of the container.

US Patent:

7492256, Feb 17, 2009

Filed:

Dec 29, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/320930

Inventors:

Selcuk Suat Eren - Chapel Hill NC, US
Brian Jules Jaeger - Chapel Hill NC, US
Douglas Alan Law - Chapel Hill NC, US
Paul Allen Roberts - Raleigh NC, US
Shawn Konrad Sremaniak - Chapel Hill NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G08B 13/14

US Classification:

3405721, 3405728, 3406861, 3406862, 340689

Abstract:

An apparatus and method are disclosed for detecting whether a device has been tilted beyond a predefined threshold. A casing is included for temporarily enclosing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The RFID tag is unable to receive an RFID interrogation signal when the RFID tag is enclosed in the casing. The tilting of the device is monitored. In response to the amount of tilt exceeding the predefined threshold, the RFID tag is exposed to radio frequency (RF) signals. The RFID tag receives the RFID interrogation signal when the RFID tag is exposed. The RFID tag transmits a reply RFID signal in response to a receipt by the RFID tag of the RFID interrogation signal. The RFID tag transmits the RFID reply signal only when the RFID tag is exposed which indicates that tilting of the device beyond the predefined threshold has occurred.

US Patent:

7564354, Jul 21, 2009

Filed:

Dec 29, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/320931

Inventors:

Selcuk Suat Eren - Chapel Hill NC, US
Brian Jules Jaeger - Chapel Hill NC, US
Douglas Alan Law - Chapel Hill NC, US
Paul Allen Roberts - Raleigh NC, US
Shawn Konrad Sremaniak - Chapel Hill NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G08B 13/14

US Classification:

3405721, 340571, 3405724, 3405727, 3405728, 3405681

Abstract:

An apparatus and method are disclosed for detecting whether a device has been opened. A first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is installed in the package, typically during manufacturing. A first component is included in the first RFID tag. The first component modifies a power source to the first RFID tag in response to the package being opened after the first RFID tag is installed. The first RFID tag indicates a first event in response to the power supply being modified.

US Patent:

7765081, Jul 27, 2010

Filed:

Feb 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/031823

Inventors:

Eric Erhard Blouin - Ardmore PA, US
Barry Alan Kritt - Raleigh NC, US
Douglas Alan Law - Chapel Hill NC, US
Kuldip Nanda - Apex NC, US
Paul Allen Roberts - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G01M 19/00

US Classification:

702122, 702117, 702118, 700121

Abstract:

Systems, methods and media for providing a distributed execution environment with per-command environment management are disclosed. In one embodiment, a plurality of digital systems are connected to a serving device. The serving device comprises a sequencer to originate environment attributes and commands to be executed within the environment. Each digital system under test and serving device comprises a listener with a queue to receive environment attributes and commands. A listener on a digital system under test or serving device implements the environment attributes and executes the received commands within the specified environment.

US Patent:

7844508, Nov 30, 2010

Filed:

Oct 9, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/539687

Inventors:

Selcuk Suat Eren - Chapel Hill NC, US
Brian Jules Jaeger - Chapel Hill NC, US
Douglas Alan Law - Chapel Hill NC, US
Paul Allen Roberts - Raleigh NC, US
Shawn Konrad Sremaniak - Chapel Hill NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06Q 10/00

US Classification:

705 28

Abstract:

A system and method for coordinating delivery of components to manage solution delivery and installation to customers. When a customer order for components is received, a component tracking device is configured to be placed within one or more pre-designated areas of a customer site. Each component to be shipped to the customer site is tagged with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is associated with the order. The tracking device is used to detect the presence of each component at the pre-designated areas within the customer site. An RFID reader in the tracking device detects the presence of a component by reading the RFID tag on the component. Data about the presence of each component is recorded. An installation team may be notified when the recorded data indicates that a number of components in the order have been detected within the pre-designated areas of the customer site.