Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090095526 | Method and Apparatus for Managing Rod Changes in Horizontal Directional Drill - This disclosure concerns methods and apparatuses for managing drill rods in horizontal direction drilling, among other things. Various embodiments concern a horizontal directional drilling machine comprising a rack frame, a carriage longitudinally movable along the rack frame, a mechanical arrangement coupled to the carriage and the rack frame, the mechanical arrangement controlling relative movement between the carriage and the rack frame, a thrust motor coupled to the carriage such that thrust or pullback output from the thrust motor moves the carriage relative to the rack frame, a gearbox mounted on the carriage, the gearbox longitudinally translatable along the carriage, the gearbox comprising a rotation motor, a spindle attached to the gearbox, the spindle rotatable by the rotation motor and having a distal end coupling, the distal end coupling configured to attach to the proximal end of a drill rod, a vise assembly mounted on the rack frame, the vise assembly comprising a proximal vise linearly and rotationally moveable with respect to the rack frame, the proximal vise comprising a clamping mechanism configured to secure the drill rod by clamping onto the drill rod, a rotation encoder sensor configured to output a rotation encoder signal indicative of rotation of the spindle, a rack encoder sensor configured to output a rack encoder signal indicative of relative movement between the carriage and the rack frame, a float sensor configured to output a float signal indicative of relative movement between the carriage and the gearbox, and control circuitry comprising a processor and memory, the processor configured to execute program instructions stored in memory, processor execution of the stored program instructions causing the control circuitry to determine the relative positioning of the gearbox relative to the proximal vise based on the rack encoder signal and the float signal, position the drill rod within the proximal vise using the determined relative positioning of the gearbox and the thrust motor, determine a state of threaded coupling between the drill rod and a drill string based on the rotation encoder signal and the float signal, and rotate the drill rod using the spindle rotated by the rotation motor based on the determined state of the threaded coupling. | 04-16-2009 |
20090095527 | Devices and Methods for Power Control in Horizontal Directional Drilling - The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatuses for controlling pump power draw from an engine in horizontal directional drilling. Various embodiments of the invention are directed to a horizontal directional drilling machine that comprises an engine that outputs mechanical energy, a rotation pump that draws upon the mechanical energy output by the engine to operate a rotation motor that rotates a drill string, a thrust pump that draws upon the mechanical energy output by the engine to operate a thrust motor that longitudinally moves the drill string, a mud pump that draws upon the mechanical energy output by the engine to operate a mud motor that delivers fluid through the drill string, and control circuitry comprising a controller and memory, the processor configured to execute program instructions stored on the memory, processor execution of the stored program instructions causing the control circuitry to calculate a rotation pump power draw from the engine, calculate a thrust pump power draw from the engine, calculate a mud pump power draw from the engine, calculate a total power draw based on the rotation pump power draw, the thrust pump power draw and the mud pump power draw, compare the total power draw to a threshold, and decrease mechanical energy draw of each of the rotation pump, the thrust pump, and the mud pump from the engine based on the total power draw exceeding the threshold. | 04-16-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120031238 | WRENCH WITH TRIGGER - A wrench for applying a drive torque at a drive element includes an elongated handle, a clamping element or head having a torque-applying gripping surface, and at least one trigger. The head is adjustably or movably mounted at the handle and is adjustable or movable to impart a clamping force at a drive element received at the gripping surface of the head. The trigger is configured to adjust or move the head relative to the handle to impart the clamping force at the drive element. Responsive to a user actuating the trigger, the trigger adjusts or moves the head relative to the handle to impart the clamping force at the drive element irrespective of any movement of the handle relative to the drive element. | 02-09-2012 |
20120297934 | SOCKET WITH RATCHET MECHANISM - A socket and ratchet combination includes a socket element and a ratchet device or module. The ratchet device is a self-contained ratchet device module having a housing that houses a ratchet mechanism, and the socket element includes a passageway that is configured to receive the housing of the ratchet device therein. When a drive member of a lever arm is connected to the ratchet device and the lever arm is rotated in a first direction, the ratchet device and the socket element rotate in the first direction to rotatably drive a fastener at least partially received at an end region of the socket element, and when the drive member of the lever arm is connected to the ratchet device and the lever arm is rotated in a second direction, the ratchet device allows the lever arm to rotate in the second direction relative to the socket element. | 11-29-2012 |
20130093184 | TOOL FOR COUPLING FLUID LINES - A swage or coupling tool is provided for use in coupling a fluid line to a compression fitting, a fluid coupler, or the like. The swage tool provides multiple degrees of freedom and/or multiple pivots or pivot joints to facilitate and maintain alignment of the jaws with the compression fitting during use of the swage tool to facilitate properly-aligned assembly of the compression fitting, and to limit bending or kinking of the fluid line when the fitting is being attached. The swage tool includes a pair of movable jaws, which may have stepped or rounded engagement surfaces, which may be forced against corresponding engagement surfaces of the compression fitting to securely assemble the fitting to the fluid line. The shape of the engagement surfaces facilitates properly-aligned assembly of the compression fitting, and limits bending or kinking of the fluid line when the fitting is being attached. | 04-18-2013 |
20130133394 | HAND HELD FLARING TOOL - A hand held flaring tool includes a receiving portion for receiving an end of a tube, a stop element, a locking mechanism and a flaring mechanism. The stop element is movably disposed at the receiving portion and is movable between a stopping position, where the stop element limits insertion of the tube at the receiving portion to set the tube at an appropriate location for flaring the end of the tube, and a flaring position, where the stop element is moved to a position remote from the end of the tube. The locking mechanism is operable to lock the tube at the receiving portion when the tube is inserted into engagement with the stop element. The flaring mechanism is operable to move a flaring mandrel towards and into engagement with the end of the tube to flare the end of the tube. | 05-30-2013 |
20130199342 | ADJUSTABLE GRIPPING TOOL - A hand operated gripping tool includes a first jaw unit having a first work piece engaging portion, a support member extending generally transversely with respect to the first jaw unit, a first handle at the second end of the support member, a second jaw unit having a second work piece engaging portion, and a second handle having an end portion pivotally attached at the second jaw unit. A guiding device is disposed at the end portion of the second handle. The guiding device has an engaging element and a biasing element, and the engaging element is biased or urged toward and into engagement with the second reaction surface by the biasing element. The engaging element engages the second reaction surface as the second jaw unit moves along the support member to adjust the size of the work piece receiving space. | 08-08-2013 |
20130257041 | TUBE SPLICING DEVICE - A coupling device for coupling or splicing two fluid lines together includes a connector, a sleeve and at least one fastener. The connector has first and second end portions configured for insertion into first and second tube ends, respectively. The connector has an outer surface profile that includes at least one protrusion at each of the end portions for engaging an inner surface of a tube when the end portion is inserted into the tube end. The sleeve is configured for positioning at least partially around the connector and the tube ends disposed at the first and second end portions. The sleeve has an inner surface profile that generally corresponds with the outer surface profile of the connector, and the sleeve has an outer surface that has at least one threaded portion. The fastener threadedly engages the threaded portion of the sleeve and is tightened thereon. | 10-03-2013 |
20140339816 | TUBE COUPLING DEVICE - A coupling device for coupling to a fluid line includes a connector, a sleeve and a fastener. The connector has an end portion configured for insertion into a tube end, and has an outer surface profile that has at least one protrusion at the end portion for engaging an inner surface of a tube when the end portion is inserted into the tube end. The sleeve is configured for positioning at least partially around the connector and the tube end. The fastener threadedly engages a threaded outer surface of the sleeve, and when the fastener is threaded onto the sleeve, the inner surface profile of the sleeve engages the tube at the end portion of the connector to substantially clamp around the tube at the connector. The coupling device includes at least one clamping element for enhancing clamping of the sleeve around the tube at the connector. | 11-20-2014 |
20150061283 | TUBE COUPLING DEVICE - A coupling device for coupling to a fluid line includes a coupler body having an end portion with a threaded outer surface and a conical inner surface. A fastener threadedly engages the threaded outer surface of the coupler body. A ferrule includes a rotational driving portion and a clamping portion having a threaded inner surface. When a tube is inserted through the ferrule and the fastener and into the end portion of the coupler body, the fastener threads onto the coupler body and the conical inner surface of the coupler body engages an outer surface of the clamping portion of the ferrule to substantially clamp the clamping portion of the ferrule around the tube. With the fastener tightened, the ferrule is rotatable relative to the fastener and the coupler body and the tube, whereby rotation of the ferrule moves the tube further into the coupler body. | 03-05-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090323967 | PRODUCTION OF CRYPTOGRAPHIC KEYS FOR AN EMBEDDED PROCESSING DEVICE - A system and method for producing cryptographic keys for use by an embedded processing device within a manufactured product. A pseudo random number generator is seeded with entropy data gathered by the embedded device, and the result is used to generate a public-private key pair. The process can be carried out during manufacturing so that the public key of each manufactured product can be stored in a database along with a unique identifier for the embedded device associated with the key. In one particular example, a vehicle having an installed telematics unit uses the key generating process to self-generate keys using entropy data available to the vehicle. | 12-31-2009 |
20100202616 | METHOD OF SECURING AND AUTHENTICATING DATA USING MICRO-CERTIFICATES - A method of securing wireless communications includes storing a recipient's micro-certificate at a vehicle, a call center, or a certificate authority, transmitting the micro-certificate from its place of storage, extracting the public key from the micro-certificate, encrypting the vehicle communication using the public key, transmitting the encrypted vehicle communication to the recipient, and decrypting the vehicle communication using a private key after receiving the vehicle communication. The micro-certificate can include identifying data for the recipient and can have a length that is less than twice the length of the public key contained in the micro-certificate. | 08-12-2010 |
20110145925 | SECURE PROGRAMMING OF VEHICLE MODULES - A method for programming a vehicle module via a secure programming system. The method carried out by the system involves generating a credentials media containing one or more secure credentials. Then, a credentials programmer programs one or more vehicle modules using the credentials media. During each stage of the vehicle module programming, the programming status is securely updated in the credential media. In case of a programming failure, the credentials media is used in a secondary credentials programmer to program the vehicle modules. | 06-16-2011 |
20110260884 | METHOD FOR COLLECTING DATA AND SYSTEM FOR ACCOMPLISHING THE SAME - A method for collecting data is disclosed herein. The method involves selecting, via a processor associated with a telematics service center, a mobile vehicle to collect data from a sensor configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more selected vehicles and, via a telematics unit disposed in the selected mobile vehicle, receiving data collected by the sensor. The method further involves, via the telematics unit, transmitting the data from the telematics unit to a data aggregator and reporting the data from the data aggregator to a facility. Also disclosed herein is a system for accomplishing the same. | 10-27-2011 |
20120028656 | METHOD OF IDENTIFYING TELEMATICS CALLS - A method of identifying telematics calls includes the steps of receiving at a vehicle telematics unit a paging message used to connect a call over a wireless carrier system; determining at the vehicle telematics unit if the paging message used to connect the call includes a Mobile Identification Number (MIN) or a Mobile Equipment Identifier (MEID); and establishing the call and, if the vehicle telematics unit determines that the paging message includes the MEID, entering into a mode in which the vehicle telematics unit uses a modem for receipt and transmission of data | 02-02-2012 |
20120295592 | Vehicle Component Identification and Configuration Registry Reporting System - A method and system for utilizing a telematics unit on a telematics-equipped vehicle as a register for ECU Critical Information (ECI) associated with the ECUs in the vehicle, which may include their serial numbers, configurations, software images, and other data includes the telematics unit querying ECUs within the telematics-equipped vehicle such as, for example, when the vehicle is started. The ECUs may then provide the telematics unit with the ECI associated with each ECU. The ECI may be encrypted, and the telematics unit may provide each module that it queries with a nonce used in the encryption process. The telematics unit may then decrypt the ECI received from each of the ECUs and compare the received ECI to previously stored ECI. If the received ECI is different from the previously stored ECI, the telematics unit may send the new ECI to a TSP call center. Both the telematics unit and the call center may replace the previously stored ECI with the new ECI and may maintain records of previously stored ECI and updates to the ECI. | 11-22-2012 |
20120302202 | VEHICLE DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method of for establishing a connection between a vehicle and an external network includes a plurality of personal electronic devices and a transceiver. The plurality of personal electronic devices are each configured for establishing a data connection to the vehicle. Each of the plurality of personal electronic have a mobile plan that includes a data limit and an amount of data used. At least one of the plurality of personal electronic devices are selected to be in communication with the external network. Selection of at least one of the plurality of personal electronic devices is based on a corresponding amount of data available in a mobile plan for each of the personal electronic devices. | 11-29-2012 |
20120302265 | VEHICLE TELEMATICS COMMUNICATION FOR PROVIDING VEHICLE TELEMATICS SERVICES - A method and system for providing a communication message to a vehicle occupant using a vehicle telematics unit. The method carried out by the system involves receiving a broadcasted message having a plurality of different codes at a vehicle telematics unit, generating a text message by converting at least some of the codes into one or more words, and concatenating the words together to form the text message. The method further involves presenting the text message to an occupant of the vehicle. | 11-29-2012 |
20130090782 | METHOD OF COMMUNICATING WITH A VEHICLE HAVING A TELEMATICS UNIT - A system and method for communicating between a vehicle having a vehicle telematics unit and a central facility includes establishing a virtual private network (VPN) connection between a vehicle and a central facility; constructing a data message for communication between the vehicle and the central facility using the VPN; transmitting the data message via the VPN using an unreliable transmission protocol; and determining if the transmitted data message arrived at its destination. | 04-11-2013 |
20130130665 | METHOD OF INITIATING A HANDS-FREE CONFERENCE CALL - A method of operating a vehicle telematics unit includes storing a conference call access code; initiating a conference call from a vehicle based on verbal commands received from a vehicle occupant; receiving a request for the conference call access code from an automated telephone attendant (ATA) while initiating the conference call; determining that the ATA has requested the conference call access code using a speech recognition function at the vehicle; and sending the stored conference call access code to the ATA based on the determination of the speech recognition function. | 05-23-2013 |
20130149998 | AUTHENTICATING MESSAGES SENT BETWEEN A VEHICLE AND A CENTRAL FACILITY - A system and method for transmitting short message service (SMS) messages between a vehicle and a central facility includes determining an authentication tone having a unique characteristic, generating an SMS message that includes computer-readable data representing the authentication tone; sending the SMS message to a central facility, establishing a call between the central facility and the vehicle using a vehicle telematics unit and a wireless carrier system, generating the determined authentication tone at the vehicle, and transmitting the generated authentication tone over the established call to the central facility. | 06-13-2013 |
20130231052 | METHOD OF ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DEVICES IN A VEHICLE - A method and system for establishing secure short range wireless communication between devices in a vehicle. The method involves obtaining a vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle and a module identifier associated with a vehicle module. Then, the method determines a secure pin number for the vehicle module and a similar pin for a vehicle telematics unit. Once the secure pin number is determined at both devices then the devices can communicate via short range wireless communication in a secure manner using the secure pin number. | 09-05-2013 |
20130310010 | METHOD OF COMMUNICATING BETWEEN A VEHICLE AND A TELEMATICS SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE - A method of communicating between a vehicle and a telematics subscription service includes initiating a call from a vehicle telematics unit to a telematics subscription service via a wireless carrier system; accessing a vertical service code telephone number that is associated with the telematics subscription service and stored at a vehicle carrying the vehicle telematics unit; establishing a call between the vehicle telematics unit and the telematics subscription service using the accessed vertical service code telephone number; and wirelessly transmitting vehicle-related data between the vehicle telematics unit and the telematics subscription service over the established call. | 11-21-2013 |
20130337801 | METHOD OF COMMUNICATING BETWEEN A VEHICLE AND A TELEMATICS SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE - A method of communicating between a vehicle and a telematics subscription service includes wirelessly linking a vehicle telematics unit to a session initiation protocol (SIP) proxy server; placing a telephone call from the vehicle telematics unit that is received by the SIP proxy server via the wireless link; establishing a SIP connection between the vehicle telematics unit and a telematics subscription service using the SIP proxy server in response to the placed telephone call; and communicating packetized data between the vehicle telematics unit and the telematics subscription service via the SIP connection. | 12-19-2013 |
20140032800 | VEHICLE MESSAGE FILTER - A message filtering system for a communications system in a vehicle enabling communication between various systems and subsystems via a vehicle bus. Electronic devices may be coupled to the bus. Electronic control units (ECUs) may be located therebetween. The ECU may regulate or control the flow of messages between the bus and the electronic devices. Message filters may apply a filter policy to incoming and outgoing messages. In addition, the message filtering system may have an alert policy for violations of the filter policy. In one embodiment, the source identity of outgoing messages may be overwritten by a message filter dedicated to outgoing messages; this message filter may be an application specific integrated circuit. | 01-30-2014 |
20140075198 | FULLY AUTHENTICATED CONTENT TRANSMISSION FROM A PROVIDER TO A RECIPIENT DEVICE VIA AN INTERMEDIARY DEVICE - A method, system, and computer readable medium containing programming for handling fully authenticated transmission of video or other data (content) from a provider to a recipient device via an intermediary device. An inner envelope containing the content and/or security features is prepared and digitally signed using a private cryptographic key. The signed inner envelope is then included in a second, outer envelope which may also include some or all of the content. The outer envelope is also digitally signed, thereby forming a data package which may be sent from the provider to the intermediary device. If the signature of the outer envelope is authenticated at the intermediary device, then the inner envelope is sent to the recipient device which then uses the inner signature to verify its authenticity. Authenticated content may then be presented or otherwise used at the recipient device. | 03-13-2014 |
20140169564 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SECURE AND AUTHORIZED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A VEHICLE AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES OR KEY FOBS - A system is provided that includes a wireless communication device (or end device), a vehicle having a central module, and a key provisioning server. The key provisioning server is communicatively coupled to the wireless communication device and the central module via wireless connections. The central module can establish a wireless connection with the wireless communication device to initiate a current communication session. When the wireless connection is established with the central module, the wireless communication device communicates a request message to request temporary security information (e.g., public key and/or a digital certificate). The key provisioning server can then provide, in response to the request message, the temporary security information to the wireless communication device and/or the central module. The temporary security information can then be used to encrypt communications between the wireless communication device and the central module. | 06-19-2014 |
20140213216 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR BASE STATION DETECTION - Methods and systems for unauthorized base station detection are disclosed herein. In an example of the method, an in-vehicle controller of a vehicle or an application of a mobile communications device scans a cellular radio environment to identify an available base station. By a signal detection unit in operative communication with the in-vehicle controller or the application, a strength of a signal of the available base station is detected. The in-vehicle controller or the application recognizes that the signal strength is out of the expected signal strength range, and determines that the available base station is the unauthorized base station. While in connection with the unauthorized base station, the in-vehicle controller or the application determines a location of the unauthorized base station. Other examples of the method are also disclosed herein. | 07-31-2014 |
20140270158 | CONNECTION KEY DISTRIBUTION - A system and a method implementing the method pertaining to securely providing a mobile device with a cryptographic key in a vehicle. The method includes generating a cryptographic key pair. The key pair may include at least a first cryptographic key and a second cryptographic key. The method may further include creating a label using a scannable image readable by a mobile device; the scannable image may be based on the second cryptographic key. And the method may include providing the label to the vehicle for displaying the scannable image. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270172 | SECURING A COMMAND PATH BETWEEN A VEHICLE AND PERSONAL WIRELESS DEVICE - A system and a method using that system is provided for establishing a secure communication channel between a vehicle and a mobile device. The method may include providing at least one unique mobile device identifier and at least one unique vehicle telematics unit identifier associated with the mobile device identifier to a call center. At least one of the two identifiers may be provided to a wireless service provider. Two private keys may be generated—a first private key based on the at least one unique mobile identifier and a second private key based on the at least one unique vehicle telematics unit identifier. The first private key may be provided to the mobile device within a first cryptographic envelope signed with a first cryptographic key. And the second private key may be provided to the vehicle telematics unit within a second cryptographic envelope signed with a second cryptographic key. | 09-18-2014 |
20150019068 | Vehicle Component Identification And Configuration Registry Reporting System - A method and system for utilizing a telematics unit on a telematics-equipped vehicle as a register for ECU Critical Information (ECI) associated with the ECUs in the vehicle, which may include their serial numbers, configurations, software images, and other data includes the telematics unit querying ECUs within the telematics-equipped vehicle such as, for example, when the vehicle is started. The ECUs may then provide the telematics unit with the ECI associated with each ECU. The ECI may be encrypted, and the telematics unit may provide each module that it queries with a nonce used in the encryption process. The telematics unit may then decrypt the ECI received from each of the ECUs and compare the received ECI to previously stored ECI. If the received ECI is different from the previously stored ECI, the telematics unit may send the new ECI to a TSP call center. Both the telematics unit and the call center may replace the previously stored ECI with the new ECI and may maintain records of previously stored ECI and updates to the ECI. | 01-15-2015 |
20150100197 | SECURING VEHICLE SERVICE TOOL DATA COMMUNICATIONS - A system and method of securely communicating information between a vehicle and a central facility includes receiving at a vehicle diagnostic tool a challenge query from the vehicle; establishing a wireless connection between the vehicle diagnostic tool and a central facility; transmitting the challenge query from the vehicle diagnostic tool to the central facility via the wireless connection; receiving at the vehicle diagnostic tool a response to the challenge query via the wireless connection; and accessing one or more vehicle modules on the vehicle using the received response to the challenge query. | 04-09-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100169790 | REMOTE CONTROL OF A PRESENTATION - Techniques for remotely controlling a presentation application are disclosed. In accordance with these techniques, a device, such as a handheld device, is linked over a network with a presentation running on a presentation application. In one embodiment, the remote control application allows the presentation to be controlled over the network by direct communication with the presentation application. In certain embodiments, the remote control application displays parts of the presentation, such as a slide being currently presented, and allows navigation of the presentation. In addition, in certain embodiments, the remote control application displays presentation notes, preview slides, or other information useful to a presenter operating the remote control application. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169951 | REMOTE SLIDE PRESENTATION - Techniques for remotely viewing a presentation are disclosed. In accordance with these techniques, a host device executing a presentation application makes a presentation available over a network. In one embodiment, a remote device receives presentation data corresponding to a currently displayed slide of the presentation. The remote device may then display a representation of the currently displayed slide at the remote location. | 07-01-2010 |
20110040804 | DYNAMIC PRESENTATION FRAMEWORK - A system in accordance with the present invention may include one or more processors, memory from which the processor may fetch instructions according to a clock operating at a frequency, a display device, and one or more programs stored in the memory, with instructions to create a structured file for storing data related to the media presentation, access the data related to the media presentation from the presentation application, organize the data related to the media presentation according to an event, and export the organized data related to the media presentation to the structured file. These instructions may also be executed as steps of a method and may be fetched during the execution of one or more programs stored in a computer-readable storage medium. | 02-17-2011 |
20120284774 | REMOTE SLIDE PRESENTATION - Techniques for remotely viewing a presentation are disclosed. In accordance with these techniques, a host device executing a presentation application makes a presentation available over a network. In one embodiment, a remote device receives presentation data corresponding to a currently displayed slide of the presentation. The remote device may then display a representation of the currently displayed slide at the remote location. | 11-08-2012 |
20140304307 | Framework for Media Presentation Playback - A system for generating a structured file that includes all of the various media items need to play the corresponding media presentation is described. (Media items include, for example, images, movies, and audio files.) In one implementation, all of the various media items needed to support the presentation's playback may be collected, where after at least one of them is texturized. Texturing means converting a media item from a larger format to a smaller format. For example, a JPEG file (described in terms of scalable vector-based data) may be texturized to a PNG file (described in terms of pixel data). The items may then be organized in accordance with an event, and stored in a structured file. Once organized by event (e.g., presentation pause-points, frame transitions, effect transitions, input “click” and the like), the media items may be stored into the structured file, ready to playback the media presentation. | 10-09-2014 |