Peter E Ford

US Patent:

7647430, Jan 12, 2010

Filed:

Jan 19, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/038632

Inventors:

Norman N. Ng - Cambridge MA, US
Michael P. Hart - San Francisco CA, US
David M. Miller - Redmond WA, US
Jonathan Wilkins - North Hollywood CA, US
Kenneth Fern - Bellevue WA, US
Markham F. MacLin - Kirkland WA, US
Peter S. Ford - Carnation WA, US
Scott D. Sanders - Sammamish WA, US
Walter VonKoch - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 3/00
G06F 15/16
G06F 11/00

US Classification:

710 5, 709218, 726 23

Abstract:

A robust device messaging framework is disclosed that enables a user to send commands to a device. A provisioning service is used to provision unique device identities and maps user web identities to device identities. The provisioning service also limits device per day provisioning attempts to limit denial of service attacks. A command service allows remote users to issue commands to a device, synchronize outgoing commands with incoming results, receive accurate feedback about whether a command was received, and maintain state information about the device. A device layer encrypts and stores device identities, authenticates itself with the command service, establishes a high-availability Internet connection to receive alerts that a command has issued, and reports results to the server-based command service.

US Patent:

42681103, May 19, 1981

Filed:

Oct 12, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/084275

Inventors:

Peter W. Ford - Winchester MA

Assignee:

Itek Corporation - Lexington MA

International Classification:

G02B 2717

US Classification:

350 67

Abstract:

Multi-faceted rotating optical scanning system having facet angle corrector means for reducing banding in imagery produced therewith. In accordance with the invention, the corrector means comprises a corrector plate supporting a plurality of transparent discs, each one of said discs being positioned in advance of a different facet of said scanner. Each of the discs is further designed to have a slight wedge angle between its two surfaces such that by independently rotating each disc, a light beam passing through it can be bent by a precise amount to control the angle at which the beam impinges upon the associated facet, and, hence, the angle at which it is reflected therefrom onto an image receiving medium. This system thus permits any banding that might otherwise be caused by relative differences in the angular orientation of each facet to be essentially eliminated in a highly accurate, inexpensive manner.

US Patent:

56221371, Apr 22, 1997

Filed:

Mar 24, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/218083

Inventors:

Elmer C. Lupton - Boston MA
Thomas E. Ford - Winchester MA
Peter E. Ford - North Billerica MA

Assignee:

Trans World Services - Melrose MA

International Classification:

G01K 1106
G01K 114

US Classification:

116217

Abstract:

A low cost, disposable temperature sensor comprising a non-porous rigid substrate having a colored patch of a contrasting color, covered by a thermochromic material which obscures the colored patch. The thermochromic material, which has a color in the visual range which completely obscures the underlying colored patch, is selected to have a melting or solidus point such that when the material is exposed to a predetermined temperature, the thermochromic material permanently changes to a relatively transparent color whereby the colored patch on the substrate is rendered visible through the thermochromic material. A transparent cover or film encapsulates the thermochromic material place on the substrate. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the substrate comprises a paperboard product, and includes printed indicia for making a permanent record. The sensor has particular utility in measuring safe cooking temperature of food,.

US Patent:

40717410, Jan 31, 1978

Filed:

Mar 26, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/670698

Inventors:

Joseph R. Frattarola - Westford MA
Peter W. Ford - Winchester MA

Assignee:

UMC Industries, Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06K 1307
G06K 708
G07F 106
B65H 904

US Classification:

235436

Abstract:

A validator for a card bearing a code readable by moving the card forward past a reader, particularly for use in a vendor to control vending, in which the card is transported forward from an entry position past the reader to an escrow position. If read as valid, the card is maintained in the escrow position pending the user's decision to have the card collected or to obtain return of his card. If the card is read as invalid, it is immediately fed back to the user. The card transport is such as to prevent a valid card from being pulled back out of the validator as by a string or tape attached to the card, and the validator is so constructed that it is easily opened for servicing, including removal of a card which may become jammed in the validator.

US Patent:

40356140, Jul 12, 1977

Filed:

Mar 25, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/670391

Inventors:

Joseph R. Frattarola - Westford MA
Peter W. Ford - Winchester MA
James P. Santagata - Pittsford NY

Assignee:

UMC Industries, Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06K 500
G06K 708
G07F 702

US Classification:

235 617B

Abstract:

Apparatus for validating a card having positioned thereon a plurality of redundant encoded blocks of data readable by moving the card past a reader and for controlling the movement of such a card whose validity is to be determined. A card transporter moves a card along a predetermined path. A reader senses each block of data on the card as it moves forward along the path from an entry position to a dwell or escrow position and supplies an electrical signal representative of the data in each block. A card validator responsive to this signal compares data derived from at least one block thereof with a preselected set of data in making the validity determination. The validator includes circuitry for combining the data from at least one block with a prior set of data to produce a stored resultant set of data, and for comparing it with a preselected set of data and for supplying an indication of card validity if these sets of data are identical. If the card is not determined to be valid, the card transporter returns it to the entry position. A valid card remains in the escrow position pending either subsequent collection thereof or the return thereof.