Andrew G Sutherland

US Patent:

6349292, Feb 19, 2002

Filed:

Oct 6, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/167393

Inventors:

Andrew V. Sutherland - Concord MA
Michael R. Klugerman - Belmont MA
Frank M. DIppolito - Arlington MA

Assignee:

The Escher Group, Ltd. - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G07B 1700

US Classification:

705 62, 705408, 705410

Abstract:

A system is disclosed for distributing postage over a public network in a manner that is secure in the case of third party interception, indicia for which can be efficiently printed by a postal customer on items to be mailed, and that facilitates authentication of the printed indicia. When the postal customer purchases postage from the postal service, the postal service provides information which the postal customer uses to generate pseudo-random numbers associated with the respective units of postage. When the postal customer prints an indicium for a respective unit, it appends the associated pseudo-random number, which the postal service uses to authenticate the indicium. The pseudo-random numbers are generated using a methodology by which the postal customer can generate pseudo-random numbers for units which have been purchased, but not for units which have not yet been purchased. Each indicium represents an amount of information which can be printed using a one-dimensional barcode, instead of two-dimensional barcodes required in other systems.

US Patent:

6609117, Aug 19, 2003

Filed:

Dec 17, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/023084

Inventors:

Andrew V. Sutherland - Concord MA
Michael R. Klugerman - Belmont MA
Frank M. DIppolito - Arlington MA

Assignee:

The Escher Group, Ltd. - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G06F 1760

US Classification:

705 62, 705 60, 705401, 705405, 705408, 705410

Abstract:

A system is disclosed for distributing postage over a public network in a manner that is secure in the case of third party interception, indicia for which can be efficiently printed by a postal customer on items to be mailed, and that facilitates authentication of the printed indicia. When the postal customer purchases postage from the postal service, the postal service provides information which the postal customer uses to generate pseudo-random numbers associated with the respective units of postage. When the postal customer prints an indicium for a respective unit, it appends the associated pseudo-random number, which the postal service uses to authenticate the indicium. The pseudo-random numbers are generated using a methodology by which the postal customer can generate pseudo-random numbers for units which have been purchased, but not for units which have not yet been purchased. Each indicium represents an amount of information which can be printed using a one-dimensional barcode, instead of two-dimensional barcodes required in other systems.

US Patent:

7069295, Jun 27, 2006

Filed:

Feb 14, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/075710

Inventors:

Andrew Sutherland - Concord MA, US
Michael Richard Klugerman - Belmont MA, US
Donal O'Neill - Somerville MA, US
Sandor Ludmann - Winchester MA, US
Eli Zukovsky - Charlestown MA, US

Assignee:

The Escher Group, Ltd. - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G06F 15/173
G06F 12/00

US Classification:

709203, 709220, 709226, 711162

Abstract:

A peer-to-peer storage system includes a storage coordinator that centrally manages distributed storage resources in accordance with system policies administered through a central administrative console. The storage resources, or “nodes,” are otherwise unused portions of storage media, e. g. , hard disks, that are included in the devices such as personal computers, workstations, laptops, file servers, and so forth, that are connected to a corporate computer network, and are thus otherwise available only individually to the respective devices. The storage coordinator assigns the nodes to various “replication groups” and allocates the storage resources on each of the nodes in a given group to maintaining dynamically replicated versions of the group files. The storage nodes in a given group perform dynamic file replication and synchronization operations by communicating directly, that is, peer-to-peer, using a message-based protocol. The storage coordinator also manages distributed searches of file content on the network by selecting one node from each group to search through the associated group files.

US Patent:

7254572, Aug 7, 2007

Filed:

May 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/159741

Inventors:

Charlene R. Cysz - Oak Lawn IL, US
Alan R. Tilley - Chesterton IN, US
Rick R. Roberts - Chesterton IN, US
Andrew J. Sutherland - Naperville IL, US

Assignee:

General Electric Railcar Services Corporation - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707 3, 707 7, 707 10, 7071041

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a system and a method of optimizing the selection of shops to repair railcars. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and a method whereby a customer needing to have a railcar repaired may enter information into an input. Further, the input may be processed via a processor and a database may be utilized to determine the optimal shop that can be used to repair the railcar. Moreover, the present invention may allow the shops to be notified that a railcar is being sent to the shops. Further the present invention may determine whether the shops may handle the repair of the railcar. The system and the method may be utilized to reduce the repair cycle time for a railcar so that a railcar may be repaired quickly, inexpensively, and efficiently.

US Patent:

8527284, Sep 3, 2013

Filed:

Sep 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/966033

Inventors:

Joshua R. Smith - Cambridge MA, US
Paul Michael Yarin - Cambridge MA, US
Michael J. Murphy - Salem NH, US
Andrew V. Sutherland - Concord MA, US
Eric Metois - Arlington MA, US

Assignee:

Escher Group Limited - Boston MA

International Classification:

G06Q 10/00

US Classification:

705 11, 705406, 705407, 705409, 705401, 705404, 705411, 705330

Abstract:

A system and method for linking data objects and physical objects of various kinds to an identified user is described. The system provides to the identified user information relating to the delivery status of mail pieces directed to or sent by the user, and the user then tracks and traces the mail pieces. The system further provides to the identified user information relating to continued sessions through which the user provides to a postal service system information relating to mailing labels and postage.

US Patent:

20020042808, Apr 11, 2002

Filed:

May 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/865889

Inventors:

Joshua Smith - Cambridge MA, US
Paul Yarin - Cambridge MA, US
Michael Murphy - Salem NH, US
Andrew Sutherland - Concord MA, US

International Classification:

G06F007/00

US Classification:

709/001000, 709/100000

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for linking data objects and physical objects of various kinds for a user is described. A particularly useful application of such linkage associates a user identifier with one or more physical addresses to which the user wishes to direct the delivery of the physical objects. Different types of objects may be directed to the same or different addresses, and the association can be changed partly or wholly by the user when desired.

US Patent:

D419202, Dec 1, 1998

Filed:

Oct 13, 1995

Appl. No.:

D/045255

Inventors:

Michael J. Murphy - Salem NH
Andrew V. Sutherland - Concord MA

Assignee:

Escher Group, Ltd. - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

1402

US Classification:

D141141

US Patent:

D4507592, Nov 20, 2001

Filed:

Sep 24, 1999

Appl. No.:

D/111375

Inventors:

Will Crosby - Jamaica Plain MA
Michael J. Murphy - Salem NH
Joshua R. Smith - Cambridge MA
Andrew Sutherland - Concord MA

Assignee:

The Escher Group, Ltd. - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

1901

US Classification:

D19 3