Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090128320 | SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WITH MANUAL CANCELLATION - A system, apparatus and method for automated emergency assistance with manual cancellation that is responsive to physiological, environmental and/or input sensors associated with an individual. In embodiments, the invention enables a sensor system or device to be biased toward what would be false alarms, which may be avoided by the individual informing the device that he or she does not need assistance. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 05-21-2009 |
20100073169 | Remotely configurable assisted-living notification system with gradient proximity sensitivity - A system provides assisted living messages with varying levels of detail to a person, according to proximity gradients. In one embodiment, the system involves location data. The location data associates first and second notification devices with respective first and second locations at a dwelling. A remote configuration module may enable a caregiver at a location other than the dwelling to specify multiple messages to be presented to the person at the dwelling, to assign first and second messages among the multiple messages to the first location, and to associate the first and second messages with first and second proximities, respectively, for the first location. The first notification device may automatically present the first message in response to detecting the person within the first proximity, and the second message in response to detecting the person within the second proximity. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 03-25-2010 |
20110221591 | SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WITH MANUAL CANCELLATION - A system, apparatus and method for automated emergency assistance with manual cancellation that is responsive to physiological, environmental and/or input sensors associated with an individual. In embodiments, the invention enables a sensor system or device to be biased toward what would be false alarms, which may be avoided by the individual informing the device that he or she does not need assistance. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 09-15-2011 |
20120025999 | REMOTELY CONFIGURABLE ASSISTED-LIVING NOTIFICATION SYSTEM WITH GRADIENT PROXIMITY SENSITIVITY - A system provides assisted living messages with varying levels of detail to a person, according to proximity gradients. In one embodiment, the system involves location data. The location data associates first and second notification devices with respective first and second locations at a dwelling. A remote configuration module may enable a caregiver at a location other than the dwelling to specify multiple messages to be presented to the person at the dwelling, to assign first and second messages among the multiple messages to the first location, and to associate the first and second messages with first and second proximities, respectively, for the first location. The first notification device may automatically present the first message in response to detecting the person within the first proximity, and the second message in response to detecting the person within the second proximity. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 02-02-2012 |
20140006563 | METHOD, DEVICE, AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING AND ANALYZING DIGITAL READABLE MEDIA CONSUMPTION DATA | 01-02-2014 |
20150019163 | ORIENTATION SENSING COMPUTING DEVICES - A computing device including orientation sensors is provided herein. The computing device includes a base and a lid pivotally attached to the base. The computing device also includes an orientation sensing system configured to determine an orientation of the base and the lid relative to an environment of the computing device. | 01-15-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090198822 | Partially replicated, locally searched peer to peer file sharing system - Controlling access to a file includes selecting, by a first network node in a peer to peer file sharing system, a file to make available for sharing with a second network node in the peer to peer file sharing system, the file being stored on the first network node. The first network node sends index information associated with the selected file to the second network node. The second network node subsequently performs a local search of a set of index information associated with a set of files stored in the peer to peer file sharing system to locate the index information for the selected file; and requests a copy of the selected file from the first network node using the index information. | 08-06-2009 |
20100106778 | Partially replicated, locally searched peer to peer file sharing system - Controlling access to a file includes selecting, by a first network node in a peer to peer file sharing system, a file to make available for sharing with a second network node in the peer to peer file sharing system, the file being stored on the first network node. The first network node sends index information associated with the selected file to the second network node. The second network node subsequently performs a local search of a set of index information associated with a set of files stored in the peer to peer file sharing system to locate the index information for the selected file; and requests a copy of the selected file from the first network node using the index information. | 04-29-2010 |
20130006521 | Customized Travel Route System - An embodiment of the invention includes (a) acquiring a tour start location, a tour constraint, and a first user travel preference for a first user; and (b) determining a tour route, including first and second tour segments, based on the tour start location and the tour constraint. The first tour segment is determined based on the first user travel preference. The tour constraint includes a time constraint that is defined by the first user and includes a maximum allowable time for the tour route. Other embodiments are described herein. | 01-03-2013 |
20130007782 | Programming selection - In one configuration, electronic program guides (EPGs) are used to display past, present and future broadcasts, where selection of a past broadcast results in a search for the broadcast. If the broadcast is available, it is provided to the requester. Various embodiments are disclosed for controlling costs associated with broadcast acquisition, identifying a desired quality level for a broadcast, applying policies to regulate receipt of broadcast data, and for renting broadcasts. | 01-03-2013 |
20130077826 | Method and apparatus for three-dimensional tracking of infra-red beacons - A method for processing data includes identifying a time signature of an infra-red (IR) beacon. Image data associated with the IR beacon is identified using the time signature. | 03-28-2013 |
20140068668 | Electronic Program Guide for Obtaining Past, Current, and Future Programs - An electronic program guide (EPG) for facilitating obtaining copies of selected programs includes a plurality of program listings, the program listings including listings for previously broadcast programs available for downloading to a user's recording device, programs currently being broadcast available for downloading to the user's recording device, and programs which may be recorded on the user's recording device during a future broadcast of the programs. This EPG merges two models of distribution for broadcast content (e.g., EPGs) and video on demand (VOD) systems (e.g., video catalogs) to address the problem of acquiring a recording of a program that was broadcast in the past. The EPG of the present invention provides a combined, unified user interface whereby a user may easily obtain a copy of any one or more of past, current, or future programs. | 03-06-2014 |
20140095600 | MULTIPLE-DEVICE SCREEN CAPTURE - Various embodiments are generally directed to cooperation among networked devices to perform a multiple-device screen capture in which multiple devices capture what is visually presented on their displays substantially simultaneously. A method comprises transmitting timing information via a network to a first participating device and a second participating device to trigger the first participating device to capture a first image of what is visually presented on a display of the first participating device and the second participating device to capture a second image of what is visually presented on a display of the second participating device substantially simultaneously; and transmitting collection device information via the network to the first and second participating devices specifying a collection device to receive the first and second images. Other embodiments are described and claimed herein. | 04-03-2014 |
20140136982 | Game-Based Selection System - In accordance with some embodiments, a system may enable the user to selectively either make computer generated selections without game play or to make menu selections in a more limited way in some embodiments in association with game play. Thus if the user selects game play, the user would be provided with at least two game options that implement menu selection tasks. For example the game play may allow the users to use a game to select within a group of menu options or to select a user who then gets the right to make a menu selection as another example. | 05-15-2014 |
20140232702 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND DEVICE FOR SELECTING AND DISPLAYING INFORMATION ON A MOBILE DIGITAL DISPLAY DEVICE - A method, system, and device for selecting and displaying information on a mobile digital display device includes determining preference criteria for local viewers of the mobile digital information display device, selecting digital information to be displayed on the mobile digital information display device as a function of the preference criteria, and displaying the selected information on a display of the mobile digital information device. | 08-21-2014 |
20140253590 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR USING OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION TO PROVIDE AUGMENTED REALITY - A processing system uses optical character recognition (OCR) to provide augmented reality (AR). The processing system automatically determines, based on video of a scene, whether the scene includes a predetermined AR target. In response to determining that the scene includes the AR target, the processing system automatically retrieves an OCR zone definition associated with the AR target. The OCR zone definition identifies an OCR zone. The processing system automatically uses OCR to extract text from the OCR zone. The processing system uses results of the OCR to obtain AR content which corresponds to the text from the OCR zone. The processing system automatically causes that AR content to be presented in conjunction with the scene. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 09-11-2014 |
20140275853 | MEDICATION RECORDING DEVICE - A device and method for recording medication to be introduced into a body. | 09-18-2014 |
20150334465 | Peer to Peer Broadcast Acquisition - Peer to peer (P2P) technology is utilized to allow a personal video recorder (PVR) to obtain copies of past broadcasts, Ire one configuration, electronic program guides (EPS) are used to display past, present and future broadcasts, selection of a past broadcast results in a search of a P2P network for the broadcast. If the broadcast is available, it is provided to the requester. Various embodiments are disclosed for controlling costs associated with broadcast acquisition, identifying a desired quality level for a broadcast, applying policies to regulate receipt of broadcast data, and for renting broadcasts | 11-19-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090087482 | Temperature-Sensitive Liposomal Formulation - A liposome contains an active agent and has a gel-phase lipid bilayer membrane comprising phospholipid and a surface active agent. The phospholipids are the primary lipid source for the lipid bilayer membrane and the surface active agent is contained in the bilayer membrane in an amount sufficient to increase the percentage of active agent released at the phase transition temperature of the lipid bilayer, compared to that which would occur in the absence of the surface active agent. The surface active agent is present in the lipid bilayer membrane so as to not destabilize the membrane in the gel phase. | 04-02-2009 |
20090117035 | Temperature-Sensitive Liposomal Formulation - A liposome contains an active agent and has a gel-phase lipid bilayer membrane comprising phospholipid and a surface active agent. The phospholipids are the primary lipid source for the lipid bilayer membrane and the surface active agent is contained in the bilayer membrane in an amount sufficient to increase the percentage of active agent released at the phase transition temperature of the lipid bilayer, compared to that which would occur in the absence of the surface active agent. The surface active agent is present in the lipid bilayer membrane so as to not destabilize the membrane in the gel phase. | 05-07-2009 |
20120082715 | Stabilized products, processes and devices for preparing the same - A composition comprising a glassified, stabilized particle preparation having a low water activity (between about 0.1 and 0.9) is provided. The preparations provide improved products with enhanced storage stability, less expensive cost of processing, and extended shelf life. The glassified, stabilized particle preparations are particularly efficacious in the preparation of perishable products, especially pharmaceutical agents, such as human blood and blood products (e.g., red blood cells). A single emulsion process comprising a 2-phase system for preserving food and pharmaceutical products is also provided. Stabilized biological products as glassified beads are also provided, as well as a method for rehydrating and/or reconstituting the glassified beads to provide useful and fully active reconstituted and/or rehydrated materials is also presented. | 04-05-2012 |
20130146815 | FORMATION OF BILAYERS OF AMPHIPATHIC MOLECULES - A method of forming bilayers of amphipathic molecules uses droplets of aqueous solution in a hydrophobic medium such as oil. A layer of amphipathic molecules such as a lipid is formed around the surfaces of the droplets. This may be achieved by providing the lipid in the oil and leaving the droplets for a time sufficient to form the layer. The droplets are brought into contact with one another so that a bilayer of the amphipathic molecules is formed as an interface between the contacting droplets. The bilayers may be used for a wide range of studies. The technique has numerous advantages including providing a long lifetime for the bilayers, allowing study of small volumes and allowing the construction of chains and networks of droplets with bilayers in between to study complex systems. | 06-13-2013 |
20140358206 | THERAPEUTIC HEATING AND COOLING PACKS COMPRISING DECORATIVE ELEMENTS - It is an object of the invention to provide devices and methods for thermal treatment, e.g., cooling and heating, of body parts for purposes of alleviating discomfort, pain, stress and inflammation. | 12-04-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120083530 | Thermally Stable Oil-in-Water Emulsions Containing an Oil That Contains Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids - The present invention relates to thermally stable oil-in-water emulsions comprising an oil comprising a polyunsaturated fatty acid, water, an emulsifier, and a water-soluble stabilizer, and processes for preparing the thermally stable oil-in-water emulsions. The thermally stable oil-in-water emulsions remain flowable at a temperature of −40° C., and are free from a variation in particle size after 9 months in storage at a temperature of −40° C. to −15° C. | 04-05-2012 |
20120251685 | Oil-in-Water Emulsions Comprising a Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid and Methods of Making the Same - The present invention relates to stable oil-in-water emulsions comprising a polyunsaturated fatty acid, an emulsifier, water, a metal chelating agent, and an antioxidant, and processes for preparing the stable oil-in-water emulsions. The stable oil-in-water emulsions are substantially free from coalescence, flocculation, Ostwald ripening, and creaming, for a period of at least five months at a temperature of about 4° C. | 10-04-2012 |
20140154377 | OIL-IN-WATER EMULSIONS COMPRISING A POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACID AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME - The present invention relates to stable oil-in-water emulsions comprising a polyunsaturated fatty acid, an emulsifier, water, a metal chelating agent, and an antioxidant, and processes for preparing the stable oil-in-water emulsions. The stable oil-in-water emulsions are substantially free from coalescence, flocculation, Ostwald ripening, and creaming, for a period of at least five months at a temperature of about 4° C. | 06-05-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120079059 | SELECTIVELY RECEIVING MEDIA CONTENT - Disclosed are methods that associate “importance” information with chunks of a media presentation. An end-user device or server uses this information to intelligently manage resources when downloading or rendering the media presentation. Many different types of importance information are used. An editor can tag a chunk as important based on the content of the chunk or may give the chunk a rating, or importance can be inferred from download statistics. In some embodiments, the end-user device determines the importance of a chunk based on observations of the behavior of the device's user. The end-user device can send its locally gathered behavioral observations to a server to enhance that server's demographic information. The server can observe its own download behavior to infer importance. The end-user device may choose to either not download, or to download at a low resolution, those chunks deemed to be unimportant, thus saving bandwidth and battery power. | 03-29-2012 |
20120079062 | SELECTIVELY RECEIVING MEDIA CONTENT - Disclosed are methods that associate “importance” information with chunks of a media presentation. An end-user device or server uses this information to intelligently manage resources when downloading or rendering the media presentation. Many different types of importance information are used. An editor can tag a chunk as important based on the content of the chunk or may give the chunk a rating, or importance can be inferred from download statistics. In some embodiments, the end-user device determines the importance of a chunk based on observations of the behavior of the device's user. The end-user device can send its locally gathered behavioral observations to a server to enhance that server's demographic information. The server can observe its own download behavior to infer importance. The end-user device may choose to either not download, or to download at a low resolution, those chunks deemed to be unimportant, thus saving bandwidth and battery power. | 03-29-2012 |
20120304234 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING CONTENT - A method and apparatus for downloading content within a video-on-demand system is provided herein. During operation a Video Home Office (VHO) will cache a subset of the Video Service Office (VSO) content. When a user requests content that is not stored on the VHO, the VHO will request that content from another VHO or the VSO. In order to reduce the additional network load imposed during item forwarding while attempting to balance the total load on all the links interconnecting the VSO and VHOs, recorded traffic history metrics are used to predict their future or current traffic. A VHO or VSO is chosen for fetching the content that will result in the lowest predicted traffic on the interconnecting links. | 11-29-2012 |
20130132521 | PRESENTING ALTERNATIVE MEDIA CONTENT BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS - The environment surrounding an end-user device is analyzed. When a user of the device requests a download of a media presentation, the device uses the results of the environmental analysis to automatically request an alternative audio or video track for the media presentation. By choosing a better alternative before the download even begins, the device avoids user frustration and conserves resources. For example, a user requests a music video to be played on his mobile phone. By using its microphone, the phone analyzes its current audio environment and concludes that there is considerable background noise. Then when requesting a download of the music video, the phone requests an “enhanced-clarity” soundtrack to increase the odds that its user will be able to hear the music over the background noise. In some situations, the alternative track is rendered in addition to, rather than instead of, the default tracks of the media presentation. | 05-23-2013 |
20130144725 | PRESENTING CONTENT TO A USER IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN AGREED UPON CONTENT-PRESENTATION POLICY - Systems and methods are provided for presenting content to a user. An exemplary method involves establishing a relationship between a first device and the user, wherein, based on the relationship, one or more instances of secondary content are automatically excluded from display by the first device while primary content is displayed by the first device. The method continues by presenting an instance of secondary content to the user in a manner that is influenced by the relationship. | 06-06-2013 |
20130347017 | IDENTIFYING MEDIA ON A MOBILE DEVICE - Disclosed is a method of associating, at a secondary device, secondary media content with primary media content being output at a primary device. The method includes receiving, at the secondary device, first information based upon the primary content being output at the primary device, wherein the first information includes at least one of an audio and a visual signal, determining at the secondary device second information corresponding to the first information, receiving at the secondary device one or more portions of secondary media content that have been made available by a third device, determining at the secondary device whether one or more of the portions of the secondary media content match one or more portions of the second information, and taking at least one further action upon determining that there is a match. | 12-26-2013 |
20140254806 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERACTIVE BROADCAST CONTENT - Devices and methods for scoring viewer's interactions with content broadcast on a presentation device by processing at least one audio signal received by a microphone proximate the viewer and the presentation device, to generate at least one audio signature, which is compared to at least two different reference audio signatures. | 09-11-2014 |
20140282642 | ATTENTION ESTIMATION TO CONTROL THE DELIVERY OF DATA AND AUDIO/VIDEO CONTENT - A method implemented in a computer system for controlling the delivery of data and audio/video content. The method delivers primary content to the subscriber device for viewing by a subscriber. The method also delivers secondary content to the companion device for viewing by the subscriber in parallel with the subscriber viewing the primary content, where the secondary content relates to the primary content. The method extracts attention estimation features from the primary content, and monitors the companion device to determine an interaction measurement for the subscriber viewing the secondary content on the companion device. The method calculates an attention measurement for the subscriber viewing the primary content based on the attention estimation features, and the interaction measurement, and controls the delivery of the secondary content to the companion device based on the attention measurement. | 09-18-2014 |
20150082349 | Content Based Video Content Segmentation - A method receives video content and metadata associated with video content. The method then extracts features of the video content based on the metadata. Portions of the visual, audio, and textual features are fused into composite features that include multiple features from the visual, audio, and textual features. A set of video segments of the video content is identified based on the composite features of the video content. Also, the segments may be identified based on a user query. | 03-19-2015 |
20150121438 | CACHING CONTENT - A method and apparatus for downloading content within a video-on-demand system is provided herein. During operation a Video Home Office (VHO) will cache a subset of the Video Service Office (VSO) content. When a user requests content that is not stored on the VHO, the VHO will request that content from another VHO or the VSO. In order to reduce the additional network load imposed during item forwarding while attempting to balance the total load on all the links interconnecting the VSO and VHOs, recorded traffic history metrics are used to predict their future or current traffic. A VHO or VSO is chosen for fetching the content that will result in the lowest predicted traffic on the interconnecting links. | 04-30-2015 |
20150382032 | CACHE EVICTION - A method and apparatus for downloading content within a video-on-demand system is provided herein. During operation a Video Home Office (VHO) will cache a subset of the Video Service Office (VSO) content. When a user requests content that is not stored on the VHO, the VHO will request that content from another VHO or the VSO. In order to reduce the additional network load imposed during item forwarding while attempting to balance the total load on all the links interconnecting the VSO and VHOs, recorded traffic history metrics are used to predict their future or current traffic. A VHO or VSO is chosen for fetching the content that will result in the lowest predicted traffic on the interconnecting links. | 12-31-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100234252 | CROSSLINKED SWELLABLE POLYMER - The invention is directed to stable crosslinked water-soluble swellable polymers, methods for making same, and their various uses in the hygiene and medical arts, gel electrophoresis, packaging, agriculture, the cable industry, information technology, in the food industry, papermaking, use as flocculation aids, and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition comprising expandable polymeric microparticles having labile crosslinkers and stable crosslinkers, said microparticle mixed with a fluid and an unreacted tertiary crosslinker that is capable of further crosslinking the microparticle on degradation of the labile crosslinker so as to form a stable gel. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric particles are injected into a well and when the heat and/or pH of the well cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and when the particle expands, the tertiary crosslinker crosslinks the polymer to form a stable gel, thus diverting water to lower permeability regions and improving oil recovery. | 09-16-2010 |
20100314114 | SWELLABLE POLYMER WITH ANIONIC SITES - The invention is directed to stable crosslinked water-soluble swellable polymers and methods for making same. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition comprising expandable polymeric particles having anionic sites and labile crosslinkers and stable crosslinkers, said particle mixed with a fluid and a cationic crosslinker that is capable of further crosslinking the particle on degradation of the labile crosslinker and exposure of the anionic sites so as to form a gel. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric particles are injected into target zone and when the heat and/or suitable pH of the target zone cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and the particle expands, the cationic crosslinker crosslinks the polymer to form a gel, thus diverting water to lower permeability regions and improving oil recovery. | 12-16-2010 |
20100314115 | SWELLABLE POLYMER WITH CATIONIC SITES - The invention is directed to long lasting crosslinked water-soluble swellable polymers, methods for making same, and their uses. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition comprising expandable polymeric particles having cationic sites as well as labile crosslinkers and stable crosslinkers, said particle mixed with a fluid. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric particles are injected into a target zones in the reservoirs and when the heat and/or a suitable pH in the reservoir cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and when the particle expands, the cationic sites in the polymer adsorb to negative sites of the rock in the formation, thus diverting water to lower permeability regions and improving oil recovery. However, many other uses are possible. | 12-16-2010 |
20110094739 | OIL RECOVERY PROCESS - A method for recovering heavy oil in a stratum with an injection well, a production well and a steam generator. The method begins by injecting steam from the steam generator into a horizontal portion of the injection well followed by soaking the stratum with the steam from the injection well for a predetermined period of time; and producing heavy oil from the stratum with the production well. | 04-28-2011 |
20120018913 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONVERSION OF MOLTEN SULFUR TO POWDER SULFUR - Methods and systems are provided for converting molten sulfur to powder sulfur by gas cooling of atomized sprays of molten sulfur. Certain embodiments contemplate a vertical tower that allows molten sulfur to produce an atomized spray or mist of molten sulfur descending from the top of the vertical tower. Gas introduced to the bottom of the vertical tower flows upward intimately interfacing with the descending atomized molten sulfur spray. The molten sulfur in the form of an atomized sulfur spray is cooled by the gas to form a sulfur powder. In certain embodiments, the sulfur powder formed is sufficiently small to be suitable for combination with a base fluid for producing a slurry for convenient transport of the sulfur particulates. Advantages of certain embodiments include higher efficiencies, lower cost, and production of much smaller solid sulfur average particulate sizes, which in turn allows for easier sulfur transport. | 01-26-2012 |
20120037364 | DELAYED GELLING AGENTS - The invention is directed to delayed gelation agents comprising a degradable polymeric cage containing therein one or more gelation agents. The cage degrades in situ, e.g, in an oil reservoir, thus releasing the gelation agent(s), which can then crosslink second polymers in situ to form a gel. | 02-16-2012 |
20140102707 | CROSSLINKED SWELLABLE POLYMER - The invention is directed to stable crosslinked water-soluble swellable polymers, methods for making same, and their various uses in the hygiene and medical arts, gel electrophoresis, packaging, agriculture, the cable industry, information technology, in the food industry, papermaking, use as flocculation aids, and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition comprising expandable polymeric microparticles having labile crosslinkers and stable crosslinkers, said microparticle mixed with a fluid and an unreacted tertiary crosslinker that is capable of further crosslinking the microparticle on degradation of the labile crosslinker so as to form a stable gel. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric particles are injected into a well and when the heat and/or pH of the well cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and when the particle expands, the tertiary crosslinker crosslinks the polymer to form a stable gel, thus diverting water to lower permeability regions and improving oil recovery. | 04-17-2014 |
20140131043 | SWELLABLE POLYMER WITH ANIONIC SITES - The invention is directed to stable crosslinked water-soluble swellable polymers and methods for making same. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition comprising expandable polymeric particles having anionic sites and labile crosslinkers and stable crosslinkers, said particle mixed with a fluid and a cationic crosslinker that is capable of further crosslinking the particle on degradation of the labile crosslinker and exposure of the anionic sites so as to form a gel. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric particles are injected into target zone and when the heat and/or suitable pH of the target zone cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and the particle expands, the cationic crosslinker crosslinks the polymer to form a gel, thus diverting water to lower permeability regions and improving oil recovery. | 05-15-2014 |
20140144628 | CROSSLINKING OF SWELLABLE POLYMER WITH PEI - The invention is directed to stable and labile crosslinked water swellable polymeric microparticles that can be further gelled, methods for making same, and their various uses in the hygiene and medical arts, gel electrophoresis, packaging, agriculture, the cable industry, information technology, in the food industry, papermaking, use as flocculation aids, and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition comprising expandable polymeric microparticles having labile crosslinkers and stable crosslinkers, said microparticle mixed with a fluid and an unreacted tertiary crosslinker comprising PEI or other polyamine based tertiary crosslinker that is capable of further crosslinking the microparticle on degradation of the labile crosslinker and swelling of the particle, so as to form a stable gel. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric microparticles are injected into a well and when the heat and/or pH of the well cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and when the microparticle expands, the tertiary crosslinker crosslinks the polymer to form a stable gel, thus diverting water to lower permeability regions and improving oil recovery. | 05-29-2014 |
20140162912 | SWELLABLE POLYMER WITH CATIONIC SITES - The invention is directed to long lasting crosslinked water-soluble swellable polymers, methods for making same, and their uses. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition comprising expandable polymeric particles having cationic sites as well as labile crosslinkers and stable crosslinkers, said particle mixed with a fluid. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric particles are injected into a target zones in the reservoirs and when the heat and/or a suitable pH in the reservoir cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and when the particle expands, the cationic sites in the polymer adsorb to negative sites of the rock in the formation, thus diverting water to lower permeability regions and improving oil recovery. However, many other uses are possible. | 06-12-2014 |
20140196894 | FLUORESCENT TAGS FOR DETECTION OF SWELLABLE POLYMERS - The invention is directed to stable crosslinked swellable fluorescently tagged polymeric microparticles, methods for making same, and their various uses. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric particles are injected into target zone and when the heat and/or suitable pH of the target zone cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and the microparticles expand. The swelled polymer diverts water to lower permeability regions and improves oil recovery. The tags allow monitoring of the presence and concentration of the tagged microparticles and ultimately allow evaluation of the performance of such treatments. Detection of polymeric microparticles in producing wells can be instructive for teaching about the character and extent of thief zones in the subsurface. Better knowledge of the reservoir flow will enable improved application of the gel treatments, improved oil recovery, and allow improved forecasting using simulation modeling. | 07-17-2014 |
20140202693 | NANOGELS FOR DELAYED GELATION - The instant application relates to nanogels or compositions that hold multivalent metal ions until some level of nanogel degradation has occurred, then slowly release the multivalent metal ions for gelation with carboxylate containing polymers. Compositions comprising such nanogels, together with polymers that can be crosslinked with multivalent metal ions, allow the deployment of such mixtures in various applications, and greatly increased gelation times. | 07-24-2014 |
20140209305 | DELAYED GELLING AGENTS - The disclosure is directed to polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles that can be used to deliver agents deep into hydrocarbon reservoirs. Methods of making and using said polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles are also provided. | 07-31-2014 |
20140238702 | LOW PH CROSSLINKING OF POLYMERS - The invention is directed to polymers that self-crosslink at acidic pH or can be crosslinked by phenolic agents in brine. Such polymers have lower viscosity and can be pumped deep into reservoirs, where they will cross link in situ, thus increasing their viscosity and/or form a gel and blocking thief zones. Methods of making and using such polymers are also provided. | 08-28-2014 |