Patents Examined by Mark Blouin
  • Patent number: 9928342
    Abstract: A system that includes a plurality of RFID tags affixed to medical items, and a plurality of data collection engine devices, client devices and backend devices. The backend devices include trained machine learning models, business logic, and attributes of a plurality of patient events. A plurality of data collection engines and hospital information systems send attributes of new patient events to the backend devices. The backend devices can predict particular outcomes of new events based upon the attributes of the new events utilizing the trained machine learning models. Using business logic and the trained machine learning models, the backend devices can also make recommendations to optimize the patient flow in healthcare provider organizations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Brain Trust Innovations I, LLC
    Inventor: David LaBorde
  • Patent number: 9922549
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a security and/or automation system using a aspects of a vehicle. The method may include receiving confirmation of a user's presence in the vehicle, receiving confirmation of vehicle operation, displaying on a display of the vehicle at least one control option for a security and/or automation system of a property monitored by the security and/or automation system, receiving at least one user input on the display related to the at least one control option, and transmitting instructions to control the security and/or automation system based on the at least one user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy B. Warren
  • Patent number: 9922477
    Abstract: An access control system utilizes authorized users' mobile electronic devices for transmitting biometric identifiers in combination with using an access card, for authenticating the user's access privileges for unlocking a secure door. The system may further verify proximity of the user's device to the access control reader, which verifies correspondence of the access card with the transmitted biometric characteristics. The system may further require entry of a PIN into the user's device, for its transmission to the access control system for access confirmation. A scanner scans the area around its geographic location for signals emitted by mobile electronic devices, and identifies a position, a type, and an address of each device, using characteristics of the signals. Audio analytics detect/identify a position of sudden sound fluctuations indicating a gunshot/fight incident, and correlates the incident location to a device location. Video analytics correlate imaged people with detected electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventors: Dan Kerning, Dharmesh Patel
  • Patent number: 9922218
    Abstract: A read chamber device is disclosed for use within a radio frequency identification (RFID) scanning enclosure which provides a means of reading a plurality of cartons moving through the enclosure via a conveyor belt. The enclosure is positioned over a section of the conveyor belt, such that the plurality of cartons on the conveyor belt pass directly through the enclosure. The read chamber device is positioned centrally to the enclosure and projects a read zone via an antenna positioned in-line with the flow of the conveyor which allows the read chamber to read a large variety of inlays without changing the configuration settings of the device. The RFID scanning enclosure also utilizes dynamic power indexing (DPI) to combine parameter inputs to create a smarter reader that can anticipate changes. The reader is then manipulated in real-time to adapt to the needs of each carton and the tunnel scanning environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES, LLC
    Inventor: Mark W. Roth
  • Patent number: 9918178
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus include headphones that determine a size of a head of a listener and a shape of an ear of the listener. The size of the head and the shape of the ear determine head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) that are customized to the listener. The headphones include head tracking, and sound is adjusted so that a location of a source of the sound continues to originate from a fixed sound localization point (SLP) in empty space that is at least one meter away from the head of the listener while the head orientations of the listener change with respect to the fixed location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventors: Glen A. Norris, Philip Scott Lyren
  • Patent number: 9911020
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device, including a radio frequency interface configured to receive, from a radio frequency identification device, a first wireless signal of a first carrier frequency that indicates a personal identifier. A transceiver can be configured to generate a transmission signal of second carrier frequency that indicates the personal identifier and location information associated with the device and to transmit electromagnetic waves in response to the transmission signal at a first physical interface of a transmission medium that propagate without requiring an electrical return path. The electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium and are received by a receiving device at a second physical interface of the transmission medium, and the transmission signal can be extracted from the electromagnetic waves by the receiving device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Ken Liu, Pamela A. M. Bogdan, Irwin Gerszberg, Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Farhad Barzegar, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 9912384
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for tracking access. At least one passive wireless identification device is provided at a personnel access point. Communication is established between a mobile device and the at least one passive wireless identification device when the mobile device passes the personnel access point. Occurrences of the established communication between the mobile device and the at least one passive wireless identification device are separately communicated to a remote data collection device. The occurrences of the established communication between the mobile device and the at least one passive wireless identification device are recorded in the remote data collection device. Data based on the recorded occurrences of the established communication between the mobile device and the at least one passive wireless identification device is output from the remote data collection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Diane D. McClatchy, Matthew M. Lorch, Subhashish Chakravarty, Adam Mottram
  • Patent number: 9905066
    Abstract: It is presented a key device comprising: a mechanical interface for mechanically maneuvering a lock device upon successful access control. The mechanical interface comprises a connector for powering the lock device and for communication with the lock device such that the lock device is able to perform electronic access control using the key device. The key device further comprises a clock; a memory; a radio communication module; and a controller arranged to, using the radio communication module communicate online with an access control device and use the memory as temporary storage for offline communication between the access control device and one or more lock devices. A corresponding method, computer program and computer program product are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY AB
    Inventors: Anders Borg, Mats Cederblad, Daniel Garmen, Tomas Jonsson, Peter Siklosi
  • Patent number: 9892582
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing access to secure-access facilities based on pairing of the secure-access facilities with a user device such as a wearable device. A pairable secure-access facility may be a public storage facility or device such as a locker that includes communications circuitry for pairing with the user device. Once paired with the user device, the locker may operate a locking mechanism to lock the locker when the user device is away from the locker and to unlock the locker when the user device is in the vicinity of the locker. The locker may include a beacon for detecting and pairing with the user devices. Pairing the user device and the locker may include entering a locker identifier into the user device to ensure that the intended user device is paired with the intended locker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ebay Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Diebold O'Toole, Bryant Genepang Luk, Robert He, Richard Chapman Bates, Jennifer T. Brenner, Yu Tang
  • Patent number: 9886847
    Abstract: A remote control for one or more technical devices includes: a passive or active radiofrequency identification (RFID) transponder, configured to be triggered by a switching contact physically touched by a user, in order to transmit data to control the one or more technical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
    Inventor: Alexander Benner
  • Patent number: 9875586
    Abstract: An inductive coded lock system includes an inductive lock mechanism, and a conductive key/target. The inductive lock mechanism includes multiple inductor coils and sensor circuitry. Each inductor coil is operable to project a magnetic field defining a sensing area proximate to the inductor/coil, the inductor coils being spatially arranged to define a key/target sensing area incorporating each inductor coil sensing area. The sensor circuitry drives inductor coils, and measures sensor response (such as with an inductance comparator) to a key/target inserted within the key/target sensing area, including detecting an unlock condition corresponding to a pre-defined coded lock pattern. The key/target includes active and inactive areas (such as conductive/nonconductive) corresponding spatially to the sensing areas in the key target sensing area, the active and inactive areas arranged in a pre-defined coded key pattern corresponding to the pre-defined coded lock pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: George Pieter Reitsma
  • Patent number: 9877164
    Abstract: The inventive concepts provides indoor positioning capabilities and door monitoring to facilities including but not limiting to day care providers and elderly care facilities in order for them to be able to quickly position someone inside the building as well as to be forewarned when they are going somewhere they shouldn't be i.e. near an exit way. The system also offers two way communications to the staff in the facility when a management server is implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: LIVESENTINEL, INC.
    Inventors: John Giordano, Mark A. Gordon, Kevin Moroz, Pratik Rawal, Vadim Lica
  • Patent number: 9877060
    Abstract: A method for programming a remote control for a device in which the device detects partially identifying metadata, filters the metadata and uses the metadata to search for matching code sets in a database. The code sets are presented in ordered sequence by probability weighting which is established depending on frequency of confirmation signal in response to the request using the filtered data, and as a function of the time difference between a current request and earlier matching requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: fm marketing gmbh
    Inventors: Thomas Fischer, Thomas Mirlacher
  • Patent number: 9875587
    Abstract: A smart key for a vehicle includes: a communication unit including a low frequency (LF) antenna which receives an LF signal; and a control unit determining a strength and a direction vector of the LF signal. The control unit estimates a first location of the smart key based on the strength of the LF signal, estimates a second location of the smart key based on the direction vector of the LF signal, and determines a presence of a relay attack by analyzing the first location and the second location and comparing the first location with the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sinjung Kim
  • Patent number: 9872103
    Abstract: A host device for use with a removable peripheral apparatus having a microphone, and to the biasing circuitry for said microphone. The host device may have a device connector for forming a mating connection with a respective peripheral connector. A source of bias is arranged to supply an electrical bias to a device microphone contact of the device connector via a biasing path. A capacitor is connected between a reference voltage node and a capacitor node of the biasing path. A first switch is located between the capacitor node and the device microphone contact. Detection circuitry detects disconnection of the peripheral connector and device connector; and control circuitry controls the switch to disable the biasing path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew James Howlett, Graeme Gordon Mackay, Douglas James Wallace MacFarlane
  • Patent number: 9870457
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying and/or authenticating individuals utilizing microwave sensing modules are disclosed. A HEaRtbeat Microwave Authentication (HERMA) system can enable the active identification and/or authentication of a user by analyzing reflected RF signals that contain a person's unique characteristics related to their heartbeats. An illumination signal is transmitted towards a person where a reflected signal captures the motion of the skin and tissue (i.e. displacement) due to the person's heartbeats. The HERMA system can utilize existing transmitters in a mobile device (e.g. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cellphone signals) as the illumination source with at least one external receive antenna. The received reflected signals can be pre-processed and analyzed to identify and/or authenticate a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: James Paul Lux, Edward Chow, Michael Ray McKee, Salman-ul Mohammed Haque, Andre Tkacenko
  • Patent number: 9864884
    Abstract: A distributed antenna system includes a plurality of remote antenna units with a passive element coupled to at least one of the remote antenna units at a connection juncture. An RFID system is associated with the first passive element and has RFID data identifying the first passive element. An interrogator unit is associated with the remote antenna unit and is configured for generating a least one signal for transmission to the passive element to be reflected at the connection juncture and received at the interrogator unit. The interrogator unit is also configured for generating at least one signal for transmission to the RFID system to obtain the RFID data identifying the passive element. Processing circuitry processes the reflected signal and measures a parameter of the first passive element. The processing circuitry correlates the measured parameter with the RFID data for the passive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Andrew Wireless Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Stefanik, Alfons Dussmann
  • Patent number: 9858741
    Abstract: A method and system that allows authorized individuals access into controlled access locations and the ability to grant temporary and limited access to guests into these locations. The method and system allows for navigational services to be provided to members and guests, and real-time tracking and confirmation to members and administrators that guests have arrived at their destination and did not enter any unauthorized areas. The method preferably can work through a system of wireless radio, sound and/or light-based beacons communicating with member and guest's electronic devices. Members and administrators can send one or more temporary electronic access keys to a guest's smartphone or other electronic device. Wireless radio, sound and/or light-based beacons provide an access control and location tracking system with real-time data about the member and guest whereabouts, allowing for the confirmation and tracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: COLLATERAL OPPORTUNITIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Howard Kusens, Michael Kusens
  • Patent number: 9858808
    Abstract: A method for automatically transmitting an activation signal from a trainable transceiver to a remote electronic system, includes receiving, at a control circuit of the trainable transceiver, image data from an image data source; determining, using the control circuit, if the received image data matches one or more reference images stored in memory and associated with the remote electronic system; and determining, in response to a match between the received image data and the one or more reference images, if the trainable transceiver is approaching the remote electronic system. The method includes, in response to determining that the trainable transceiver is approaching the remote electronic system, formatting an activation signal to control the remote electronic system and transmitting, using a transceiver circuit, the activation signal formatted to control the remote electronic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Thomas S. Wright, David M. Bostrom
  • Patent number: 9858521
    Abstract: An RFID transponder (100), comprising a printable surface (1), an antenna element (2), an IC (3), and a ground plane (4) arranged under the antenna element (2). The ground plane (4) comprises one or more opening(s) (6) through said ground plane (4) for enabling near field communication through the ground plane (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Confidex OY
    Inventors: Matti Ritamäki, Heikki Ahokas, Miika Pylvänäinen