Patents Examined by Vernal Brown
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Patent number: 9279700Abstract: A method for processing daily consumption, demand and time of use meter reads for electric, gas, water and other metered entities. The meter reads are collected by any of the well known Automated Meter Reading (AMR) technologies and loaded into a meter data warehouse. At a minimum daily meter reading, reads that are tagged as Good, Stale, Partial, Incomplete and Missing are required for properly identifying usage patterns, applying rules for error patterns and estimating the reads which will provide quality meter reads to the utilities thereby identifying meter problems before they become billing problems. The overall process involves loading the daily meter reads into a database, comparing each meter read against its previous day's read and applying a set of rules that help in validating, editing and estimating (VEE) of this data. The VEE rules that are applied can be broadly classified into five (5) categories.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2009Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: Landis+Gyr Analytics, LLCInventors: Venkatesh Ramachandran, David Hubbard, John Skog
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Patent number: 9276635Abstract: A device, system, and method for communicating with a power inverter of an array of inverters includes transmitting a relay message from an inverter array controller to a relay inverter in response to failing to receive a response from at least one power inverter of the array. The relay inverter is configured to retransmit a message from the inverter array controller to a non-responsive power inverter of the array of inverters in response to receiving the relay message. The relay inverter may subsequently retransmit a reply received from the non-responsive power inverter to the inverter array controller or to another power inverter of the array of inverters.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: Philip Rothblum, Brian T. Kuhn, Jonathan Ehlmann, Patrick L. Chapman
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Patent number: 9268519Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of a system for updating electronic shelf labels (ESLs) comprises multiple ESLs, and a gateway connected to the multiple ESLs to update data of the multiple ESLs. Each ESL comprises a transceiver having a media condition detector to detect whether other ESL(s) perform an update at the time slot, a controller, a memory, and a random number generator randomly selecting one of multiple time slots of a frame when an ESL update procedure begins, wherein the time slot corresponds to an index stored in the memory by the controller. The ESL performs the update at this time slot when none of said other ESL(s) performs the update at the time slot. When said other ESL(s) performs the update at the time slot, the controller enables the random number generator to randomly select another time slot from a next time frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Yuan-Chu Tai, Chun-Hsien Wu, Yueh-Feng Lee, Yang-Jung Lee
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Patent number: 9245159Abstract: A method, system and tag for low power radio frequency communication is described. In one embodiment, the RF tag comprises: an access point comprising: a first antenna; a first radio coupled to the first antenna; a central processing unit coupled to the first radio; a backscatter adapter coupled to the access point via a wired communication interface, the backscatter adapter comprising a backscatter radio and a second antenna coupled to the backscatter radio for use in communicating with an RF tag in the network via backscatter.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignees: RICOH CO., LTD., DUKE UNIVERSITYInventors: Ken Gudan, Sergey Chemishkian, Jonathan J. Hull, Matthew S. Reynolds
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Patent number: 9227137Abstract: Various systems, devices, and methods are provided for generating an impact and/or surface haptic effect for a handheld computer interface such as a video game controller. For example, the handheld computer interface may include a handle coupled to an impact actuator. The impact actuator includes a movable mass and an end stop. The impact actuator may receive a haptic effect signal and in response cause the mass to contact the end stop to generate a haptic effect. A smart material that outputs a surface haptic effect may be coupled to a surface of the handle such that the surface haptic effect is output substantially from the smart material rather than the handle. The handle may be coupled to an end piece having a shape that simulates an object such as a tennis racket, golf club, or other object.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Immersion CorporationInventors: Danny A. Grant, Erin Ramsay, David M. Birnbaum, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Robert W. Heubel, Hendrik Bartel
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Patent number: 9230380Abstract: A biometric security system, including a biometric validation module for receiving a biometric profile (such as a fingerprint scan) and asserting a control signal responsive to a biometric evaluation of the biometric profile for securing access to a physical locking storage unit, such as a cabinet. Disclosed is a system that not only provides secured mechanical locking devices for security and access control, it further augments such a system with a computer controlled biometric access control and access monitoring system. The system is managed by central management software which may encompass a standalone configuration or a networked configuration. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a solution that provides a software platform and firmware that provides a control signal controls an electromechanical locking assembly for an electrical physical locking unit, such as a server cabinet having at least one locking/unlocking door panel for gaining entry thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2011Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Digitus Biometrics, Inc.Inventor: Christopher D. Marsden
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Patent number: 9223297Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying a user of an electronic device are disclosed. An example method includes capturing body characteristic data associated with a user via a sensor on a computing device. The body characteristic data is captured as the user interacts with the computing device for a purpose different from user identification. The example method includes determining an identifier associated with the user based on the captured body characteristic data.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2013Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLCInventor: Christen V. Nielsen
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Patent number: 9208680Abstract: A system and method for identification of a particular one device from an array of networked devices. Each of the devices are individually addressable by a controller on the network, and a technician preferably identifies a particular one device by use of a handheld remote control. Pointing one of transmitter/receiver pair at a device including the complementary component allows remote disambiguation based upon ranging and signal strength, particularly when using a pair of orthogonal antennas to discriminate and confirm which particular device is being pointed to by the remote. Optional confirmation helps improve identification robustness, and then the properly identified device may be configured/commissioned.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2013Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: LUMEN RADIO ABInventors: Niclas Norlén, Michael Karlsson, Marcus Bengtsson
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Patent number: 9195865Abstract: An electronic baggage tag is self-reliant and self-regulating and provides the underlying foundation for a baggage tracking and management system, the center of which operates one or more tag service provider servers. The tag is attached to a baggage and is loaded with various data, including passenger itinerary, GPS data, and journey profile data. The tag has sensors, such for detecting different vibrations, electro-magnetic sensor, GPS, and others. As the baggage to which the tag is attached goes on its journey, the sensors detect stimuli and ascertain where in the journey the baggage is and use itinerary and other data to determine where the baggage should be. The tag service provider server communicates with the tag at various stages in the journey, providing up-to-date itinerary data to the tag. The tag automatically shuts off to be compliant with government regulations for devices in flight.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2015Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: PINGER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Cleveland A. Motley, III, Enrique A. Salgado, Roland F. Bryan
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Patent number: 9196103Abstract: A computer system accesses identity data providing unique biometric identifications and associated names for respective people. Roles are stored and associating ones of the roles are associated with ones of the people. Rules are stored, wherein each rule is configured to define one of the roles or people and define a condition and an action. The computer system receives from a device at an entryway, biometric data for a person. A named person is indicated for the received biometric data by the identity data accessed by the computer system. The computer system selects a rule corresponding to the identified person or to one of the defined roles for the identified person. The computer system performs the defined action for the selected rule when a current condition satisfies the defined condition for the selected rule.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Rodrigo C. Castro, Breno H. Leitão, Mahdad Majd, Thiago C. Rotta
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Patent number: 9191477Abstract: An electronic device and method for operating an electronic device are presented. An input for performing a predefined function is received. A lock function is deactivated to unlock the predefined function and the predefined function is displayed on a display module, if the input is received and if a correct password is entered.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2012Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: KYOCERA CorporationInventor: Katsuhito Hayashi
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Patent number: 9177180Abstract: There is provided an RF tag reader including an omission-in-reading determining section which determines that an RF tag belonging to a predetermined group might be unread when tag information is not acquired from an RF tag, which belongs to the group and whose tag information is not acquired yet, within a predetermined time after tag information corresponding to any one of a plurality of RF tags grouped as the predetermined group is acquired.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2011Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kouichi Sano
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Patent number: 9174123Abstract: Systems and methods for human hand gesture recognition through a training mode and a recognition mode are disclosed. In the training mode, a user can move a handheld device with a hand gesture intended to represent a command. Sensors within the handheld device can record raw data, which can be processed to obtain a set of values corresponding to a set of discrete features, which is stored in a database and associated with the intended command. The process is repeated for various hand gestures representing different commands. In the recognition mode, the user can move the handheld device with a hand gesture. A computer system can compare a set of values corresponding to a set of discrete features derived from the hand gesture with the sets of values stored in the database, select a command with the closest match and displays and/or executes the command.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2010Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.Inventors: Steve Nasiri, David Sachs, Alex Castro, Richard Li, Anjia Gu, Shang-Hung Lin, Takashi Nakayama
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Patent number: 9171454Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate rich interaction with and/or management of environmental components included in an environment. The architecture can exist in whole or in part in a housing that can resemble a wand or similar object. The architecture can utilize one or more sensor from a collection of sensors to determine an orientation or gesture in connection with the wand, and can further issue an instruction to update a state of an environmental component based upon the orientation. In addition, the architecture can include an advisor component to provide contextual and/or comprehensive guidance in an intuitive manner.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2007Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Andrew David Wilson, James E. Allard, Michael H. Cohen, Steven Drucker, Yu-Ting Kuo
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Patent number: 9164169Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a radio frequency transponder. In one embodiment, the transponder includes: a substrate and at least one planar antenna on the substrate, the antenna having a shape determining a corresponding resonant frequency of the antenna, wherein the antenna is configured to cause a phase difference between backscattered signals generated in response to excitation of the antenna by orthogonally polarized interrogation signals at the resonant frequency, and the phase difference represents a code of the antenna.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2011Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: RFID Technologies Pty LtdInventors: Nemai Chandra Karmakar, Isaac Balbin
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Patent number: 9158948Abstract: In an RFID system having at least one tag and at least one reader, a tag and a reader can, in one embodiment, use a pair of keys, known to both the tag and the reader, to restrict the interaction of the tag and the reader so that tags having the pair of keys interact only with readers that use the pair of keys.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Ruizhang Technology Limited CompanyInventor: John Stephen Smith
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Patent number: 9154500Abstract: A personal digital ID device provides a digital identifier to a service for a predetermined duration in response to user interaction. The user interaction may include a button press. The personal digital ID device may be in the form of a bracelet, a key fob, or other form factor. The service may be provided by a mobile device, in the cloud, or elsewhere.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Tyfone, INC.Inventors: Siva G. Narendra, Prabhakar Tadepalli, Saurav Chakraborty
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Patent number: 9144735Abstract: Systems and methods for human hand gesture recognition through a training mode and a recognition mode are disclosed. In the training mode, a user can move a handheld device with a hand gesture intended to represent a command. Sensors within the handheld device can record raw data, which can be processed to obtain a set of values corresponding to a set of discrete features, which is stored in a database and associated with the intended command. The process is repeated for various hand gestures representing different commands. In the recognition mode, the user can move the handheld device with a hand gesture. A computer system can compare a set of values corresponding to a set of discrete features derived from the hand gesture with the sets of values stored in the database, select a command with the closest match and displays and/or executes the command.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2010Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.Inventors: Steve Nasiri, David Sachs, Alex Castro, Richard Li, Anjia Gu, Shang-Hung Lin, Takashi Nakayama
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Patent number: 9147326Abstract: A system, including: a sensor that monitors containers as the containers move along a production line; a rejection device; a controller communicatively connected to the sensor and the rejection device, wherein the controller is programmed to determine whether a container is associated with a match condition in response to a signal received from the sensor, the match condition reflecting that the container is associated with predetermined properties or characteristics, in response to a match condition, determine a pass result, and otherwise determine a fail result, determine a velocity of the production line, dynamically determine a correction amount for a reject position, track a position of the container on the production line, and in response to the fail result, outputs a signal to actuate the rejection device that removes the container from the production line based on the velocity of the production line, the dynamically determined correction amount, and the position of the container on the production lineType: GrantFiled: January 28, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: SENSORS INCORPORATEDInventor: David J. Kotula
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Patent number: 9147343Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to real time monitoring of usage of multiple pieces of exercise equipment and providing exercise based metric data based thereon to devices for aggregation, display or other processing thereof. In particular, the disclosed embodiments facilitate collection of exercise based metric data from various pieces of exercise equipment, such as stationary bikes, treadmills, and the like, in real time, i.e. as the equipment is utilized by an exercising user, combine the collected data in a form suitable for use by various interested devices and broadcast or otherwise disseminate the combined data to the various devices wherein the various devices may access the broadcasted combined data to access the usage metric data from any one or more of the pieces of exercise equipment from which it was collected for subsequent aggregation, display and/or further processing.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2012Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: ECOFIT Networks Inc.Inventors: David Johnson, Philip Rankine, Peter McGuire