Patents by Inventor Alan P. Conrad

Alan P. Conrad has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9641371
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for dynamic single-frequency-network-(SFN)-multicast symbol synchronization. In an embodiment, a wireless-communication device (WCD) receives an SFN-multicast transmission at least in part by receiving a respective SFN-multicast-transmission signal from each site in a plurality of sites in a given SFN-multicast area, where each such received SFN-multicast-transmission signal has a respective SFN-multicast cyclic prefix. The WCD calculates a multisource multipath delay spread (“MMDS”) that is characteristic of the received plurality of SFN-multicast-transmission signals, and determines whether that calculated MMDS exceeds a threshold MMDS. If so, the WCD selects a multicast timing point that is after the SFN-multicast cyclic prefix of a first-received one of the received SFN-multicast-transmission signals. If not, the WCD selects a multicast timing point that is within the SFN-multicast cyclic prefix of the first-received SFN-multicast-transmission signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Alan P Conrad
  • Patent number: 9590690
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for canceling a blocking signal to obtain a desired signal. An example process includes receiving both a blocking signal and a set of blocking bits corresponding to a demodulation of the blocking signal. A remodulated blocking signal is generated by modulating the received set of blocking bits. The remodulated blocking signal is passed through a blocking-band bandpass filter to generate an estimated blocking signal, and is also passed through a desired-band bandpass filter to generate an unconditioned reference signal. One or more signal-parameter differences between the blocking signal and the estimated blocking signal are identified, and one or more signal compensations are accordingly applied to the unconditioned reference signal to generate a conditioned reference signal, which is then output to a blocking-signal-canceling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Alan P Conrad, Kevin G Doberstein
  • Publication number: 20160191287
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for dynamic single-frequency-network-(SFN)-multicast symbol synchronization. In an embodiment, a wireless-communication device (WCD) receives an SFN-multicast transmission at least in part by receiving a respective SFN-multicast-transmission signal from each site in a plurality of sites in a given SFN-multicast area, where each such received SFN-multicast-transmission signal has a respective SFN-multicast cyclic prefix. The WCD calculates a multisource multipath delay spread (“MMDS”) that is characteristic of the received plurality of SFN-multicast-transmission signals, and determines whether that calculated MMDS exceeds a threshold MMDS. If so, the WCD selects a multicast timing point that is after the SFN-multicast cyclic prefix of a first-received one of the received SFN-multicast-transmission signals. If not, the WCD selects a multicast timing point that is within the SFN-multicast cyclic prefix of the first-received SFN-multicast-transmission signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventor: ALAN P. CONRAD
  • Publication number: 20160182200
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for canceling a blocking signal to obtain a desired signal. An example process includes receiving both a blocking signal and a set of blocking bits corresponding to a demodulation of the blocking signal. A remodulated blocking signal is generated by modulating the received set of blocking bits. The remodulated blocking signal is passed through a blocking-band bandpass filter to generate an estimated blocking signal, and is also passed through a desired-band bandpass filter to generate an unconditioned reference signal. One or more signal-parameter differences between the blocking signal and the estimated blocking signal are identified, and one or more signal compensations are accordingly applied to the unconditioned reference signal to generate a conditioned reference signal, which is then output to a blocking-signal-canceling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: ALAN P. CONRAD, KEVIN G. DOBERSTEIN
  • Patent number: 9331881
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for embedding a supplementary data channel in OFDM-based communication systems. One embodiment takes the form of a process that includes obtaining a primary data signal that includes a given symbol, where the given symbol includes primary payload data prepended with a given cyclic prefix. The process also includes obtaining supplementary payload data. The process also includes identifying an available portion of the given symbol. The process also includes generating a modified primary data signal at least in part by replacing the available portion of the given symbol with a subset of the supplementary payload data. The process also includes outputting the generated modified primary data signal for transmission via an air interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Alan P Conrad, Xiaowei Jin
  • Publication number: 20160065402
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for embedding a supplementary data channel in OFDM-based communication systems. One embodiment takes the form of a process that includes obtaining a primary data signal that includes a given symbol, where the given symbol includes primary payload data prepended with a given cyclic prefix. The process also includes obtaining supplementary payload data. The process also includes identifying an available portion of the given symbol. The process also includes generating a modified primary data signal at least in part by replacing the available portion of the given symbol with a subset of the supplementary payload data. The process also includes outputting the generated modified primary data signal for transmission via an air interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: ALAN P CONRAD, XIAOWEI JIN
  • Patent number: 9271269
    Abstract: A method for assigning slot reservations to subscriber radios in a TDMA communications system, where data is arranged into a series of superframes, includes an inbound signaling protocol having a plurality of inbound transmission slots. An outbound signaling protocol includes an inbound reservation scheduling slot, which includes a plurality of subscriber access code fields. Each subscriber access code field corresponds to at least one of the inbound transmission slots. Each subscriber access code field may store a subscriber access code associated with a subscriber radio. The inbound reservation scheduling message includes a subscriber access code in at least one of the subscriber access code fields. As such, the subscriber radio associated with the subscriber access code may transmit data during the inbound transmission slot corresponding to the subscriber access code in which the subscriber access code field is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Sanjay G. Desai, Alan P. Conrad, Robert D. Logalbo
  • Publication number: 20140092883
    Abstract: A method for assigning slot reservations to subscriber radios in a TDMA communications system, where data is arranged into a series of superframes, includes an inbound signaling protocol having a plurality of inbound transmission slots. An outbound signaling protocol includes an inbound reservation scheduling slot, which includes a plurality of subscriber access code fields. Each subscriber access code field corresponds to at least one of the inbound transmission slots. Each subscriber access code field may store a subscriber access code associated with a subscriber radio. The inbound reservation scheduling message includes a subscriber access code in at least one of the subscriber access code fields. As such, the subscriber radio associated with the subscriber access code may transmit data during the inbound transmission slot corresponding to the subscriber access code in which the subscriber access code field is stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: SANJAY G. DESAI, ALAN P. CONRAD, ROBERT D. LOGALBO
  • Patent number: 8355472
    Abstract: A method is described to compensate for deviation error in a H-CPM sync or data burst received by a MLSE receiver in a communication device. The deviation error is estimated and matched filter coefficients are adjusted using the estimated deviation error. Metrics are determined for the current state using the adjusted matched filter coefficients. The state having the minimum metric is determined to be the most likely current state. The most likely previous state is similarly determined. The burst is reconstructed backward from the last state to the initial state. The metric is the squared magnitude of the difference between the channel estimate multiplied by the matched filter coefficient associated with one of the possible states and the current state. Timing and frequency errors are compensated for before estimation and correction of the deviation error. Pilot or sync symbols are used in estimating the deviation error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan P. Conrad, Kevin G. Doberstein
  • Publication number: 20110267938
    Abstract: A method is described to compensate for deviation error in a H-CPM sync or data burst received by a MLSE receiver in a communication device. The deviation error is estimated and matched filter coefficients are adjusted using the estimated deviation error. Metrics are determined for the current state using the adjusted matched filter coefficients. The state having the minimum metric is determined to be the most likely current state. The most likely previous state is similarly determined The burst is reconstructed backward from the last state to the initial state. The metric is the squared magnitude of the difference between the channel estimate multiplied by the matched filter coefficient associated with one of the possible states and the current state. Timing and frequency errors are compensated for before estimation and correction of the deviation error. Pilot or sync symbols are used in estimating the deviation error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Alan P. Conrad, Kevin G. Doberstein
  • Patent number: 7945836
    Abstract: A transmitting unit combines a slot identifier (SI) and a block identifier (BI) in each header that is transmitted with the data to allow a receiving unit to associate previously received data blocks with retransmissions, or retries, of the same respective data blocks in order to perform bit error detection in accordance with a hybrid or selective ARQ protocol. The receiving unit uses the SI and BI contained in the MHBKs to determine a correspondence between a retried data and a previously transmitted data block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan P. Conrad, Kevin G. Doberstein
  • Patent number: 7876864
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for enhanced signal detection in a frequency selective fading channel. Improved signal detection is realized by replacing single matched filters with multiple matched filters. The single matched filter spectrum is partitioned by frequency into M matched filter groups, where M is a positive integer greater than one. The filter bandwidth of each of the M matched filters is less than the bandwidth of the single matched filter from which they are derived. The M matched filters are provided to filter in parallel fashion the input signal into M sub-spectrums of the signal. The input signal is filtered through the M matched filters and also sent to the energy detector. The matched filter outputs are combined and the received signal is detected using the combined output and the energy in the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan P. Conrad, Kevin G. Doberstein
  • Patent number: 7471620
    Abstract: A method for the selection of forward error correction (FEC)/constellation pairings (800) for digital transmitted segments based on learning radio link adaptation (RLA) including formatting a packet transmission having a predetermined number of information bits (801). The packet is then split into a plurality of segments (803) where an RLA is used (805) to determine the optimum format of the packet. The plurality of segments is then sent to a channel encoder for FEC encoding and symbol mapping (807) at a rate selected by the RLA. The segments are then formatted into packet blocks (809) and transmitted in blocks that form a time slot at a constant symbol rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Alazraki, Apoorv Chaudhri, Alan P. Conrad, Stanko Jelavic, Chet A. Lampert, Bob D. Logalbo, Darrell J. Stogner, Ellis A. Pinder
  • Publication number: 20080320357
    Abstract: A transmitting unit combines a slot identifier (SI) and a block identifier (BI) in each header that is transmitted with the data to allow a receiving unit to associate previously received data blocks with retransmissions, or retries, of the same respective data blocks in order to perform bit error detection in accordance with a hybrid or selective ARQ protocol. The receiving unit uses the SI and BI contained in the MHBKs to determine a correspondence between a retried data and a previously transmitted data block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: ALAN P. CONRAD, KEVIN G. DOBERSTEIN
  • Publication number: 20080273633
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for enhanced signal detection in a frequency selective fading channel. Improved signal detection is realized by replacing single matched filters with multiple matched filters. The single matched filter spectrum is partitioned by frequency into M matched filter groups, where M is a positive integer greater than one. The filter bandwidth of each of the M matched filters is less than the bandwidth of the single matched filter from which they are derived. The M matched filters are provided to filter in parallel fashion the input signal into M sub-spectrums of the signal. The input signal is filtered through the M matched filters and also sent to the energy detector. The matched filter outputs are combined and the received signal is detected using the combined output and the energy in the received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: ALAN P. CONRAD, KEVIN G. DOBERSTEIN
  • Publication number: 20080165673
    Abstract: First incoming data comprising at least one OFDM symbol is received (302). A plurality of timing relationships is determined and each of the plurality of timing relationships relates to an alignment window of a fast Fourier transform (FFT) (304). Each of the plurality of timing relationships is applied to the first incoming data (306) and a plurality of achievable interference metrics associated with the first incoming data is responsively determined (308). Each of the plurality of achievable interference metrics is associated with a selected one of the plurality of timing relationships. The preferred interference metric is chosen from amongst the plurality of achievable interference metrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: COLIN D. FRANK, ALAN P. CONRAD, ROBERT J. CORKE, JORGE L. SEOANE
  • Patent number: 7164670
    Abstract: In an outbound transmission (300), an address of a first subscriber unit assigned to transmit in a first inbound slot is identified. With one bit in the outbound transmission (300), an additional inbound slot the first subscriber unit is assigned to transmit is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan P. Conrad, Bradley M. Hiben, Robert D. LoGalbo, Darrell J. Stogner
  • Patent number: 7161921
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for adjustment values. In one embodiment, a cumulative adjustment value is provided in memory, an inbound signal is transmitted to a base station during a random access opportunity, and a relative adjustment value is received from the base station. Then, the relative adjustment value is summed with the cumulative adjustment value to create a new cumulative adjustment value which is stored in the memory. Finally, a subsequent inbound signal is transmitted using the new cumulative adjustment value during a reserved access opportunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. LoGalbo, Alan P. Conrad, Darrell J. Stogner
  • Patent number: 7126912
    Abstract: Methods for sequencing datagram transmissions are disclosed, including, receiving an unqueued segment to be enqueued in a queue. The queue comprises at least one segment. Determining a priority level and a number of attempted transmissions for the unqueued segment (100). If the unqueued segment is enqueued in front of a segment belonging to a datagram in the queue, and at least one segment belonging to the datagram has been transmitted before all the segments belonging to the datagram have been transmitted, at least one of the following functions is performed: discarding any remaining segments belonging to the datagram in the queue, transmitting any remaining segments belonging to the datagram in the queue, and re-enqueuing segments belonging to the datagram at the same location in the queue as the partially transmitted datagram, but with a different identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell James Stogner, Alan P. Conrad, Chet A. Lampert, Robert D. Logalbo
  • Patent number: 7096017
    Abstract: A method and system for synchronizing scan opportunities in a mobile communications system. Time slots are sent between a mobile subscriber and an associated base station wherein the mobile subscriber corresponds to a scan group. The number of time slots sent between the mobile subscriber and the associated base station is counted. Based upon the count, the scan group of the mobile subscriber, a scan rate, and a scan opportunity divisor, a scan opportunity is determined. If it is a scan opportunity, a scan is performed of a neighboring base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanko Jelavic, Apoorv Chaudhri, Alan P. Conrad