Patents by Inventor David A. Whelan

David A. Whelan 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: 9980300
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for a wearable device to make a link with a communication system are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a disclosed method for a wearable device to make a link with a communication system comprises transmitting, by the communication system, at least one first signal. The method further comprises receiving, by each of at least two antennas of the wearable device, at least one first signal from the communication system. In one or more embodiments, each of at least two antennas is adaptively excited to steer in a direction towards the communication system and/or steer in a direction to null at least one interferer. Also, the method involves transmitting, by each of at least two antennas of the wearable device, at least one second signal towards the communication system. Further, the method involves receiving, by the communication system, at least one second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christ P. Tzelepis, David A. Whelan
  • Publication number: 20180114995
    Abstract: A rapid start power unit and a method of operating a rapid start power unit are disclosed. A fuel cell converts combustible fuel into electrical power during a normal operational period after an initial start-up period when little to no electrical energy is produced. One combustion chamber receives unspent fuel emitted by the fuel cell and combusts the unspent fuel to generate a first heated gas stream. Another combustion chamber receives combustible fuel and burns the combustible fuel to generate a second heated gas stream during the initial start-up period. A turbine receives and is driven by the first and second heated gas streams to drive a drive shaft. A generator coupled to the drive shaft generates electrical power during the initial start-up period and supplemental power during the normal operational period. In an alternative embodiment, a two-stage combustion chamber is used instead of two serially-arranged separate combustion chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Tina Stoia, Shailesh Atreya, Chellappa Balan, David Whelan, David J. GIll, Vincent J. Castelli
  • Patent number: 9953348
    Abstract: Techniques are described for retrieving advertisements for insertion into a document. Embodiments receive a document comprising a request to retrieve a plurality of advertisement creatives. In response to transmitting the request specified within the received document to the advertisement management system, a single software object defining all of the plurality of advertisement creatives is received. Embodiments insert each of the plurality of advertisement creatives into the document, prior to rendering the document, and then render the document together with the advertisement creatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Jarrod David Whelan
  • Publication number: 20180109991
    Abstract: A method for managing a wireless communications system may include the steps of: (1) requesting wireless communication links between a plurality of user terminals and an airborne communications relay terminal, (2) designating one of the plurality of user terminals as a primary user terminal to make a direct communication with the relay terminal, (3) designating other ones of the plurality of user terminals as secondary user terminals to make direct communication with the primary user terminal, (4) connecting the primary user terminal directly to the relay terminal, and (5) connecting the secondary user terminals indirectly to the relay terminal through the primary user terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: David A. Whelan, Ying J. Feria, James P. Scott
  • Publication number: 20180108986
    Abstract: An antenna system includes an array of radiating elements forming a diamond shape. The diamond shape includes a first axis and a second axis. The diamond shape is oriented with the first axis aligned with a reference plane shared by a plurality of airborne communications relay platforms. The diamond shape is reoriented to maintain the first axis aligned with the reference plane in response to a change in position of the reference plane relative to the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: David A. Whelan, Ying J. Feria, Parthasarathy Ramanujam
  • Publication number: 20180047066
    Abstract: Techniques are described for retrieving advertisements for insertion into a document. Embodiments receive a document comprising a request to retrieve a plurality of advertisement creatives. In response to transmitting the request specified within the received document to the advertisement management system, a single software object defining all of the plurality of advertisement creatives is received. Embodiments insert each of the plurality of advertisement creatives into the document, prior to rendering the document, and then render the document together with the advertisement creatives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Jarrod David Whelan
  • Patent number: 9874626
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves splitting a signal into low power portions. The method further involves coding the low power portions to produce coded low power portions, where the coding comprises convolving each low power portion with a respective different code. Also, the method involves summing the coded low power portions to produce a resultant coded signal. In addition, the method involves transmitting the resultant coded signal towards a target object. Additionally, the method involves receiving a reflected resultant coded signal, where the resultant coded signal reflects off the target object to produce the reflected resultant coded signal. Also, the method involves decoding the reflected resultant coded signal to produce a decoded signal. Further, the method involves correlating the decoded signal to produce a complete received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Atul Jain, David A. Whelan
  • Publication number: 20170317742
    Abstract: A communications system includes radio frequency equipment to generate a forward link configured for wireless transmissions of a base-to-user data stream from a plurality of airborne communications relay platforms to at least one user terminal, wherein the forward link includes a plurality of relay-to-user links, each one of the plurality of relay-to-user links includes a relay-to-user radio frequency signal encoded with a different base-to-user data sub-stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Ying J. Feria, David A. Whelan, Greg Busche
  • Publication number: 20170318610
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for a wearable device to make a link with a communication system are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a disclosed method for a wearable device to make a link with a communication system comprises transmitting, by the communication system, at least one first signal. The method further comprises receiving, by each of at least two antennas of the wearable device, at least one first signal from the communication system. In one or more embodiments, each of at least two antennas is adaptively excited to steer in a direction towards the communication system and/or steer in a direction to null at least one interferer. Also, the method involves transmitting, by each of at least two antennas of the wearable device, at least one second signal towards the communication system. Further, the method involves receiving, by the communication system, at least one second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Christ P. Tzelepis, David A. Whelan
  • Publication number: 20170311178
    Abstract: A communications system includes radio frequency equipment configured to generate RF beams from a high altitude communications platform providing communications coverage over a coverage area, a beamformer configured to apply beam weights to the RF beams to divide the coverage area into service areas arranged in a frequency reuse ground pattern, and a processor configured to adjust the beam weights to compensate for beam displacements resulting from motion of the high altitude communications platform along a flight path, and interchange the RF beams to maintain the frequency reuse ground pattern throughout the flight path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Ying J. Feria, David A. Whelan
  • Publication number: 20170261616
    Abstract: A system and methods for location authentication are presented. An estimated server signal is estimated based on a generated known code signal, and a client received satellite signal is received from a client device. The client received satellite signal is compared to the estimated server signal to provide a comparison result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Per K. Enge, David Lawrence, Michael L. O'Connor, Michael L. Eglington, Gregory M. Gutt, David A. Whelan
  • Publication number: 20170214462
    Abstract: A satellite communication system may include a communication satellite orbiting Earth, a user terminal in radio communication with the communication satellite through a user link, a communication relay apparatus operating at an altitude of approximately 65,000 feet and in optical communication with the communication satellite through a feeder link, and a gateway station in radio communication with the communication relay apparatus through a gateway link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Greg Busche, John M. Sullivan, Lindsay E. Krejcarek, Jeffrey M. Jesiolowski, Ying J. Feria, David A. Whelan
  • Patent number: 9698987
    Abstract: A system and methods for location authentication are presented. An estimated server signal is estimated based on a generated known code signal, and a client received satellite signal is received from a client device. The client received satellite signal is compared to the estimated server signal to provide a comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Per K. Enge, David Lawrence, Michael L. O'Connor, Michael L. Eglington, Gregory M. Gutt, David A. Whelan
  • Patent number: 9625573
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing an estimate of a location of a user receiver device. The method and system involve emitting from at least one vehicle at least one spot beam on Earth, and receiving with the user receiver device a signal from at least one spot beam. In one or more embodiments, at least one vehicle may be a satellite and/or a pseudolite. The method and system further involve calculating with the user receiver device the estimate of the location of the user receiver device according to the user receiver device's location within at least one spot beam. In some embodiments, when the user receiver device receives signals from at least two spot beams, the user receiver device calculates the estimate of the location of the user receiver device to be located in the center of the intersection of at least two spot beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: David A. Whelan, Gregory M. Gutt, Robert W. Brumley, Michael L. Eglington, Christopher J. Martens, Anne T. Haddad, Rachel Rané Schmalzried
  • Patent number: 9612334
    Abstract: A method for correcting for time delay variations between a plurality of signal paths from a signal source to at least one transmit antenna of a satellite may include measuring a time delay for each of the plurality of signal paths. The method may also include correcting a signal for the time delay variation based on the time delay for the signal path that is currently being used by the satellite, the corrected signal being usable for at least one of navigation, determining a geographic location and determining time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory Gutt, David A. Whelan, Peter M. Fyfe, James C. Lassa
  • Publication number: 20170063445
    Abstract: A communication network may include a satellite configured to provide a plurality of satellite cells within a satellite coverage area, and one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) configured to fly within the satellite coverage area. Each UAV is configured to fly over one of the satellite cells. A resource allocation system may be configured to dynamically allocate at least a portion of a frequency spectrum between the satellite and the UAV(s). Each UAV provides a plurality of UAV cells within a satellite cell in response to the resource allocation system allocating the frequency spectrum (or portion thereof) to the UAV(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ying J. Feria, David Whelan, Mike T. Trujillo, John M. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20170026122
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for laser communications following an atmospheric event. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves transmitting, by at least one laser on at least one first satellite, at least one first transmit signal. The method further involves receiving, by at least one detector on at least one first satellite, at least one first receive signal. In one or more embodiments, at least one first satellite is in super-geosynchronous earth orbit (S-GEO). In at least one embodiment, at least one first transmit signal and at least one first receive signal are laser signals. Further, the method involves adapting, by at least one first processor on at least one first satellite, at least one first transmit signal according to at least one atmospheric event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew M. Everett, John P. Leuer, David A. Whelan, Stephen G. Lambert
  • Publication number: 20170026121
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for laser communications in super-geosynchronous Earth orbit are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves transmitting, by at least one laser on at least one first satellite, at least one first transmit signal. The method further involves receiving, by at least one detector on at least one first satellite, at least one first receive signal. In one or more embodiments, at least one first satellite is in super-geosynchronous Earth orbit (S-GEO). In at least one embodiment, at least one first transmit signal and at least one first receive signal are laser signals and have a field of regard covering one hemisphere of the Earth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew M. Everett, John P. Leuer, David A. Whelan, Stephen G. Lambert
  • Patent number: 9529081
    Abstract: Technologies for detecting a passive object through the use of frequency diversity to find at least a resonant peak are disclosed. For example, a radar system may illuminate a suspect area with a pulsed radio wave based on a large number of frequency bands and based on parameters associated with the passive object. The reflected radio wave may be processed to generate synthetic aperture radar (SAR) maps associated with the frequency bands. The SAR maps may be analyzed and compared to determine large deviation amplitudes that may indicate a location of the passive object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David A. Whelan, David Lynch, Jr., Eric B. Jensen
  • Patent number: 9523763
    Abstract: A system and methods for resolving integer cycle ambiguity in medium wave carrier radio signals are presented. A satellite signal is received at a receiving location and a measured code phase of the satellite signal is measured. A satellite location estimate of the receiving location is computed based on the measured code phase. Medium wave radio carrier signals from medium wave radio transmitters are received at the receiving location. A number of wavelengths of the medium wave radio carrier signals from the satellite location estimate to each of the medium wave radio transmitters is determined respectively. A carrier phase of each of the medium wave radio carrier signals is measured. An improved position estimate of the receiving location is computed based on the number of wavelengths and the carrier phase of each of the medium wave radio carrier signals, and a location of each of the medium wave radio transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David G. Lawrence, David A. Whelan, Gregory M. Gutt, Michael L. O'Connor