Patents by Inventor David Ferguson

David Ferguson 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).

  • Publication number: 20190050808
    Abstract: A delivery system includes a database configured to store information of a customer where the information includes a default payment method, a communication system configured to communicate with an autonomous vehicle and with a device of the customer, where the device includes a display screen having a button to summon an autonomous vehicle, at least one processor, and a memory storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the delivery system to receive an indication via the communication system that the button on the device of the customer has been clicked, and instruct the autonomous vehicle to travel to a location of the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: David Ferguson, Jiajun Zhu, Pichayut Jirapinyo, Nan Ransohoff
  • Publication number: 20190043009
    Abstract: A delivery control system includes a communication device configured to receive an image of a product from a computing device of a customer, at least one processor, and a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the delivery control system to perform an image recognition process on the image to identify at least one product based on the image, transmit the identified at least one product to the computing device via the communication device, receive from the computing device a product selected by the customer from among the identified at least one product, and instruct an robot vehicle to deliver the selected product to the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: David Ferguson, Jiajun Zhu, Nan Ransohoff
  • Publication number: 20190043355
    Abstract: Provided herein are platforms for determining a real-time human behavior analysis of an unmanned vehicle by a plurality of autonomous or semi-autonomous land vehicles through infrastructure recognition and assessment. The platforms determine a real-time parking status for a plurality of parking locations, a platform for detecting a traffic violation by a manned vehicle at a roadway location, and a platform for monitoring security of a physical location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: David FERGUSON, Jiajun ZHU, Cosimo LEIPOLD, Pichayut JIRAPINYO
  • Publication number: 20190034967
    Abstract: Provided herein is an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle fleet comprising a plurality of electric autonomous vehicle for apportioned display of a media, operating autonomously and a fleet management module for coordination of the autonomous vehicle fleet. Each autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle comprising a screen configured to display the media. Activation, deactivation, brightness modification, in combination with specific media selection enables more efficient media display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: David FERGUSON, Jiajun Zhu, Pichayut Jirapinyo, Cosimo Leipold
  • Publication number: 20190033883
    Abstract: Provided herein is an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle fleet comprising a plurality of autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles coordinated by a fleet management module. Each vehicle may be configured to receive a modular unit, wherein the modular unit is configured to secure a consumer product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: David FERGUSON, Jiajun ZHU, Ben JULIAN, Nan RANSOHOFF
  • Publication number: 20190034858
    Abstract: Provided herein is an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle fleet comprising a plurality of autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles for containing, securing, and delivering at least one of a first item and at least one of a second item after a customer places an order for a first item, operating autonomously or semi-autonomously, and a fleet management module for coordination of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle fleet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: David FERGUSON, Jiajun ZHU, Pichayut JIRAPINYO, Nan RANSOHOFF
  • Publication number: 20190034857
    Abstract: Provided herein is an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle fleet comprising a plurality of autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles for delivering a food or beverage item to a customer. The autonomous vehicle herein may comprise of storage units that are easily configured to effectively and efficiently carry different types of food or beverage items, including a temperature control system configured to maintain a target unit temperature for different types of food or beverage items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: David FERGUSON, Jiajun ZHU, Nan RANSOHOFF
  • Publication number: 20190033868
    Abstract: An autonomous system for loading or unloading an autonomous vehicle, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, includes one or more module(s) that include at least one of a compartment or a sub-compartment where the module(s) are located in an autonomous vehicle, a robotic movement apparatus configured to autonomously move items to or from the module(s), one or more processors, and at least one memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor(s), cause the autonomous system to autonomously move an item, using the robotic movement apparatus, to or from the at least one module of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: David Ferguson, Jiajun Zhu
  • Publication number: 20190033856
    Abstract: Provided herein is a system for precise delivery of an item to a consumer by an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle. The system performs image recognition algorithms to detect a primary entrance, navigate from a street address to the primary entrance, and to validate the customer upon delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: David FERGUSON, Jiajun ZHU, Nan RANSOHOFF
  • Publication number: 20190035282
    Abstract: A managing apparatus for positioning rental vehicles includes a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to cause the managing apparatus to access model information and location information for a plurality of autonomous vehicles, receive a request including a delivery location and a chosen model for renting, select an autonomous vehicle of the chosen model from among the plurality of autonomous vehicles based on the model information, the location information, and the delivery location, instruct the selected autonomous vehicle to fully-autonomously or semi-autonomously travel to the delivery location, and instruct the selected autonomous vehicle to switch to manual operation mode at the delivery location for manual operation by a vehicle rental customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: David Ferguson, Jiajun Zhu, Cosimo Leipold
  • Publication number: 20190035044
    Abstract: An autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle fleet comprising a plurality of autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles for providing an assortment of items to a customer or a potential customer after such customer or potential customer summons the one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles in an unstructured open or closed environment. Each autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle comprises one or more compartments configured to contain and secure the assortment of the items to be selected once the summoned autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle arrives to a customer or potential customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: David FERGUSON, Jiajun ZHU, Pichayut JIRAPINYO, Nan RANSOHOFF
  • Publication number: 20190025819
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems for navigating an autonomous or semi-autonomous fleet comprising a plurality of autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles within a plurality of navigable pathways within an unstructured open environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: David FERGUSON, Jiajun ZHU, Russell SMITH
  • Publication number: 20190025820
    Abstract: Provided herein is a platform for distributing and navigating an autonomous or semi-autonomous fleet throughout a plurality of pathways. The platform may employ demand distribution prediction algorithms, and interim repositioning algorithms to distribute the autonomous or semi-autonomous fleet for performing orders and tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: David FERGUSON, Jiajun ZHU, Cosimo LEIPOLD, Pichayut JIRAPINYO
  • Publication number: 20190026886
    Abstract: Provided herein are platforms for determining a non-navigational quality of at least one infrastructure by a plurality of autonomous or semi-autonomous land vehicles through infrastructure recognition and assessment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: David FERGUSON, Jiajun ZHU, Cosimo LEIPOLD, Pichayut JIRAPINYO
  • Publication number: 20180345958
    Abstract: In some implementations, an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle is capable of using a collision prediction system to determine a confidence that any objects detected within a vicinity of the vehicle are on a trajectory that will collide with the vehicle. Laser obstacle points derived from recent sensor readings of one or more sensors of a vehicle are initially obtained. The laser obstacle points are projected into a pose coordinate system to generate an occupancy grid of a vicinity of the vehicle. A confidence that any objects represented by the laser obstacle points are on a trajectory that will collide with the vehicle is determined by applying a particle filter to the occupancy grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Wan-Yen Lo, Abhijit Ogale, David Ferguson
  • Patent number: 10018716
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating and optimizing frequency modulated continuous wave radar altimeters using adjustable self-interference cancellation are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a radar altimeter system comprises: a local oscillator delay line including a variable delay circuit configured to output a delayed signal, a transmitter coupled to the local oscillator delay line and configured to output a transmitter signal, a transceiver circulator coupled to an antenna and coupled to the transmitter, and a frequency mixer coupled to the delay line and coupled to the transceiver circulator. The transceiver circulator directs the transmitter signal to the antenna and the antenna is configured to transmit the transmitter signal and receive a reflected signal from a target. Further, the frequency mixer is configured to receive the delayed signal and the target reflected signal from the transceiver circulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Paul David Ferguson, Marc Pos, Robert Jason Tinsley
  • Patent number: 9729494
    Abstract: A social networking system selects a set of groups for presentation to a user of the social networking system. To select groups, the social networking system determining scores for various groups representing a likelihood of the user interacting with the groups. When determining a score for a group, the social networking system accounts for a likelihood of the user providing content to the group as well as the user accessing or viewing content associated with the group. Based on the scores, one or more groups are selected and presented to the user. Additionally, the social networking system may apply one or more diversity rules so that the selected groups have a variety of characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Li Ju, David Ferguson, Jun Sun, Jireh Yiwei Tan, Bradley Ray Green
  • Publication number: 20170220885
    Abstract: A device comprising a media validation platform for identifying and detecting defects on a media disc is provided. The media validation platform may include: a media transport system including a guide portion including a cushion medium and a drive portion including a belt drive for conveying a media disc along a path of motion through the media validation platform; a slot providing an opening to the media validation platform and a guide to introduce the media disc to the media transport system; a quality control station comprising a light source, a light diffuser, and a camera for measuring an intensity of light from the light source passing through the light diffuser and a media layer of the at least one media disc; and a media identification station comprising a scanner assembly, the scanner assembly adapted to obtain data from a bar code of the at least one media disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Game Changer Holdings, LLC.
    Inventors: David Ferguson, Alan R. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20170217960
    Abstract: The invention provides compounds of formula I: wherein R1—R3, Ra, and Rb have any of the values defined herein, and salts thereof. The compounds have immunomodulatory properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventor: David Ferguson
  • Patent number: D803700
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Mason Jar Cookie Company
    Inventor: David Ferguson