Patents by Inventor Dean E. Thorson

Dean E. Thorson 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: 9992708
    Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for moving a connection from a localized network, e.g., a personal area network (“PAN”), to a different or larger network, e.g., a wide area network (“WAN”). In one aspect, wherein two devices are in communication on a PAN, each device uses the PAN to query the IPv6 WAN prefix assigned to each other device to which it is communicating on the PAN. The querying device then creates a globally routable IPv6 address for the desired communication and uses it to continue the connection after the device detects that the PAN is out of range. In an embodiment, one of the endpoint devices may determine that it has changed its IPv6 prefix and may transmit the new prefix to the other device through an out-of-band method such as the Short Message Service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Dean E. Thorson, Naveen Aerrabotu
  • Patent number: 9930125
    Abstract: A communication device performs a method for coordinating communications between a plurality of communication devices of a user. The method includes detecting an active communication session on a primary communication device having user engagement, and determining a set of secondary communication devices in proximity to the user. The method further includes detecting an interruption event, at the primary communication device, during the active communication session. Additionally, the method includes determining that a first secondary communication device, in the set of secondary communication devices, has capability to process the interruption event, and transferring the interruption event to the first secondary communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Jr., Kevin L. Baum, Dean E. Thorson
  • Patent number: 9775130
    Abstract: The present invention provides a paired device, a system and method for managing a location of an alert for a remotely originating incoming communication intended for a particular user to one or more of a plurality of devices associated with the particular user. The one or more of a plurality of devices includes a primary device and one or more secondary devices paired with the primary device. A detection is made via one or more sensors associated with a particular secondary device as to whether the particular secondary device is proximate to the particular user with which the particular secondary device is associated. A detection is then made via a local communication management module of the particular secondary device whether the particular secondary device is in communication with a local communication management module of the primary device with which the particular secondary device is paired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Dean E Thorson, Stephane Robert Maes
  • Patent number: 9538452
    Abstract: A method includes collecting physical layer and data layer connectivity information from a plurality of wide area networks using a plurality of mobile devices independently of the wide area networks. A server receives the physical layer and data layer connectivity information, relates the connectivity information to specific wide area networks and to a plurality of geographic locations to create a network statistics database. The server also receives mobile device state information including mobile device location information and predicts that connectivity for a specific mobile device will fall below acceptable criteria based on the network statistics database. The server generates a list of candidate donor mobile devices to serve as data connection sources for the specific mobile device based on the network connectivity information and the mobile device state information and selects a donor device from the list of candidate donor devices based on a weighting algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Krishna K Bellamkonda, Nischal Y Patel, Brett L Robertson, Jarrett K Simerson, Dean E Thorson, Malhar D Vaishnav
  • Publication number: 20160359985
    Abstract: A communication device performs a method for coordinating communications between a plurality of communication devices of a user. The method includes detecting an active communication session on a primary communication device having user engagement, and determining a set of secondary communication devices in proximity to the user. The method further includes detecting an interruption event, at the primary communication device, during the active communication session. Additionally, the method includes determining that a first secondary communication device, in the set of secondary communication devices, has capability to process the interruption event, and transferring the interruption event to the first secondary communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, JR., Kevin L. Baum, Dean E. Thorson
  • Publication number: 20160330711
    Abstract: The present invention provides a paired device, a system and method for managing a location of an alert for a remotely originating incoming communication intended for a particular user to one or more of a plurality of devices associated with the particular user. The one or more of a plurality of devices includes a primary device and one or more secondary devices paired with the primary device. A detection is made via one or more sensors associated with a particular secondary device as to whether the particular secondary device is proximate to the particular user with which the particular secondary device is associated. A detection is then made via a local communication management module of the particular secondary device whether the particular secondary device is in communication with a local communication management module of the primary device with which the particular secondary device is paired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Dean E. Thorson, Stephane Robert Maes
  • Patent number: 9491706
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure teach decreasing, in a time-averaged regime, the amount of RF energy emitted by a communications device. Generally speaking, the network tells the communications device what power level it should transmit at. If, however, the device determines that it would exceed an emission standard by transmitting at the specified power level for as long as it needs to in order to carry out its transmission duties, then the device can instead decide to transmit at a lower power level. Alternatively (or in combination), the device can, instead of transmitting all the time while it has data to send, only transmit intermittently. In either case, the emitted electromagnetic energy, as averaged over a period of time, is reduced below the maximum allowed by the standard. Later, if possible and necessary, the device can again transmit at a higher power level or more frequently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Dean E. Thorson, Steve R. Hauswirth, Eric L. Krenz, Paul J. Moller
  • Patent number: 9438642
    Abstract: A communication device performs a method for coordinating communications between a plurality of communication devices of a user. The method includes detecting an active communication session on a primary communication device having user engagement, and determining a set of secondary communication devices in proximity to the user. The method further includes detecting an interruption event, at the primary communication device, during the active communication session. Additionally, the method includes determining that a first secondary communication device, in the set of secondary communication devices, has capability to process the interruption event, and transferring the interruption event to the first secondary communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Jr., Kevin L. Baum, Dean E. Thorson
  • Patent number: 9392322
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method to automatically generate synchronization points based on a common characteristic given a plurality of random video feeds. The common characteristic can be based on changes in motion, audio, image, etc between the feeds. A feedback process attempts to time align the synchronized video outputs based on discontinuities in the feeds. Once the video feeds are time aligned, the aligned content can be used for recreating a multi-view video montage or feeding it into a 3-D correlation program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Dean E. Thorson
  • Patent number: 9338290
    Abstract: When a first user is leaving a voicemail while a second user is attempting to call the first user back, the first user is given the option to ignore the second caller, delete the voicemail and connect with the second user, or hold while the second user reviews the voicemail. The voicemail may or may not be complete. This may avoid the need for the first user to repeat the information contained in the voicemail. In one embodiment, the voicemail message is played on the second user's device as a ring-back tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Jerome O. Vogedes, Dean E. Thorson, Mark Lemke
  • Patent number: 9215302
    Abstract: A handheld portable device (10) receives information signals modulated over one or more radio frequency (RF) spectrums includes housing (150), a user interface (62) and a plurality of antennae (A1-A3) that are configured to respond to modulated RF information signals. Receivers (RX1-RX3) receive the modulated RF information signals from the plurality of antennae. A controller (602) determines a user grip from one or more properties of the response to modulated RF signals by respective ones of the plurality of antennae and controls the user interface based on a determined user grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Dean E Thorson, Naveen Aerrabotu
  • Patent number: 9197925
    Abstract: A method of populating a series of tiles of an interactive user interface with information is disclosed. The interactive user interface is in a form of a visual display of a representation of an object having a surface contour, and the method includes the step of populating the tiles such that information of greater priority is initially populated in tiles that are most prominently displayed on the object and information of lesser priority is initially populated in tiles that are less prominently displayed on the object. Apparatus and a computer readable storage medium for performing the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Geoffrey S. Roman, Dean E. Thorson
  • Publication number: 20150277720
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for enabling a user of an electronic device to select functions and facilitate operations while the electronic device is partially or fully submerged in a conductive material. According to certain aspects, the electronic device can analyze (934) contact data to determine that it is submerged in a conductive material. In some cases, the electronic device can initiate (938) various operating modes such as an imaging mode (940), an audio mode (949), a scrollable menu (954), or an illumination mode (968). The electronic device detects (944, 950, 956, 966) an actuation of a hardware button and performs (948, 952, 958, 968) a specified function according to the operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Dean E Thorson, Roger W. Ady, James E. Bender
  • Patent number: 9146624
    Abstract: There is described a portable electronic device capable of managing screen orientation. The portable electronic device comprises a display, a motion sensor, an image sensor and a processor. The display provides an image at a first orientation. The motion sensor attempts to detect a rotation of the portable electronic device. The image sensor attempts to detect one or more body features. The processor determines a second orientation of the image at the display based on the rotation detected at the motion sensor and/or the body feature or features detected at the image sensor. The portable electronic device may determine an orientation of the image at the display in response to detecting the rotation at the motion sensor and/or the body feature or features at the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Hong Zhao, LieJun Tao, Dean E. Thorson
  • Patent number: 9140782
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a video encoder, a camera and radio frequency modulation circuitry. The radio frequency modulation circuitry is operative to modulate a radar signal to include video data. A radar transmitter is operatively coupled to the radio frequency modulation circuitry, and is operative to transmit a radar signal including the video data. The apparatus may also include radio frequency demodulation circuitry and a video decoder. The video decoder is operative to decode video data contained in a radar signal demodulated by the radio frequency demodulation circuitry. An inter-vehicle alert system controls the camera to initiate capturing video data which includes the video data. A method of operation modulates a radar signal to include at least a portion of the video data captured in response to detecting an obstruction, and transmits the radar signal to a second vehicle via an antenna array oriented at the moving vehicle's rear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Jr., Dean E. Thorson
  • Patent number: 9116567
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing the display of content on an electronic rollable device (600). According to certain aspects, the systems and methods facilitate communications and applications of a rollable device with a display screen interface. The device detects an interaction with the display screen interface by a user (605), such as the user grasping the device. From the interaction, the device identifies a position of the user's hand and, based on the position, a set of configuration settings, and/or other variables, determines a display region on the touchscreen to display a graphic (635) associated with the communications and applications. The device displays the graphic within the display region and receives and processes input from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Jr., Dean E. Thorson
  • Patent number: 9110519
    Abstract: There is described a portable electronic device capable of managing screen orientation. The portable electronic device comprises a display, a motion sensor, an image sensor and a processor. The display provides an image at a first orientation. The motion sensor attempts to detect a rotation of the portable electronic device. The image sensor attempts to detect one or more body features. The processor determines a second orientation of the image at the display based on the rotation detected at the motion sensor and/or the body feature or features detected at the image sensor. The portable electronic device may determine an orientation of the image at the display in response to detecting the rotation at the motion sensor and/or the body feature or features at the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Hong Zhao, LieJun Tao, Dean E Thorson
  • Patent number: 9077848
    Abstract: A side channel, networked with a real-time video conference feed, includes descriptive audio commentary. The side channel also includes an adjustable data handler for adjusting amount of the descriptive audio data correlated to audio commentary regarding the real-time video conference; and a means for prioritizing associated conversation links tied to the real-time video conference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: William P Alberth, Dean E Thorson
  • Patent number: 8995939
    Abstract: A method and apparatus can cut back power in a simultaneous dual frequency band call. The method may operate a dual frequency band transmit device. The method may include determining if a transmit frequency in a first frequency band from the device combined with a transmit frequency in a second frequency band from the device causes receiver desensitization at the device. The method may include determining if the transmit power in the first frequency band is above a threshold power. The method may include reducing maximum transmit power in the second frequency band by an amount proportional to transmit power in the first frequency band and transmit signal bandwidth in the second frequency band in only the portion of the second frequency band where a resultant frequency component can cause desensitization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Dean E Thorson, Thomas D Nagode, Lawrence R Schumacher
  • Patent number: 8976218
    Abstract: An electronic device is communicatively coupled to at least one video camera during a video conference, and also includes a touchscreen display having video conference participant representations displayed on the touchscreen display. A haptics feedback system is integrated into the touchscreen display and is responsive to a user touching the video conference participant representations displayed on the touchscreen display. A speech-to-text controller converts video conference participant's speech into text and creates an identification tag for each video conference participant. In addition, an ongoing commentary controller provides feedback on non-verbal cues about the video conference participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Dean E. Thorson, William P. Alberth