Patents by Inventor Douglas Gordon

Douglas Gordon 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: 10517063
    Abstract: An improved technique for the estimation of the location of a wireless terminal. A disclosed location engine is capable of utilizing a service set identifier (SSID) or a media access control (MAC) address, or both, received from a reporting wireless terminal, in order to improve the estimate of the wireless terminal's location. The location engine generates a first hypothesis for the location of the wireless terminal based on evidence of the location of the wireless terminal, such signal strength measurements, wherein the evidence is independent of the SSID and MAC addresses. The location engine also generates a second hypothesis for the location based on the SSID or a third hypothesis for the location based on the MAC address, or both. An estimate of location of the wireless terminal is based on a combination of the first, second, and third hypotheses. The estimate can then be used in a location-based application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Arthur Blaha, Jr., Scot Douglas Gordon, Jonathan Shiao-en Lu, Jeffrey Noel Wu, Jian Zhu
  • Publication number: 20190364146
    Abstract: A location engine that estimates the barometric pressure measurement bias of a wireless terminal, resulting in an improved estimate of elevation of the wireless terminal. The location engine generates an estimate of measurement bias by comparing the barometric pressure measured by the wireless terminal while at that elevation and the barometric pressure that corresponds to an estimated elevation of the wireless terminal when it made the pressure measurement (i.e., the expected pressure). The estimated elevation is based on an inferred above-ground height and the local terrain elevation, and the expected pressure is based on the measurement of barometric pressure at the pressure reference and the estimated elevation. The location engine infers the height based on various techniques disclosed herein. The location engine can use the measurement bias to adjust subsequent pressure measurements reported by the wireless terminal, in order to generate an improved estimate of elevation of the wireless terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Zhu, Jerome Arthur Blaha, JR., Scot Douglas Gordon, Jonathan Shiao-en Lu, Jeffrey Noel Wu
  • Publication number: 20190349467
    Abstract: A location engine that estimates the barometric pressure measurement bias of a wireless terminal, resulting in an improved estimate of elevation of the wireless terminal. The location engine generates an estimate of measurement bias by comparing the barometric pressure measured by the wireless terminal while at that elevation and the barometric pressure that corresponds to an estimated elevation of the wireless terminal when it made the pressure measurement (i.e., the expected pressure). The estimated elevation is based on an inferred above-ground height and the local terrain elevation, and the expected pressure is based on the measurement of barometric pressure at the pressure reference and the estimated elevation. The location engine infers the height based on various techniques disclosed herein. The location engine can use the measurement bias to adjust subsequent pressure measurements reported by the wireless terminal, in order to generate an improved estimate of elevation of the wireless terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Zhu, Jerome Arthur Blaha, Scot Douglas Gordon, Jonathan Shiao-en Lu, Jeffrey Noel Wu
  • Publication number: 20190349882
    Abstract: An improved technique for the estimation of the location of a wireless terminal. A disclosed location engine is capable of utilizing a service set identifier (SSID) or a media access control (MAC) address, or both, received from a reporting wireless terminal, in order to improve the estimate of the wireless terminal's location. The location engine generates a first hypothesis for the location of the wireless terminal based on evidence of the location of the wireless terminal, such signal strength measurements, wherein the evidence is independent of the SSID and MAC addresses. The location engine also generates a second hypothesis for the location based on the SSID or a third hypothesis for the location based on the MAC address, or both. An estimate of location of the wireless terminal is based on a combination of the first, second, and third hypotheses. The estimate can then be used in a location-based application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Arthur Blaha, JR., Scot Douglas Gordon, Jonathan Shiao-en Lu, Jeffrey Noel Wu, Jian Zhu
  • Patent number: 10462282
    Abstract: A location engine that estimates the barometric pressure measurement bias of a pressure station reference, such as an airport pressure station, resulting in an improved estimate of the elevation of a wireless terminal. The location engine generates the estimate of bias of barometric pressure by comparing i) the outdoor barometric pressure measured by the airport pressure station at its unknown height above mean sea level (MSL) and ii) the expected outdoor barometric pressure derived from the pressure measurements from an already-calibrated pressure station, while accounting for the known height of the already-calibrated pressure station. The expected outdoor measurements correspond to a derived height above MSL of the airport pressure station. Subsequently, the location engine generates an estimate of the elevation of the wireless terminal by accounting for the estimate of measurement bias of the airport pressure station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Arthur Blaha, Jr., Scot Douglas Gordon, Jonathan Shiao-en Lu, Jeffrey Noel Wu, Jian Zhu
  • Patent number: 10453155
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are described for estimating real estate property values based on an adjusted repeat sales model. In one exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises calculating data for estimating the adjustments from aggregated levels to disaggregated levels by marking a first transaction to a second transaction using a repeat sales house price index function at an aggregated level; determining, using the calculated data, an estimate of the deviation between the repeat sales house price index at the aggregated level and a repeat sales house price index at a disaggregated level; and calculating the repeat sales house price index at the disaggregated level based on the determined estimate of the deviation from the aggregated level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION (FREDDIE MAC)
    Inventors: James Douglas Gordon, Pamela W. Sims
  • Publication number: 20190313361
    Abstract: A technique for the estimation of the location of a wireless terminal. The disclosed technique considers boundaries that are represented in a geographic information system (GIS) database in combination with a first, unenhanced estimate of location, in order to generate a second, enhanced estimate of location. To do so, the technique generates a point cloud based on the first estimate of location. At least some of the data points in the point cloud are then removed, depending on their positions in relation to certain boundaries stored in the GIS database, such as the exterior walls of buildings and other structures. By considering these boundaries, the disclosed technique can increase the probability that the estimated location is within an area that is occupiable by a person, thereby providing a more reasonable result. The technique generates the second, enhanced estimate based on the distribution of the remaining data points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Arthur Blaha, JR., Scot Douglas Gordon, Jonathan Shiao-en Lu, Jeffrey Noel Wu, Jian Jet Zhu
  • Patent number: 10412699
    Abstract: An improved technique for the estimation of the location of a wireless terminal. A disclosed location engine is capable of utilizing a service set identifier (SSID) or a media access control (MAC) address, or both, received from a reporting wireless terminal, in order to improve the estimate of the wireless terminal's location. The location engine generates a first hypothesis for the location of the wireless terminal based on evidence of the location of the wireless terminal, such signal strength measurements, wherein the evidence is independent of the SSID and MAC addresses. The location engine also generates a second hypothesis for the location based on the SSID or a third hypothesis for the location based on the MAC address, or both. An estimate of location of the wireless terminal is based on a combination of the first, second, and third hypotheses. The estimate can then be used in a location-based application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Arthur Blaha, Jr., Scot Douglas Gordon, Jonathan Shiao-en Lu, Jeffrey Noel Wu, Jian Zhu
  • Patent number: 10412211
    Abstract: A location engine that estimates the barometric pressure measurement bias of a wireless terminal, resulting in an improved estimate of elevation of the wireless terminal. The location engine generates an estimate of measurement bias by comparing the barometric pressure measured by the wireless terminal while at that elevation and the barometric pressure that corresponds to an estimated elevation of the wireless terminal when it made the pressure measurement (i.e., the expected pressure). The estimated elevation is based on an inferred above-ground height and the local terrain elevation, and the expected pressure is based on the measurement of barometric pressure at the pressure reference and the estimated elevation. The location engine infers the height based on various techniques disclosed herein. The location engine can use the measurement bias to adjust subsequent pressure measurements reported by the wireless terminal, in order to generate an improved estimate of elevation of the wireless terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Zhu, Jerome Arthur Blaha, Jr., Scot Douglas Gordon, Jonathan Shiao-en Lu, Jeffrey Noel Wu
  • Patent number: 10367932
    Abstract: A location engine that estimates the barometric pressure measurement bias of a wireless terminal, resulting in an improved estimate of elevation of the wireless terminal. The location engine generates an estimate of measurement bias by comparing the barometric pressure measured by the wireless terminal while at that elevation and the barometric pressure that corresponds to an estimated elevation of the wireless terminal when it made the pressure measurement (i.e., the expected pressure). The estimated elevation is based on an inferred above-ground height and the local terrain elevation, and the expected pressure is based on the measurement of barometric pressure at the pressure reference and the estimated elevation. The location engine infers the height based on various techniques disclosed herein. The location engine can use the measurement bias to adjust subsequent pressure measurements reported by the wireless terminal, in order to generate an improved estimate of elevation of the wireless terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Zhu, Jerome Arthur Blaha, Jr., Scot Douglas Gordon, Jonathan Shiao-en Lu, Jeffrey Noel Wu
  • Publication number: 20190063568
    Abstract: An actuator includes an end fitting, a ball screw connected to the end fitting, a ball nut engaged with the ball screw, a rod disposed at least partially within the ball screw, and a rotating member engaged with the rod. A method of verifying an actuator may include rotating a manual input portion in a first direction under substantially no load until the manual input portion stops, rotating the manual input portion in a second, opposite direction until a first torque is measured, determining a first rotational angle at which the first torque was measured, rotating the manual input portion in the first direction until a second torque is measured, determining a second rotational angle at which the second torque was measured, and verifying a second load path if a backlash is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew M. Laskovy, Douglas A. Gordon, Derek P. Dougherty
  • Patent number: 10152748
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for calculating a housing volatility index. An exemplary embodiment includes accessing stored property value data reflecting first values of real estate properties during a first time period and second values of the real estate properties during a second time period. The second time period may be subsequent to the first time period. The property value data may be processed to identify the first values and the second values, and time intervals between dates of the first values and dates of the second values may be calculated. Value changes of the real estate properties over the time intervals may also be calculated, based on the first values and the second values. A volatility measure for the real estate properties may be determined based on the value changes of the real estate properties over the time intervals, and the volatility measure may be output to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
    Inventors: Menner Tatang, J. Douglas Gordon, Ming Xiong, Shaojie Chen
  • Patent number: 10137213
    Abstract: A disinfecting system including a delivery unit having a dental instrument holder, a dental instrument engagable with the dental instrument holder, a fluid supply line fluidly coupled to the dental instrument to provide fluid to the dental instrument, and a disinfecting device in fluid communication with at least one of the supply lines and the dental instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: KAVO DENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Thomas St. Louis, Nabil F. Dagher, Harold Thomas Lockamy, Douglas Gordon Knight
  • Patent number: 10077194
    Abstract: A disinfecting device including a conduit configured to carry a flowing liquid. The conduit has a first index of refraction. A sheath surrounds the conduit and has a second index of refraction. The second index of refraction is lower than the first index of refraction. The disinfecting device also includes a light source configured to produce disinfecting light and arranged to send the disinfecting light into the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: KAVO DENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Gordon Knight, Honson Ka-Ho Lam, Robert Thomas St. Louis, Nabil F. Dagher, Harold Thomas Lockamy
  • Publication number: 20180259614
    Abstract: A method for estimating the location of a wireless terminal is disclosed that is based on using: the known location of one or more devices, empirical data that indicates the relative position of the wireless terminal to the devices, and empirical data that indicates the relative position of the wireless terminal (which is at an unknown location) relative to other wireless terminals that are also at unknown locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicants: Polaris Wireless, Inc., Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Scot Douglas Gordon, Sayed Reza Monir Vaghefi, R. Michael Buehrer
  • Patent number: 10062112
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for calculating a housing volatility index. An exemplary embodiment includes accessing stored property value data reflecting first values of real estate properties during a first time period and second values of the real estate properties during a second time period. The second time period may be subsequent to the first time period. The property value data may be processed to identify the first values and the second values, and time intervals between dates of the first values and dates of the second values may be calculated. Value changes of the real estate properties over the time intervals may also be calculated, based on the first values and the second values. A volatility measure for the real estate properties may be determined based on the value changes of the real estate properties over the time intervals, and the volatility measure may be output to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)
    Inventors: Menner Tatang, J. Douglas Gordon, Ming Xiong, Shaojie Chen
  • Patent number: 10062110
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for calculating a housing volatility index. An exemplary embodiment includes accessing stored property value data reflecting first values of real estate properties during a first time period and second values of the real estate properties during a second time period. The second time period may be subsequent to the first time period. The property value data may be processed to identify the first values and the second values, and time intervals between dates of the first values and dates of the second values may be calculated. Value changes of the real estate properties over the time intervals may also be calculated, based on the first values and the second values. A volatility measure for the real estate properties may be determined based on the value changes of the real estate properties over the time intervals, and the volatility measure may be output to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)
    Inventors: Menner Tatang, J. Douglas Gordon, Ming Xiong, Shaojie Chen
  • Patent number: 10055788
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for calculating a housing volatility index. An exemplary embodiment includes accessing stored property value data reflecting first values of real estate properties during a first time period and second values of the real estate properties during a second time period. The second time period may be subsequent to the first time period. The property value data may be processed to identify the first values and the second values, and time intervals between dates of the first values and dates of the second values may be calculated. Value changes of the real estate properties over the time intervals may also be calculated, based on the first values and the second values. A volatility measure for the real estate properties may be determined based on the value changes of the real estate properties over the time intervals, and the volatility measure may be output to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Federal Home Loan Morgage Corporation
    Inventors: Menner Tatang, J. Douglas Gordon, Ming Xiong, Shaojie Chen
  • Patent number: 9989620
    Abstract: A method for estimating the location of a wireless terminal is disclosed that is based on using: the known location of one or more devices, empirical data that indicates the relative position of the wireless terminal to the devices, and empirical data that indicates the relative position of the wireless terminal (which is at an unknown location) relative to other wireless terminals that are also at unknown locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Scot Douglas Gordon, Sayed Reza Monir Vaghefi, R. Michael Buehrer
  • Patent number: 9900736
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that initiate mobile-terminated location requests in response to receiving an indication that an audio incident occurred at a given location. The mobile-terminated location requests are initiated for one or more mobile stations within a cell of a wireless network that is known to provide wireless service coverage to a geographic area that comprises the location of the audio incident. In response to the mobile-terminated location request, an estimate of the mobile station's current location is received. Based on the estimated current location of the mobile station relative to the location of the audio incident, the illustrative systems and methods may generate an association between the mobile station and the audio incident. When an association is generated, it is transmitted for possible further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Scot Douglas Gordon, Mahesh B. Patel, Bhavin Pankaj Shah