Patents by Inventor Edward Allen Valko

Edward Allen Valko 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).

  • Presence sensing
    Patent number: 10402624
    Abstract: One embodiment may take the form of a method of operating a computing device to provide presence based functionality. The method may include operating the computing device in a reduced power state and collecting a first set of data from a first sensor. Based on the first set of data, the computing device determines if an object is within a threshold distance of the computing device and, if the object is within the threshold distance, the device activates a secondary sensor to collect a second set of data. Based on the second set of data, the device determines if the object is a person. If the object is a person, the device determines a position of the person relative to the computing device and executes a change of state in the computing device based on the position of the person relative to the computing device. If the object is not a person, the computing device remains in a reduced power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Allen Valko, Matthew C. Waldon, Rudolph Van der Merwe, William Matthew Vieta, Myra M. Haggerty, Alex T. Nelson
  • Presence sensing
    Patent number: 10372191
    Abstract: One embodiment may take the form of a method of operating a computing device in a reduced power state and collecting a first set of data from at least one sensor. Based on the first set of data, the computing device determines a probability that an object is within a threshold distance of the computing device and, if so, the device activates at least one secondary sensor to collect a second set of data. Based on the second set of data, the device determines if the object is a person. If it is a person, a position of the person relative to the computing device is determined and the computing device changes its state based on the position of the person. If the object is not a person, the computing device remains in a reduced power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Allen Valko, Matt Waldon, Rudolph van der Merwe, William Matthew Vieta, Myra Haggerty, Alex T. Nelson, Karen Louise Jenkins, Scott Thomas Smith, Jan Erik Solem
  • Presence Sensing
    Publication number: 20170193282
    Abstract: One embodiment may take the form of a method of operating a computing device to provide presence based functionality. The method may include operating the computing device in a reduced power state and collecting a first set of data from a first sensor. Based on the first set of data, the computing device determines if an object is within a threshold distance of the computing device and, if the object is within the threshold distance, the device activates a secondary sensor to collect a second set of data. Based on the second set of data, the device determines if the object is a person. If the object is a person, the device determines a position of the person relative to the computing device and executes a change of state in the computing device based on the position of the person relative to the computing device. If the object is not a person, the computing device remains in a reduced power state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Edward Allen Valko, Matthew C. Waldon, Rudolph Van der Merwe, William Matthew Vieta, Myra M. Haggerty, Alex T. Nelson
  • Presence Sensing
    Publication number: 20120287035
    Abstract: One embodiment may take the form of a method of operating a computing device in a reduced power state and collecting a first set of data from at least one sensor. Based on the first set of data, the computing device determines a probability that an object is within a threshold distance of the computing device and, if so, the device activates at least one secondary sensor to collect a second set of data. Based on the second set of data, the device determines if the object is a person. If it is a person, a position of the person relative to the computing device is determined and the computing device changes its state based on the position of the person. If the object is not a person, the computing device remains in a reduced power state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Allen Valko, Matthew C. Waldon, Rudolph van der Merwe, William Matthew Vieta, Myra M. Haggerty, Alex T. Nelson, Karen Louise Jenkins, Scott Thomas Smith, Jan Erik Solem
  • PRESENCE SENSING
    Publication number: 20120287031
    Abstract: One embodiment may take the form of a method of operating a computing device to provide presence based functionality. The method may include operating the computing device in a reduced power state and collecting a first set of data from a first sensor. Based on the first set of data, the computing device determines if an object is within a threshold distance of the computing device and, if the object is within the threshold distance, the device activates a secondary sensor to collect a second set of data. Based on the second set of data, the device determines if the object is a person. If the object is a person, the device determines a position of the person relative to the computing device and executes a change of state in the computing device based on the position of the person relative to the computing device. If the object is not a person, the computing device remains in a reduced power state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Allen Valko, Matthew C. Waldon, Rudolph Van der Merwe, William Matthew Vieta, Myra M. Haggerty, Alex T. Nelson