Patents by Inventor Leonard C. Nieman

Leonard C. Nieman 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: 20190191267
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to an apparatus for communicating between a user device and a vehicle infotainment system. In particular, the system includes a near field antenna with near transparent conductors applied to a video display image such that the near field antenna is constructed from nearly transparent or color matched conductors and wherein the antenna is applied to the video display surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: William H Wang, Eray Yasan, Timothy J Talty, Daniel G Hool, Leonard C Nieman, Duane S Carper, James H Schaffner, Hyok Jae Song
  • Publication number: 20190191266
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to an apparatus for communicating between a user device and a vehicle infotainment system. In particular, the system includes a near field antenna fabricated from a wire wrapped ferrite core located along an edge of a video display unit under trim piece surrounding the video display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: William H. Wang, Eray Yasan, Timothy J. Talty, Daniel G. Hool, Leonard C. Nieman, Duane S. Carper, James H. Schaffner, Hyok Jae Song
  • Publication number: 20190123952
    Abstract: In one aspect, the technology includes a portable system, for providing add-on resources to a host device, such as a vehicle host device. The portable system includes a portable-system resource, which in various embodiments is at least partially a part of a portable-system data storage. The data storage includes at least one companion application that, when executed, provides, based on operation of the portable-system resource, host-device output for use at the host device, wherein the host-device output is output that the host device could not produce on its own or is supplemental to output that the host device can produce on its own. Example portable-system resources include a central-processing unit, a graphics processor, an application shop, an app-refresh program, security or hardware accelerators, and a speech recognition or three-dimensional rendering program. The technology in various embodiments also includes the host device described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Robert A. Hrabak, Donald K. Grimm, Fan Bai, Dan Shan, Leonard C. Nieman, Karen Juzswik
  • Publication number: 20180260853
    Abstract: Disclosed are algorithms for provisioning content browsing and personalized advertising using hybrid collaborative filters, electronic audiovisual systems implementing such browsing and advertising algorithms, and motor vehicles with onboard audiovisual infotainment systems for provisioning content browsing. A method is disclosed for provisioning content browsing to an occupant of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: Cagdas Karatas, Fan Bai, Leonard C. Nieman
  • Patent number: 9830396
    Abstract: A crowd sensing system includes a central entity and remote entities. The remote entities receive queries from the central entity and transmit data to the central entity in response to the query. The sample data obtained from the queried remote entity is analyzed and an average value for the sample data is determined for a current time interval. The central entity determines whether a difference between the average values for the current time interval and a previous time interval is greater than a predetermined threshold. The central entity increases the number of entities in response to the difference being greater than the predetermined threshold, and decreases the respective number of remote entities sampled in response to the difference being less than the predetermined threshold. The central entity queries a number of remote entities in the plurality of regions equal to the adjusted number of samples identified by the central entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Fan Bai, Donald K. Grimm, Leonard C. Nieman
  • Patent number: 9612127
    Abstract: A method of determining ride share compatibility. Vehicle data acquisition devices are employed to collect user attribute information relating to a travel route and locations traveled by the operator. The attribute information includes regularity data, frequency data, and duration data. A regression analysis is applied by a processor for using the regularity data, the frequency data, and the duration data, for identifying an importance probability of each of the locations visited by the operator. A match is determined between the operator and a potential travel partner traveling to locations in proximity to the locations traveled by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Fan Bai, Donald K. Grimm, Leonard C. Nieman
  • Publication number: 20170026684
    Abstract: Distributed, duplexing, arrangements include a portable system and a host device. The portable system and the host device are configured in various embodiments to receive user input and, in response, affect a feature of itself or send a message to the other to alter a feature of the other. The portable system divides a source video file or a virtualized source video into a plurality of image components, and sends them to the host device for publishing of the image components sequentially for real-time display rendering of streaming video by way of the host device and a display component. The portable system can generate a meta-index package, wherein each constituent index component corresponds to a respective image component, and can send the image components as part of a circular data-content package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Dan Shan, Fan Bai, Leonard C. Nieman, Donald K. Grimm, Karen Juzswik
  • Publication number: 20170026694
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in rendering media in real-time by way of a distributed arrangement comprising a portable system and a host device. The apparatus includes a processing hardware unit and a non-transitory storage device comprising code causing the processing hardware unit to select a multi-tier frame-buffering technique, of a plurality of optional multi-tier frame-buffering techniques, to use for processing media data at the portable system and transferring the media data, as processed, from the portable system to the host device. The code also causes the processing hardware unit to initiate transferring, according to the selected frame-buffering technique, the processed media data by the portable system to the host device for processing at the host device for rendering the media. The apparatus in various embodiments includes the portable system and/or the host device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Fan Bai, Dan Shan, Leonard C. Nieman, Donald K. Grimm, Karen Juzswik
  • Patent number: 9554249
    Abstract: A system comprising a processor and comprising computer-executable instructions that cause a processor to perform operations comprising determining that user-system location data is needed by an application running at a user device. Operations of the system further include determining a first user-system location and determining a privacy parameter based on a location-accuracy requirement associated with the application. The operations further include generating, based on the privacy parameter and the first user-system location, privacy-adjusted location data indicating a second user-system location being less accurate than the first user-system location by an amount corresponding to a value of the privacy parameter. The operations also include providing the privacy-adjusted location data to a destination for use in providing a location-dependent service by way of the application at the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Fan Bai, Donald K. Grimm, Leonard C. Nieman, Robert A. Hrabak
  • Publication number: 20160328197
    Abstract: A method for rendering vehicle information includes receiving from an application of a user device a request for information. The request identifies the application requesting vehicle information. A filter is applied to determine whether the requested information is allowable information. The allowable information includes information that the vehicle is authorized to output to the user device. A format-type of information is determined to be output to the user device. A quality level of information is determined to provide to the user device. The quality level of information determined as a function of variable parameters in response to the requested information being allowable information. The vehicle information is processed as a function of the quality level of information and the format-type of information. The processed vehicle information is output to the user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: FAN BAI, DONALD K. GRIMM, LEONARD C. NIEMAN, ROBERT A. HRABAK, CEM U. SARAYDAR
  • Publication number: 20160316332
    Abstract: A system comprising a processor and comprising computer-executable instructions that cause a processor to perform operations comprising determining that user-system location data is needed by an application running at a user device. Operations of the system further include determining a first user-system location and determining a privacy parameter based on a location-accuracy requirement associated with the application. The operations further include generating, based on the privacy parameter and the first user-system location, privacy-adjusted location data indicating a second user-system location being less accurate than the first user-system location by an amount corresponding to a value of the privacy parameter. The operations also include providing the privacy-adjusted location data to a destination for use in providing a location-dependent service by way of the application at the user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: FAN BAI, DONALD K. GRIMM, LEONARD C. NIEMAN, ROBERT A. HRABAK
  • Patent number: 9477989
    Abstract: A system and method for sharing information from a vehicle for comparison to information from other vehicles. The system and method include collecting vehicle trace data and sharing the vehicle trace data using a communications network such that the vehicle trace data is compared and ranked relative to the vehicle trace data of other vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Donald K. Grimm, Fan Bai, Leonard C. Nieman, Robert A. Hrabak
  • Patent number: 9430476
    Abstract: A method and system for recommending applications to users of in-vehicle infotainment systems are disclosed. Application rating data from many road vehicle infotainment system users are collected on a central server, including both explicit ratings and implicit ratings. Implicit ratings may be calculated based on application usage data. The user/application rating data is filtered for relevance, and then analyzed to determine inferred ratings for user/application relationships where no rating exists. The inferred ratings are calculated using both a user-driven consensus rating calculation and an application-driven consensus rating calculation. The inferred ratings, along with optional cyberspace-based external inputs, are used to synthesize application recommendations for users. The synthesized recommendations for application consideration are provided to the appropriate user via downloading from the central server to the infotainment system in the user's vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Fan Bai, Donald K. Grimm, Massimo Osella, Leonard C. Nieman, Robert A. Hrabak
  • Publication number: 20160124976
    Abstract: A crowd sensing system includes a central entity and remote entities. The remote entities receive queries from the central entity and transmit data to the central entity in response to the query. The sample data obtained from the queried remote entity is analyzed and an average value for the sample data is determined for a current time interval. The central entity determines whether a difference between the average values for the current time interval and a previous time interval is greater than a predetermined threshold. The central entity increases the number of entities in response to the difference being greater than the predetermined threshold, and decreases the respective number of remote entities sampled in response to the difference being less than the predetermined threshold. The central entity queries a number of remote entities in the plurality of regions equal to the adjusted number of samples identified by the central entity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Fan Bai, Donald K. Grimm, Leonard C. Nieman
  • Publication number: 20160025507
    Abstract: A method of determining ride share compatibility. Vehicle data acquisition devices are employed to collect user attribute information relating to a travel route and locations traveled by the operator. The attribute information includes regularity data, frequency data, and duration data. A regression analysis is applied by a processor for using the regularity data, the frequency data, and the duration data, for identifying an importance probability of each of the locations visited by the operator. A match is determined between the operator and a potential travel partner traveling to locations in proximity to the locations traveled by the operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: FAN BAI, DONALD K. GRIMM, LEONARD C. NIEMAN
  • Publication number: 20160019651
    Abstract: A system and method for sharing information from a vehicle for comparison to information from other vehicles. The system and method include collecting vehicle trace data and sharing the vehicle trace data using a communications network such that the vehicle trace data is compared and ranked relative to the vehicle trace data of other vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Donald K. Grimm, Fan Bai, Leonard C. Nieman, Robert A. Hrabak
  • Publication number: 20150262198
    Abstract: A method and system for tracking and predicting usage trends for in-vehicle infotainment system applications are disclosed. Application usage data are collected in the infotainment systems of many road vehicles. Vehicle context relevance indicators are also provided, using data from the vehicle CAN bus or other data bus. The context relevance indicators—which indicate vehicle contextual situations such as traffic and weather conditions, presence of back seat passengers, length of driving trip, etc.—are cross-referenced to the application usage data to determine which applications are likely to be used in which situations. Application usage data and application/context correlation data from many vehicles are collected on a central server and analyzed to provide various metrics which are indicative of application usage trends. The application usage trend data can be used by vehicle manufacturers to optimize future infotainment system designs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: FAN BAI, DONALD K. GRIMM, MASSIMO OSELLA, ROBERT A. HRABAK, LEONARD C. NIEMAN
  • Publication number: 20150261754
    Abstract: A method and system for recommending applications to users of in-vehicle infotainment systems are disclosed. Application rating data from many road vehicle infotainment system users are collected on a central server, including both explicit ratings and implicit ratings. Implicit ratings may be calculated based on application usage data. The user/application rating data is filtered for relevance, and then analyzed to determine inferred ratings for user/application relationships where no rating exists. The inferred ratings are calculated using both a user-driven consensus rating calculation and an application-driven consensus rating calculation. The inferred ratings, along with optional cyberspace-based external inputs, are used to synthesize application recommendations for users. The synthesized recommendations for application consideration are provided to the appropriate user via downloading from the central server to the infotainment system in the user's vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Fan Bai, Donald K. Grimm, Massimo Osella, Leonard C. Nieman, Robert A. Hrabak
  • Publication number: 20140303806
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method, for providing a relevant information set, based on vehicle crowd data, to vehicles. The method includes receiving, from a plurality of participating vehicles, vehicle crowd data relating to a condition sensed by the participating vehicles in a geographic area, yielding received vehicle crowd data. In one embodiment, the condition includes at least one pre-identified condition selected from a group consisting of cruise-control engagement, road hazard, icy road, other slick-road condition, and vehicle-security violation. The method also includes filtering the received vehicle crowd data, yielding relevant vehicle crowd data, and constructing, by the device, using the relevant vehicle crowd data, the relevant information set. The method further includes sending the relevant information set for delivery to one or more user vehicles associated with the geographic area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: FAN BAI, DONALD K. GRIMM, LEONARD C. NIEMAN, ROBERT A. HRABAK
  • Patent number: 8526930
    Abstract: A system and method for configuring communications between a wireless device and a vehicle telematics unit over a short-range wireless communication link includes receiving a serial port profile (SPP) software application at a wireless device from a central facility; storing the SPP software application at the wireless device; identifying third-party software applications stored on the wireless device using the SPP software application; sending the identity of the third-party software applications to the central facility; and communicating between the wireless device and a vehicle telematics unit via a short-range wireless communication link using the stored SPP software application and data transmitted using one or more software templates that have been received by the vehicle telematics unit in response to the identity of the third-party software applications sent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gary A. Watkins, Richard C. Vanitvelt, Leonard C. Nieman