Patents by Inventor Michael James Hartman

Michael James Hartman 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: 8509129
    Abstract: A system for setting WLAN node operating parameters includes at least one access point (AP) radio and a plurality of nodes in wireless communication with the AP radio according to media access control (MAC) parameters. Each of the plurality of nodes has a quality of service (QoS) threshold for wireless communication with the AP radio that is a function of the MAC parameters and includes a controller configured to provide individualized control of the MAC parameters. The controller is programmed to measure current settings for at least a portion of the MAC parameters for the node, input the current settings for those MAC parameters of the node into a WLAN system model to generate a system model output, and adapt a setting of at least one of the MAC parameters for the node to meet the QoS threshold for the node based on the system model output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Budhaditya Deb, Michael James Hartman, David Michael Davenport, Matthew George Grubis
  • Patent number: 8483240
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods for relaying messages between nodes in a network (e.g. a wireless network) are provided. In accordance with certain exemplary embodiments, substantially simultaneous communications between nodes may be accomplished. At least one secondary message may be piggybacked onto a primary message. Messages in the network may be queued and sent from a transmitter to at least one receiver based at least in part on the signal-to-noise ratio(s) of the receiver nodes with respect to the transmitter. The queuing of the messages may be performed in dependence on a link set that indicates which messages are capable of piggyback communications. Thus, it may be possible to realize a network that reduces collision problems, reduces delays in communications, and/or increases throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael James Hartman, Harold Woodruff Tomlinson, Jr., John Erik Hershey
  • Publication number: 20130101116
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems of using division-free duplexing (DFD) in a cable communication network. Techniques for applying DFD in a cable communication network may enable data to be transmitted and received over a coaxial cable without using division duplexing techniques. For example, the cable communication network may include DFD enabled network nodes and each subscriber to the cable network may be equipped with a DFD system configured to operate in a DFD mode. In some embodiments, oppositely propagating signals may be transmitted over one frequency channel, and DFD techniques may be used to recover originally transmitted signals. Further, in some embodiments, DFD techniques may be used with encryption methods to increase the security of data transmitted in the cable communication network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael James Hartman, John Erik Hershey, Richard Louis Zinser
  • Patent number: 8423196
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus including a distribution transformer having a communication module. The distribution transformer is configured to convert a first high voltage electricity from a high voltage distribution line to a first low voltage electricity and convert a second low voltage electricity from a low voltage power line to a second high voltage electricity. The communication module is programmed to provide time data representing time of day information along the low voltage power line to an electrical device and provide location data representing location information along the low voltage power line to the electrical device. The location information includes a geographic location of the distribution transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Erik Hershey, Michael James Hartman, Robert Dean King, Richard Louis Zinser, John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno
  • Patent number: 8379584
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems of using division-free duplexing (DFD) to reduce rendezvous time between two or more cognitive radio devices. The cognitive radio devices may opportunistically use available frequency spectra by communicating over available channels. To communicate, a first device may rendezvous with a second device by transmitting a beaconing signal over a frequency on which the second device is listening. DFD techniques may enable each of the devices to listen to a channel while concurrently transmitting beacon signals over the same channel. As periods of listening and periods of transmitting over the same channel need not be separated due to the transmitter cancelling approach used in DFD techniques, rendezvous time may be significantly reduced. Further, embodiments include a generalized DFD (GDFD) approach wherein devices listen to a broad band of frequencies, thus further reducing rendezvous time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael James Hartman, John Erik Hershey, Richard Louis Zinser, John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael J. Dell'Anno
  • Patent number: 8340833
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus including a distribution transformer having a communications module. The distribution transformer is configured to convert a first high voltage electricity from a high voltage distribution line to a first low voltage electricity and convey the first low voltage electricity along a low voltage line to an electrical device. The communications module is configured to transmit a load reduction request along the low voltage line to the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Erik Hershey, Michael James Hartman, Robert Dean King, Richard Louis Zinser, John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno
  • Publication number: 20120307617
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for increasing spectral efficiency over data channels in a storage or communication system. In some embodiments, data may be encoded and transmitted over multiple channels. The transmitted data from the multiple channels may be considered together as a channel bundle, thereby increasing the edge transitions of the group of signals to improve clock recovery and reduce coding constraints. In some embodiments, the channel bit size is reduced to maximize data rates based on the reduced coding constraints. Furthermore, the channel bundle has only one channel with timing markers, so that a receiver may receive information from the channel bundle and recover clocking based on the timing markers in the one channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael James Hartman, John Erik Hershey, Richard Louis Zinser, Xiaolei Shi
  • Patent number: 8315630
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems of managing a handoff in a multimedia communication network. Embodiments include estimating the voice quality of a communication route in the network. The voice quality may be estimated by using a total voice quality metric involving subtracting various impairments to the voice signal. Impairments may result from the type of vocoder in a communication route, the error or loss associated with RF links and network links, and delays in the communication route. After subtracting the impairments to obtain the total voice quality metric for the communication route, the total voice quality metric may be compared with a threshold and/or other total voice quality metrics of other communication routes to determine whether and when a handoff should be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Louis Zinser, Michael James Hartman, John Erik Hershey
  • Publication number: 20120253847
    Abstract: Health information communications systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes one or more medical sensors providing one or more health information data types. The system further includes a patient communications device coupled to at least one medical sensor over a communications network. Particularly, the patient communications device includes a patient quality of service (QoS) manager that dynamically specifies a set of data quality management parameters for transporting at least some of the health information and modifies at least some of the health information into value factored health information. Additionally, the system includes a specialist communications device communicatively coupled to the patient communication device over the communications network. The specialist communications device includes a specialist QoS manager that provides measured channel characteristics to the patient communications device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Dell'Anno, Michael James Hartman, Robert James Mitchell, JR., John Anderson Fergus Ross, Stanislava Soro, John Erik Hershey
  • Patent number: 8199681
    Abstract: A full-duplex RF communication system and corresponding methods use digital adaptive filters for interference cancellation. As provided, the techniques allow full-duplex radio frequency communication without frequency-, time-, or code-division multiplexing and without the use of hardware RF cancellers. Such techniques may be useful for wireless communication, such a cellular communication, radio communication, broadcasting, short-range point-to-point communication, wireless sensor networks, and wireless computer networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Louis Zinser, Michael James Hartman, John Erik Hershey, John Anderson Fergus Ross
  • Publication number: 20120068802
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus including a distribution transformer having a communication module. The distribution transformer is configured to convert a first high voltage electricity from a high voltage distribution line to a first low voltage electricity and convert a second low voltage electricity from a low voltage power line to a second high voltage electricity. The communication module is programmed to provide time data representing time of day information along the low voltage power line to an electrical device and provide location data representing location information along the low voltage power line to the electrical device. The location information includes a geographic location of the distribution transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: John Erik Hershey, Michael James Hartman, Robert Dean King, Richard Louis Zinser, John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno
  • Patent number: 8104672
    Abstract: System, device and methods that provide proximate environmental and security intelligence to a guard making a security tour or round in an installation, as well as that provide for certifying that the guard has visited designated and known checkpoints on or about the times at which the guard is expected at those checkpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert James Mitchell, Jr., Bruce Gordon Barnett, Ewa Margaret Pigna, Kerry Bonin, Michael James Hartman, John Erik Hershey, Russell Miles, Timothy McClure, Marcin Kolasinski
  • Patent number: 8102148
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus including a distribution transformer having a communication module. The distribution transformer is configured to convert a first high voltage electricity from a high voltage distribution line to a first low voltage electricity and convert a second low voltage electricity from a low voltage power line to a second high voltage electricity. The communication module is programmed to provide time data representing time of day information along the low voltage power line to an electrical device and provide location data representing location information along the low voltage power line to the electrical device. The location information includes a geographic location of the distribution transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Erik Hershey, Michael James Hartman, Robert Dean King, Richard Louis Zinser, John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno
  • Publication number: 20110255448
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems of using division-free duplexing (DFD) to reduce rendezvous time between two or more cognitive radio devices. The cognitive radio devices may opportunistically use available frequency spectra by communicating over available channels. To communicate, a first device may rendezvous with a second device by transmitting a beaconing signal over a frequency on which the second device is listening. DFD techniques may enable each of the devices to listen to a channel while concurrently transmitting beacon signals over the same channel. As periods of listening and periods of transmitting over the same channel need not be separated due to the transmitter cancelling approach used in DFD techniques, rendezvous time may be significantly reduced. Further, embodiments include a generalized DFD (GDFD) approach wherein devices listen to a broad band of frequencies, thus further reducing rendezvous time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael James Hartman, John Erik Hershey, Richard Louis Zinser, John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael J. Dell'Anno
  • Publication number: 20110249596
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems of using division-free duplexing (DFD) in a communication network. Techniques for applying DFD in a communication network may decrease bottlenecks in the network by allowing one or more network nodes to transmit and on substantially the same frequency and at substantially the same time. In one embodiment, one or more nodes in the network may be DFD enabled, and may be configured to operate in either a conventional mode or a DFD mode. The mode of operation of DFD enabled nodes may depend on the quality of signals transmitted to and/or received at the DFD enabled nodes. Further, the mode of operation may change dynamically, and may be substantially controlled by any suitable processor in the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael James Hartman, John Erik Hershey, Richard Louis Zinser
  • Publication number: 20110241814
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus including a distribution transformer having a communication module. The distribution transformer is configured to convert a first high voltage electricity from a high voltage distribution line to a first low voltage electricity and convert a second low voltage electricity from a low voltage power line to a second high voltage electricity. The communication module is programmed to provide time data representing time of day information along the low voltage power line to an electrical device and provide location data representing location information along the low voltage power line to the electrical device. The location information includes a geographic location of the distribution transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: John Erik Hershey, Michael James Hartman, Robert Dean King, Richard Louis Zinser, John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno
  • Publication number: 20110241647
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus including a distribution transformer having a communications module. The distribution transformer is configured to convert a first high voltage electricity from a high voltage distribution line to a first low voltage electricity and convey the first low voltage electricity along a low voltage line to an electrical device. The communications module is configured to transmit a load reduction request along the low voltage line to the electrical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: John Erik Hershey, Michael James Hartman, Robert Dean King, Richard Louis Zinser, John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno
  • Publication number: 20110231155
    Abstract: A method and a system for configuring a sensor chassis are presented. In the presented method, a set of parameters may be remotely received by the sensor chassis for compressively sampling an input signal. Further, a compressive sampling protocol for compressively sampling the input signal may be dynamically determined based on the remotely received set of parameters. Particularly, the compressive sampling protocol may be dynamically determined for achieving a desired sampling performance. Subsequently, the input signal is compressively sampled according to the determined compressive sampling protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John Erik Hershey, Michael James Hartman, Richard Louis Zinser, John Anderson Fergus Ross
  • Publication number: 20110221387
    Abstract: A system and method for electrical charging is disclosed. The electrical charging system comprises a first charging coil and an energy storage device coupled to the first charging coil. The energy charging system further comprises an energy charging station comprising a second charging coil disposed on a movable positioner, wherein the second charging coil is coupleable to an electrical energy source, at least one drive mechanism configured to translate the movable positioned, and a system controller. The system controller is configured to detect an event indicative of a proximity of the first charging coil to the energy charging station, translate the movable positioner such that the second charging coil is substantially aligned with, and closely spaced apart from, the first charging coil to form an electrical transformer, and initiate a charging cycle configured to transfer electrical energy to the at least one energy storage device via the electrical transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Louis Steigerwald, John Erik Hershey, Michael James Hartman, Robert Dean King
  • Publication number: 20110222508
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems of managing a handoff in a multimedia communication network. Embodiments include estimating the voice quality of a communication route in the network. The voice quality may be estimated by using a total voice quality metric involving subtracting various impairments to the voice signal. Impairments may result from the type of vocoder in a communication route, the error or loss associated with RF links and network links, and delays in the communication route. After subtracting the impairments to obtain the total voice quality metric for the communication route, the total voice quality metric may be compared with a threshold and/or other total voice quality metrics of other communication routes to determine whether and when a handoff should be made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Louis Zinser, Michael James Hartman, John Erik Hershey