Patents by Inventor Robert Novak

Robert Novak 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: 20180027558
    Abstract: A method and system are provided having an uplink control structure and a pilot signal having minimal signal overhead for providing channel estimation and data demodulation in a wireless communication network. The uplink control structures enable mobile terminals to communicate with corresponding base stations to perform various functions including obtaining initial system access, submitting a bandwidth request, triggering a continuation of negotiated service, or providing a proposed allocation re-configuration header. A dedicated random access channel is provided to communicatively couple the base station and the mobile terminal so that the mobile terminal can select a random access signaling identification. A resource request is received at the base station to uplink resource information from the mobile terminal and an initial access information request is received from the mobile terminal to configure the base station connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Sophie Vrzic, Jun Yuan, Mo-Han Fong, Robert Novak, Dong-Sheng Yu, Jianglei Ma
  • Patent number: 9854462
    Abstract: A method of establishing communication links during a failure within a mobile communications network includes detecting disruptions in communications between a plurality of base stations and a plurality of mobile terminals. Survivability components are activated within the base station and the mobile terminal to operate in a survivability mode. The survivability mode enables communications and services to be provided by the surviving base stations to mobile terminals through activated survivability components. The alternate communication links may operate for as long as a disruption exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: David Gwyn Steer, Robert Novak
  • Publication number: 20170324517
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data in a multiple-input-multiple-output space-time coded communication using a mapping table mapping a plurality of symbols defining the communication to respective antennae from amongst a plurality of transmission antennae and to at least one other transmission resource. The mapping table may comprise Alamouti-coded primary segments and may also comprise secondary segments, comprising primary segments. The primary segments in the secondary segments may be defined in accordance to an Alamouti based code pattern applied at the segment level to define a segment-level Alamouti based code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Novak, Hosein Nikopourdeilami, Mo-Han Fong, Sophie Vrzic
  • Publication number: 20170325272
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for determining the proximity of client nodes within a wireless-enabled communication environment. A first client node comprises a database containing identification data associated with a plurality of wireless network access nodes and fingerprint data associated with the client node and a plurality of second client nodes. As the fingerprint information is updated, it is processed by the first client node to identify second client nodes that have matching, or similar, fingerprint information. Those that do are determined to be within a viable device-to-device (D2D) communication range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: David Gwyn Steer, Dongsheng Yu, Robert Novak
  • Patent number: 9794938
    Abstract: A method and system are provided having an uplink control structure and a pilot signal having minimal signal overhead for providing channel estimation and data demodulation in a wireless communication network. The uplink control structures enable mobile terminals to communicate with corresponding base stations to perform various functions including obtaining initial system access, submitting a bandwidth request, triggering a continuation of negotiated service, or providing a proposed allocation re-configuration header. A dedicated random access channel is provided to communicatively couple the base station and the mobile terminal so that the mobile terminal can select a random access signaling identification. A resource request is received at the base station to uplink resource information from the mobile terminal and an initial access information request is received from the mobile terminal to configure the base station connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sophie Vrzic, Jun Yuan, Mo-Han Fong, Robert Novak, Dong-Sheng Yu, Jianglei Ma
  • Publication number: 20170265178
    Abstract: To effectively and efficiently provide control information, a broadcast pointer channel (BPCH) may be used to identify the type and perhaps relative location of control information that is being provided in a given frame structure, such as a sub-frame, frame, or superframe. A sub-frame (or like framing entity, such a frame or superframe) may have a BPCH and a corresponding system control information segment in which control information may reside. The system control information segment may have any number of control information blocks, wherein each control information block that is present may correspond to a particular type of control information. The BPCH is used to identify the type of control information that is present in a corresponding system control information segment, and if needed or desired, the relative locations of the various control information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Mo-Han Fong, Hang Zhang, Sophie Vrzic, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan, Dong-Sheng Yu
  • Patent number: 9749994
    Abstract: Mechanisms for feedback of channel quality information (CQI) in a multi-carrier environment are disclosed. A mobile station may include one or more antennas, and a transceiver coupled to the one or more antennas. The transceiver may be configured to receive (e.g., simultaneously) signals on a plurality of carriers. Each of the carriers may include synchronization channels. The transceiver may be further configured to, for each of one or more of the carriers: generate channel quality information (CQI) for the carrier based on pilot signals in the carrier; transmit the CQI for the carrier. The one or more carriers for which CQI is generated and transmitted may be determined by configuration information received from a base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mo-Han Fong, Hang Zhang, Sophie Vrzic, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan, Dong-Sheng Yu
  • Patent number: 9742527
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data in a multiple-input-multiple-output space-time coded communication using a mapping table mapping a plurality of symbols defining the communication to respective antennae from amongst a plurality of transmission antennae and to at least one other transmission resource. The mapping table may comprise Alamouti-coded primary segments and may also comprise secondary segments, comprising primary segments. The primary segments in the secondary segments may be defined in accordance to an to Alamouti based code pattern applied at the segment level to define a segment-level Alamouti based code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Novak, Hosein Nikopourdeilami, Mo-Han Fong, Sophie Vrzic
  • Publication number: 20170222761
    Abstract: Methods described herein are for wireless communication systems. One aspect of the invention is directed to a method for a HARQ process, in which the HARQ process includes a first transmission of an encoder packet and at least one retransmission. The method involves allocating a transmission resource for each respective transmission. The method involves transmitting control information from a base station to a mobile station for each respective transmission. The control information includes information to uniquely identify the HARQ process and an identification of one of a time resource, a frequency resource and a time and frequency resource that is allocated for the transmission. In some embodiments of the invention, specific control information is signalled from a base station to a mobile station to enable RAS-HARQ operation. In some embodiments of the invention, retransmission signaling in included as part of regular unicast signaling used for both first transmission and retransmissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Mo-han Fong, Sophie Vrzic, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan, Dong-Sheng Yu
  • Publication number: 20170222762
    Abstract: Methods described herein are for wireless communication systems. One aspect of the invention is directed to a method for a HARQ process, in which the HARQ process includes a first transmission of an encoder packet and at least one retransmission. The method involves allocating a transmission resource for each respective transmission. The method involves transmitting control information from a base station to a mobile station for each respective transmission. The control information includes information to uniquely identify the HARQ process and an identification of one of a time resource, a frequency resource and a time and frequency resource that is allocated for the transmission. In some embodiments of the invention, specific control information is signalled from a base station to a mobile station to enable RAS-HARQ operation. In some embodiments of the invention, retransmission signaling in included as part of regular unicast signaling used for both first transmission and retransmissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Mo-han Fong, Sophie Vrzic, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan, Dong-Sheng Yu
  • Publication number: 20170208577
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses of a wireless communications network can involve transmitting, to a first user equipment (UE), configuration information for the first UE (UE1 configuration information) for an inter-device session (IDS) between the first UE and a second UE. The UE1 configuration information may include a first IDS radio network temporary identifier (IDS-RNTI).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Robert NOVAK, Biswaroop MUKHERJEE, William Anthony GAGE
  • Publication number: 20170207888
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for allocating time-frequency resources for downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) communications between base stations and mobile stations. Different forms of resource allocation messages including combinations of bitmaps and bitfields provide additional information about the resources and/or how they are assigned. In some implementations the resource allocation messages enable reduced overhead, which may ultimately improve transmission rates and/or the quality of transmissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Novak, Mo-Han Fong, Hang Zhang, Sophie Vrzic
  • Patent number: 9699589
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses can involve receiving, from a network node, a radio resource control (RRC) configuration message that includes configuration information for a first user equipment (UE) for an inter-device session (IDS) between the first UE and a second UE, the UE1 configuration information including an inter-device session (IDS) radio network identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Robert Novak, William Anthony Gage, Biswaroop Mukherjee
  • Publication number: 20170180081
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data in a multiple-input-multiple-output space-time coded communication using a mapping table mapping a plurality of symbols defining the communication to respective antennae from amongst a plurality of transmission antennae and to at least one other transmission resource. The mapping table may comprise Alamouti-coded primary segments and may also comprise secondary segments, comprising primary segments. The primary segments in the secondary segments may be defined in accordance to an to Alamouti based code pattern applied at the segment level to define a segment-level Alamouti based code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Novak, Hosein Nikopourdeilami, Mo-Han Fong, Sophie Vrzic
  • Patent number: 9686773
    Abstract: To effectively and efficiently provide control information, a broadcast pointer channel (BPCH) may be used to identify the type and perhaps relative location of control information that is being provided in a given frame structure, such as a sub-frame, frame, or superframe. A sub-frame (or like framing entity, such a frame or superframe) may have a BPCH and a corresponding system control information segment in which control information may reside. The system control information segment may have any number of control information blocks, wherein each control information block that is present may correspond to a particular type of control information. The BPCH is used to identify the type of control information that is present in a corresponding system control information segment, and if needed or desired, the relative locations of the various control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mo-Han Fong, Hang Zhang, Sophie Vrzic, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan, Dong-Sheng Yu
  • Patent number: 9673932
    Abstract: Transmission of uplink control message for a wireless system. The uplink control message may be encoded according to one of multiple possible schemes. The choice of encoding scheme may be made based on the control message size and/or based on the available transmission resources and/or based on the detection scheme used on the receiving end. A modulation scheme may also be selected based on such factors. CDM may be used for certain control messages. Block code encoding, such as Reed-Muller encoding may be used for certain control messages. Different transmission resources may be allocated for different control message uses. The encoding specifics may be selected to obtain a certain hamming distance and/or size of the encoded message or based on other factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Dong-Sheng Yu, Hosein Nikopour, Sophie Vrzic, Mo-Han Fong, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan
  • Patent number: 9668269
    Abstract: A multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) communication system comprising a master base station and a slave base station. The master base station has a plurality of transmit antennas and transmits a first set of data to a mobile station in a first transmission. The slave base station has a plurality of transmit antennas and transmits a second set of data to the mobile station in the first transmission. The master base station retransmits the second set of data to the mobile station during a first retransmission and the slave base station retransmits the first set of data to the mobile station during the first retransmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Kelvin Kar-Kin Au, Mo-Han Fong, Sophie Vrzic, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan
  • Patent number: 9655082
    Abstract: To effectively and efficiently provide control information, a broadcast pointer channel (BPCH) may be used to identify the type and perhaps relative location of control information that is being provided in a given frame structure, such as a sub-frame, frame, or superframe. A sub-frame (or like framing entity, such a frame or superframe) may have a BPCH and a corresponding system control information segment in which control information may reside. The system control information segment may have any number of control information blocks, wherein each control information block that is present may correspond to a particular type of control information. The BPCH is used to identify the type of control information that is present in a corresponding system control information segment, and if needed or desired, the relative locations of the various control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mo-Han Fong, Hang Zhang, Sophie Vrzic, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan, Dong-Sheng Yu
  • Patent number: 9654258
    Abstract: Methods described herein are for wireless communication systems. One aspect of the invention is directed to a method for a HARQ process, in which the HARQ process includes a first transmission of an encoder packet and at least one retransmission. The method involves allocating a transmission resource for each respective transmission. The method involves transmitting control information from a base station to a mobile station for each respective transmission. The control information includes information to uniquely identify the HARQ process and an identification of one of a time resource, a frequency resource and a time and frequency resource that is allocated for the transmission. In some embodiments of the invention, specific control information is signalled from a base station to a mobile station to enable RAS-HARQ operation. In some embodiments of the invention, retransmission signaling in included as part of regular unicast signaling used for both first transmission and retransmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mo-Han Fong, Sophie Vrzic, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan, Dong-Sheng Yu
  • Patent number: 9635657
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses of a wireless communications network can involve transmitting, to a first user equipment (UE), configuration information for the first UE (UE1 configuration information) for an inter-device session (IDS) between the first UE and a second UE. The UE1 configuration information may include a first IDS radio network temporary identifier (IDS-RNTI). A radio resource control (RRC) message indicating a resource allocation can be transmitted to the first UE for the first UE to communicate directly with the second UE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Robert Novak, William Anthony Gage, Biswaroop Mukherjee