Patents by Inventor Sean Simmons

Sean Simmons 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: 8897213
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating wirelessly from a mobile device to a remote receiver station is disclosed. The system includes a controller configured to monitor a status of the mobile device and, upon an initiation event, initiate a data transfer process to wirelessly communicate data to the remote receiver station. The system also includes a voice-band modem that, upon initiation of the data transfer process. The voice-band modem is configured to receive data for transfer to the remote receiver station, encode the data using a fountain code encoding protocol to form a series encoded packets, and repeatedly transmit the encoded packets until receiving an indication that the series of packets has been received at the receiving station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Stefan E. Janhunen, David S. Furbeck
  • Patent number: 8895230
    Abstract: The invention described herein is directed towards spin-on carbon materials comprising polyamic acid compositions and a crosslinker in a solvent system. The materials are useful in trilayer photolithography processes. Films made with the inventive compositions are not soluble in solvents commonly used in lithographic materials, such as, but not limited to PGME, PGMEA, and cyclohexanone. However, the films can be dissolved in developers commonly used in photolithography. In one embodiment, the films can be heated at high temperatures to improve the thermal stability for high temperature processing. Regardless of the embodiment, the material can be applied to a flat/planar or patterned surface. Advantageously, the material exhibits a wiggling resistance during pattern transfer to silicon substrate using fluorocarbon etch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Brewer Science Inc.
    Inventors: Vandana Krishnamurthy, Daniel M. Sullivan, Yubao Wang, Qin Lin, Sean Simmons
  • Patent number: 8848806
    Abstract: A method and system are described herein that a employ a lost frame concealment technique for processing data frames received during transmission over a communications channel. The lost frame concealment technique involves determining whether a current data frame is a bad frame, performing source decoding on the current data frame with one or more parameters that are limited by a first set of one or more values if the current data frame is a bad frame, and performing source decoding on the current data frame with one or more parameters that are not limited if the current data frame is a good frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Yiwen Liu
  • Patent number: 8843104
    Abstract: Methods that allow a mobile device to communicate with a wireless communications network via device-to-device communication when the device is out of range of the network are provided. One method, at a first mobile device, comprises receiving a message from a second mobile device, adding information to the message, forwarding the message to a network if a network connection is available for the first mobile device, and forwarding the message to a third mobile device if no network connection is available. Another method at a mobile device comprises receiving an indication that an emergency condition exists, sending a message from the device to a network element if a network connection between the mobile device and network element exists, and sending the message from the device to a second mobile device if no network connection between the mobile device and a network element exists. Mobile devices configured to perform these methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Sasan Adibi, Christopher Labrador, Sean Simmons
  • Patent number: 8842776
    Abstract: A receiver and associated method estimates a channel impulse response of the communications signal. A communications signal is received as a burst of transmitted symbols, including a known training sequence. The joint estimation of timing offset and initial channel impulse response is determined based on the cross-correlations of the known transmitted symbols and received communications signal. A constant modulus interference removal iteration is applied to improve the initial channel impulse estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Huan Wu, Sean Simmons, Zoltan Kemenczy
  • Patent number: 8799074
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cataloguing items such as maps and geospatial data sets store in a database information defining a geospatial region corresponding to each item and a size characteristic of the geospatial area. The database may be queried to identify items of interest by intersecting a search seed comprising one or more geospatial points lines or areas with the areas corresponding to the items. A result set containing items produced by a query may be ordered at least in part according to the size characteristics. In some embodiments the size characteristics comprise square roots of the areas of the geospatial regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Goldstream Publishing Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Simmons
  • Publication number: 20140133299
    Abstract: Method and associated apparatus for communicating data at reduced transmission latency in a radio communication system having a slotted interface are described. An example network device includes an assignor to receive an indication of an amount of data to be communicated by a first communication station, and assign communication resources to convey all of the indicated data amount, the assigned communication resources comprising a plurality of time slots within one time frame and one radio carrier and a data scheduler to receive an indication of assigned communication resources, and to schedule communication of the data block in conformity with the assigned communication resources and in response to a communication station minimum tuning latency period, wherein the schedule of the communication of the data block provides for completion of the communication of the data block and acknowledgement of successful delivery of the data block within the one time frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Mark PECEN, Mihal LAZARIDIS, Sean SIMMONS, Johanna DWYER
  • Patent number: 8689204
    Abstract: There are described tools and methodologies for building Read Only Memory (ROM) mask software images and the corresponding data/code patching software images. One method is for creating ROM mask content having patch references included therein whereby patch reference errors are detected and corrected. A software patch for a ROM mask with existing patch references may then automatically be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Conrad Kreek, Sean Simmons, Jacob Burkholder, Tran Phat, Jonathan Swoboda
  • Patent number: 8670495
    Abstract: Receivers and methods are provided that include multiple modes of processing signals from multiple antennas. These include legacy, SAIC (single antenna interference cancellation) and MSRD. Various methods are provided for selecting an appropriate receiver processing function. These include looking at correlation and gain imbalance between antennas, looking at the processing gain resulting from one or more of the receiver processing functions, and looking at the equalization quality of at least two receiver processing functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Huan Wu, Sean Simmons
  • Patent number: 8649319
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for allocating communication resources in a data radio communication system, such as an MAIO (Mobile Allocation Index Offset) communication system, e.g., a communication system that provides for Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE) data services. A multi-carrier radio resource control logic element includes an analyzer that analyzes communication resource requirements to carry out a communication service. A resource allocator allocates communication resources to be used by which to communicate the data. The communication resources are allocated across a plurality of radio carriers such that resources are allocated, during a particular time period, upon a single radio carrier of the plurality of radio carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Mark Pecen, Mihal Lazaridis, Sean Simmons
  • Patent number: 8634373
    Abstract: A method, and associated apparatus, facilitates the communication of data of a radio block by a sending station to a receiving station, within a single time frame. Communication resources are allocated within a single time frame across a plurality of radio carriers. And, the data corresponding to a radio block is scheduled for communication, and is communicated, within the single time frame. Reduced levels of latency relative to conventional operations is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Mark Pecen, Mihal Lazaridis, Sean Simmons, Johanna Dwyer
  • Publication number: 20130148705
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating wirelessly from a mobile device to a remote receiver station is disclosed. The system includes a controller configured to monitor a status of the mobile device and, upon an initiation event, initiate a data transfer process to wirelessly communicate data to the remote receiver station. The system also includes a voice-band modem that, upon initiation of the data transfer process. The voice-band modem is configured to receive data for transfer to the remote receiver station, encode the data to form a series of encoded packets, and transmit the encoded packets to the remote receiver station using a first modulation scheme. Thereafter, unless an indication that the series of packets has been received by at the receiving station is provided, the voice-band modem automatically retransmit the encoded packets to the remote receiver station using a second modulation scheme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Stefan E. Janhunen, David S. Furbeck
  • Publication number: 20130122818
    Abstract: A system and method to be used with first and second devices where the first and second devices are capable of communicating using a subset of different modulation schemes wherein the subset includes at least first and second different modulation schemes, the method for optimizing transmission of data from the first device to the second device, the method comprising the acts of at the first device, when data is to be transmitted from the first device to the second device, receiving at least a portion of a trigger signal from the second device wherein the transmitted trigger signal includes data transmitted using a sequence of at least two of the modulation schemes from the subset, the portion of the trigger signal received being a received trigger signal, analyzing the received trigger signal to identify one of the modulation schemes from the subset as a function of the received trigger signal as an initial modulation scheme to be used to transmit data to the second device and transmitting the data from the f
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Stefan E. Janhunen, David S. Furbeck
  • Patent number: 8408766
    Abstract: The present invention relates to surfacing material which may emit radiation in response to exposure to a given light source. Such surfacing material may be polymeric based, and e.g., fiber based, and may be used in relatively low-light areas, including low-light areas as applied to vehicular applications. The fiber-based or molded materials may emit radiation in response to exposure to a selected light source and may be used in relatively dimly lit areas. The materials may also provide a visible contrast to other objects located adjacent their surface which do not emit radiation. Optical brighteners and luminous particles may be included in the materials to make them luminous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc
    Inventors: Ernie Wilson, Mitchell Whitesell, Sean Simmons
  • Patent number: 8397110
    Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for estimating a bit error rate of data communicated to a receiving station of a digital communications system, such as a GSM/EDGE cellular communication system. Soft decision values, indicative of confidence levels that decided values have been correctly decided are compared with threshold values by a comparator. A count is accumulated by a counter whose counted value is representative of decided data values having low levels of confidence that the decided values are correct. The count value is used in the formulation of the BER estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Huan Wu
  • Patent number: 8391431
    Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for the receive part of a receiving station, such as a mobile station or other transceiver of a cellular communication system. Selection is made of filter characteristics to be exhibited by an adaptive, input noise whitening filter. A noise estimator estimates a noise component of a noise sequence. An autocorrelation estimator estimates the noise-component autocorrelation. A determination is made as to whether the autocorrelation exceeds a threshold. If so, filter characteristics are selected to cause the input noise whitening filter to operate to inject whitening noise into the received sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Huan Wu, Sean Simmons
  • Patent number: 8385947
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating wirelessly from a mobile device to a remote receiver station is disclosed. The system includes a controller configured to monitor a status of the mobile device and, upon an initiation event, initiate a data transfer process to wirelessly communicate data to the remote receiver station. The system also includes a voice-band modem that, upon initiation of the data transfer process. The voice-band modem is configured to receive data for transfer to the remote receiver station, encode the data to form a series of encoded packets, and transmit the encoded packets to the remote receiver station using a first modulation scheme. Thereafter, unless an indication that the series of packets has been received by at the receiving station is provided, the voice-band modem automatically retransmit the encoded packets to the remote receiver station using a second modulation scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Stefan E. Janhunen, David S. Furbeck
  • Publication number: 20130044628
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating wirelessly from a mobile device to a remote receiver station is disclosed. The system includes a controller configured to monitor a status of the mobile device and, upon an initiation event, initiate a data transfer process to wirelessly communicate data to the remote receiver station. The system also includes a voice-band modem that, upon initiation of the data transfer process is configured to receive data for transfer to the remote receiver station, divide the source data into a collection source packets, and encode the data using a fountain code encoding protocol to form a series of encoded packets. The voice band modem is also configured to transmit the series of encoded packets to the remote receiver station as a burst including all of the source data and repeatedly transmit the encoded packets until receiving an indication that the series of packets including all of the source data has been received at the receiving station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Stefan E. Janhunen, David S. Furbeck
  • Publication number: 20130017802
    Abstract: A method at a first mobile device, and the mobile device, the method receiving a message from a second mobile device; adding information to the message; forwarding the message to a network if a network connection is available for the first mobile device; and forwarding the message to a third mobile device if no network connection is available. Also a method at a mobile device, and a mobile device, the method receiving an indication that an emergency condition exists; sending a message from the device to a network element if a network connection between the mobile device and network element exists; and sending the message from the device to a second mobile device if no network connection between the mobile device and a network element exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Sasan ADIBI, Christopher LABRADOR, Sean SIMMONS
  • Patent number: 8351872
    Abstract: A system and method to be used with first and second devices where the first and second devices are capable of communicating using a subset of different modulation schemes wherein the subset includes at least first and second different modulation schemes, the method for optimizing transmission of data from the first device to the second device, the method comprising the acts of at the first device, when data is to be transmitted from the first device to the second device, receiving at least a portion of a trigger signal from the second device wherein the transmitted trigger signal includes data transmitted using a sequence of at least two of the modulation schemes from the subset, the portion of the trigger signal received being a received trigger signal, analyzing the received trigger signal to identify one of the modulation schemes from the subset as a function of the received trigger signal as an initial modulation scheme to be used to transmit data to the second device and transmitting the data from the f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Stefan E. Janhunen, David S. Furbeck