Patents by Inventor Steven Swanson

Steven Swanson 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: 20230223783
    Abstract: An arrangement for powering a mobile device with a fast charge discharge power source such as a supercapacitor without reliance on resistors to protect device electronics from comparatively high supercapacitor current discharge rates. The arrangement protects device electronics by coordinating a switch with a charge controller to balance recharge of a battery electronically coupled to the supercapacitor. The arrangement and techniques utilized result in a substantially continuous trickle charging of the battery from the supercapacitor. In this way, the battery is continuously charged so long as the supercapacitor holds power and the battery remains the safe medium through which device electronics are powered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Lubomir Parobek, Steven Swanson
  • Patent number: 11038942
    Abstract: A content streaming system and methodology for facilitating the management of adaptive bitrate streaming bundles in content streaming. The management of the adaptive bitrate streaming bundles can include the utilization of an efficiency matrix that associates meta-data associated with the delivery of content streaming data with available bitrate encodings or bitrate/format combinations. The adaptive bitrate streaming bundles can be sent and managed at edge locations in the network. The content streaming system can then manage bitrate manifests to dynamically change encoding bitrates or bitrate/format combinations offered to clients based on network conditions, client attributes, content attributes, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Olaf Nielsen, Steven Swanson
  • Publication number: 20200228588
    Abstract: A content streaming system and methodology for facilitating the management of adaptive bitrate streaming bundles in content streaming. The management of the adaptive bitrate streaming bundles can include the utilization of an efficiency matrix that associates meta-data associated with the delivery of content streaming data with available bitrate encodings or bitrate/format combinations. The adaptive bitrate streaming bundles can be sent and managed at edge locations in the network. The content streaming system can then manage bitrate manifests to dynamically change encoding bitrates or bitrate/format combinations offered to clients based on network conditions, client attributes, content attributes, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Olaf Nielsen, Steven Swanson
  • Patent number: 10659512
    Abstract: A content streaming system and methodology for facilitating the management of adaptive bitrate streaming bundles in content streaming. The management of the adaptive bitrate streaming bundles can include the utilization of an efficiency matrix that associates meta-data associated with the delivery of content streaming data with available bitrate encodings or bitrate/format combinations. The adaptive bitrate streaming bundles can be sent and managed at edge locations in the network. The content streaming system can then manage bitrate manifests to dynamically change encoding bitrates or bitrate/format combinations offered to clients based on network conditions, client attributes, content attributes, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Olaf Nielsen, Steven Swanson
  • Patent number: 10516911
    Abstract: Media content relating to an event can be obtained from multiple sources, such as multiple client devices associated with various users. The uploaded media can be associated with an event or identified as related to an event based upon location and timing information. The obtained media can be analyzed, and one or more filters applied to remove clips that do not satisfy certain selection criteria. Selected clips are ordered sequentially and synchronized by time code, and at least a primary audio track obtained from the devices is selected and synchronized with the video content. The content can be arranged per a determined layout, stitched together, and encoded into a single output file or stream. Media players can obtain and present the content, and can potentially switch the audio tracks or display individual clips from the output file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Olaf Nielsen, Steven Swanson
  • Patent number: 9699587
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for re-provisioning a telematics unit of a telematics-equipped vehicle for wireless services. The re-provisioning process includes: connecting a computing device to an on-board diagnostics interface of the telematics-equipped vehicle; accessing a subscriber identification card of the telematics unit via the on-board diagnostics interface; requesting subscription information from a subscriber credentials server via a network connection; receiving the subscription information; and reprogramming the subscriber identification card of the telematics unit for wireless services based on the received subscription information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Cepuran, Steven Swanson, David George
  • Patent number: 9649895
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting a missing vehicle tire and notifying a user of the vehicle about a potential vehicle tire theft. The method carried out by the system involves detecting that a tire is missing from a vehicle using a vehicle tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system and thereafter providing a notification of the missing tire via a wireless communication sent from a telematics unit on the vehicle. The wireless communication can be sent automatically by the telematics unit in response to the detection. Identification numbers or other data reported by sensors used in the TPM system can be used to determine if a tire is missing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Catherine L. McCormick, Steven Swanson
  • Patent number: 9519610
    Abstract: A system and method for reminding a user to dock a mobile device in a docking apparatus within a vehicle are provided. A docking apparatus includes: one or more sensors for determining whether an object is present in the docking apparatus; and at least one of speakers, a vibration mechanism, and one or more display indicators for reminding a user to place the mobile device in the docking apparatus when the one or more sensors determine that an object is not present in the docking apparatus. A system includes the docking apparatus and a mobile device. The method includes receiving an indication that the vehicle ignition is turned on; determining whether the mobile device is in a docking apparatus; and reminding the user to dock the mobile device in the docking apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: Mark S. Frye, Lawrence D. Cepuran, Steven Swanson, Charles A. Everhart
  • Patent number: 9511683
    Abstract: A method and system for recognizing and verifying the identity of a driver and front seat passenger of a vehicle. A vehicle owner uploads profile data for several individuals who may be a driver or passenger to a database in the vehicle. When a driver or passenger enters the vehicle, the system uses the profile data—which can include height, weight, and gender information about the individual—along with vehicle data such as seat position, to identify the driver or passenger from the database. The profile data for the known individual is then used to adjust the position of the seat and other components in the cockpit. The profile data is also used by various safety and convenience systems onboard the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Dorel M. Sala, Jenne-Tai Wang, Mark O. Neal, Steven C. Tengler, Steven Swanson
  • Patent number: 9420431
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a vehicle occupant with hands-free usage of text messaging services over a mobile phone via a vehicle telematics unit. The method enables a vehicle occupant to send and receive communication messages such as text messages in a hands-free manner. For sending text messages, a spoken communication message is received from the occupant at the vehicle and sent to a call center for conversion to a text message using a speech to text server. The converted text message is then sent to the mobile phone for texting to the intended recipient. Received text messages can be sent from the mobile phone to the telematics unit, converted to speech and played audibly to the occupant in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventor: Steven Swanson
  • Patent number: 9229903
    Abstract: A method of collecting vehicle operating information using a wireless device includes the steps of communicatively linking a wireless device located within a vehicle to a vehicle telematics unit; receiving vehicle data at the wireless device from the vehicle telematics unit using the link; recording the received vehicle data at the wireless device; detecting that the wireless device is no longer present in the vehicle; and wirelessly transmitting the recorded vehicle data to a central facility using the wireless capabilities of the wireless device based on the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Steven Swanson, Lawrence D. Cepuran, Mark S. Frye, Charles A. Everhart
  • Patent number: 9096188
    Abstract: An aftermarket device is disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the aftermarket device includes, but is not limited to, a housing that is configured to be mounted to an internal surface of a vehicle. The aftermarket device further includes, but is not limited to a processor that is mounted within the housing. The aftermarket device still further includes, but is not limited to, a mounting sensor that is associated with the housing and that is communicatively coupled with the processor. The mounting sensor is configured to detect a mounting status of the housing and to provide a signal to the processor. The signal contains information indicative of the mounting status of the housing. The processor is configured to determine that the housing is improperly mounted to the internal surface of the vehicle based on the mounting status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: Charles A. Everhart, Mark S. Frye, Steven Swanson, Lawrence D. Cepuran, Matt C. Videtich, Steven S. Sauerbrey, Wahaj Ahmed
  • Patent number: 8954204
    Abstract: A collision sensor, a collision sensing system, and a method of mounting a collision sensor to a vehicle are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the collision sensor includes, but is not limited to, a processor and a three-axis accelerometer that is communicatively coupled with the processor. The three-axis accelerometer is configured to detect an acceleration experienced by a vehicle and to generate a signal indicative of the acceleration. The processor is configured to obtain the signal from the three-axis accelerometer and to determine when the vehicle has experienced a collision based, at least in part, on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Charles A. Everhart, Lawrence D. Cepuran, Mark S. Frye, Steven Swanson, Wahaj Ahmed
  • Publication number: 20150019792
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide an efficient method for executing transactions on a storage device (e.g., a disk or solid-state disk) by using special support in the storage device for making a set of updates atomic and durable. The storage device guarantees that these updates complete as a single indivisible operation and that if they succeed, they will survive permanently despite power loss, system failure, etc. The storage device performs transaction (e.g., read/write) operations directly at storage device controllers. As a result, transactions execute with lower latency and consume less communication bandwidth between the host and the storage device. Additionally, a unique interface is provided which allows the application to manage the logs used by the hardware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Steven Swanson, Joel Coburn, Trevor Bunker
  • Patent number: 8928465
    Abstract: An aftermarket module arrangement for installation into a vehicle having a vehicle bus and an electric power source is disclosed herein. The arrangement includes, but is not limited to, a module configured to communicatively couple with the vehicle bus and to electrically couple with the electric power source via a first electric power line, and further configured to engage in power line communications over the first electric power line. The arrangement further includes an aftermarket module configured to electrically couple with the electric power source over a second electric power line and to engage in power line communications over the second electric power line. The aftermarket module is further configured to communicatively couple with the module via power line communications and to communicate over the vehicle bus through the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: GM Motors LLC
    Inventors: Mark S. Frye, Charles A. Everhart, Lawrence D. Cepuran, Steven Swanson
  • Patent number: 8874279
    Abstract: A vehicle-incident detection method is disclosed herein. Vehicle data is received at a cloud computing system from a vehicle, where the vehicle data is generated by the vehicle in response to an initial detection of a vehicle-related event. After receiving the data, the cloud computing system requests additional vehicle data from the vehicle. The additional vehicle data is generated by the vehicle at a time subsequent to the initial detection of the vehicle-related event. The additional vehicle data is received from the vehicle, and an application resident in the cloud computing system analyzes the vehicle data and the additional vehicle data to determine that the vehicle-related event occurred. The application includes computer readable code embedded on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable medium for performing the analyzing. Also disclosed herein is a vehicle-incident detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Mark S. Frye, Lawrence D. Cepuran, Steven Swanson, Charles A. Everhart
  • Patent number: 8868867
    Abstract: Systems and methods of storage device access are provided, where the operating system copies permission and mapping information to the storage array and/or to the application program's memory. The application program can then access the storage device without the operating system's intervention and the storage device will check whether the application has permission to access the data. As a result, in most cases, neither the operating system nor the file system needs to be invoked, and since both of them increase the amount of time required to access the data in the file system, considerable performance improvements are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Steven Swanson, Adrian Caulfield, Todor Mollov
  • Patent number: 8862318
    Abstract: A method for teaching an aftermarket accessory component how to actuate a vehicle function is disclosed herein. The aftermarket accessory component is configured to monitor communications across a vehicle bus. The method includes, but is not limited to, sampling message traffic transmitted across the vehicle bus while the vehicle function is not actuated. The method further includes setting filters in the aftermarket accessory component based on the sampled message traffic. The method further includes prompting a user to actuate the vehicle function in a first manner. The method further includes collecting filtered message traffic from the vehicle bus while the vehicle function is actuated in the first manner. The method further includes parsing the filtered message traffic to identify a command associated with actuation of the vehicle function. The method further includes testing the command to confirm that the command actuates the vehicle function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Charles A. Everhart, Lawrence D. Cepuran, Mark S. Frye, Steven Swanson
  • Publication number: 20140288770
    Abstract: An aftermarket device is disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the aftermarket device includes, but is not limited to, a housing that is configured to be mounted to an internal surface of a vehicle. The aftermarket device further includes, but is not limited to a processor that is mounted within the housing. The aftermarket device still further includes, but is not limited to, a mounting sensor that is associated with the housing and that is communicatively coupled with the processor. The mounting sensor is configured to detect a mounting status of the housing and to provide a signal to the processor. The signal contains information indicative of the mounting status of the housing. The processor is configured to determine that the housing is improperly mounted to the internal surface of the vehicle based on the mounting status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: CHARLES A. EVERHART, MARK S. FRYE, STEVEN SWANSON, LAWRENCE D. CEPURAN, MATT C. VIDETICH, STEVEN S. SAUERBREY, WAHAJ AHMED
  • Publication number: 20140288727
    Abstract: A collision sensor, a collision sensing system, and a method of mounting a collision sensor to a vehicle are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the collision sensor includes, but is not limited to, a processor and a three-axis accelerometer that is communicatively coupled with the processor. The three-axis accelerometer is configured to detect an acceleration experienced by a vehicle and to generate a signal indicative of the acceleration. The processor is configured to obtain the signal from the three-axis accelerometer and to determine when the vehicle has experienced a collision based, at least in part, on the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: CHARLES A. EVERHART, LAWRENCE D. CEPURAN, MARK S. FRYE, STEVEN SWANSON, WAHAJ AHMED